SAVING OUR CIVILIZATION By Hagar Much of the cultural artifacts that once marked the powerful and advanced civilization that dominated the earth for over four hundred years have faded away into obscurity. Symphony, fresco, and sculpture are antiquated words that have little to no meaning in our present day. These words had best be forgotten and allowed to die with all aspects of our ancestory. In many ways, this is what modern people want. They abhor everything about their past, seeing in it some sort of tyranny that they must liberate themselves from. They prefere the easy and disposable in life because they would have no reverence for anything sacred or traditional. To imply sacredness or tradition is to imply close-mindedness or worse, intolerance. A glimpse into the past however, will provide a vision far astray from the tired old portrait of a racist, warmongering, and superstitious civilization. In fact, what you may find is a world of incredible beauty, social grace, and truly learned skill in business and life. These are the Old Ideas that Orwell spoke of in 1984, the ways of a world that must be damned as evil. How entertaining it is that our own culture turns on itself so often. In my effort to observe and eventually cure our civilization from its Spenglerian decline, I have made some observations. Those who find it in their interest to mock or ridicule my notes need only look at where they are in life, what they stand for and how their life applies to a common cause in general: Dress: The clothes that people choose to wear now can be described as nothing more than disgusting. Slovenly and wrinkled shirts with tired and used sexual slogans, tattered jeans and long white tee-shirts that drop down to the ankles, windbreakers adorned with rainbows and cats, and the list of horrors goes on. What is often considered fashionable or attractive by "professionals" is often down right idiotic or even slutty. To dress-up is to be a square or one may even be mistaken for a metrosexual. It has even become popular to dress casually to the ball or the symphony. In the past people intended to dress their best all the time, even at the expense of comfort or heat exhaustion. Now the lax and casual trend has carried over into all corners of civilized life at the expense of beauty. As an outward expression of one's personality and relation to society, clothes can often become a conflict, especially in schools where the belief is that people must show their individuality through dress rather than action or real self-worth. Customs and Traditions: It is obvious by now that custom no longer exists in the west. People choose to get married in subways and eat TV dinners in seperate rooms. With the feeling of liberation from all social hinderances comes the feeling that all social interactions seem somewhat unfullfilling and hollow. The usage of profane and derogatory language is at one point exhilirating but in the end does nothing more than destroy constructive communication and promote general ignorance. It is commercially and socially required that all people act in an ignorant and countercultural manner to be accepted. To partake in idiotic or unintelligble activities (talking about "bitches", eating hot wings and watching music videos) is a gauge of your worth in modern society. This is in sharp contrast to the past, when customary behavior was expected and enforced to regulate society. Perhaps the one who most understood the social need for customs and courtly behavior was our very own founder, George Washington. In his 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior, he set out tenants to decency that our nation could follow to create a more stress-free environment. Contrast what Washington did in his selfless regard for others in comparison to what Clinton or Bush do in their efforts to look good or important. Some customs of course, seem hopelessly outdated and oppressive, but we must consider for ourselves what we can do to build a more decent civilization. Tradition has even less of a place in our society. Many of our holidays are either not celebrated or understood, and much of our sacred traditions are simply commercialized, in particular Christmas (or Yule Tide as it truly orginated). The meaning of the changing seasons, the symbolism behind the tree, the spear, and the gifts, is just ignored. The wedding, that most sacred bond between two human beings, is the most abused. Often within months after marriage the couple is already divorced. In the past divorce was unheard of, not simply because it was economically advantageous to stay together, but because through thick and thin their was a profound understanding of what marriage meant. What mankind has uncovered through evolutionary theory is the fact that he is a polygamous animal and monogamy stands in the way of fulfilling his natural desires to reproduce. This is an issue that may have to be further examined, but for now it is tradition to see monogamy as a personal-spiritual bond of trust and compassion between two individuals that is more powerful than simple lust. Furthermore, when a child is involved, a marriage must be a selfless one, oriented towards the raising of the child and not the petty whims of the couple. Food and dining is neglected as well. Fast food is, as Beneton pointed out in Equality by Default, the ultimate scientific rationalization of food. With fast food comes the destruction and triviality of a well cooked, well waited on meal with the family or in a fine restraunt. It also eliminates the need for eating utensils, re-introducing us to the cave. Fast food is for those on the go who don't have the time to actually sit down and enjoy existence. With fast food comes equally good cheap alcohol in cans that tastes like garbage and serves no other purpose than simple intoxication, a sharp contrast to fine wine, which is created with care and tastes of quality. Religion: For over 1000 years now, Christianity has been the dominate form of religion if not the lifeblood, of our civilization, from rougly 400 AD to the present. It has shaped almost all aspects of our moral, cultural, philosophical, and political ambitions and institutions. It is of my opinion however, that Christianity has become spiritually bankrupt and is no longer a compatible system, especially in light of our scientific discoveries and liberalized society. Much of the vigor that once stood behind Christianity is almost completely absent in our civilization. Furthermore, it has in turn become a threat to our civilization, stultifying our critical thinking, disrupting our social freedoms, and giving us a damaging gamble with middle eastern politics. To fill the spiritual void there must be something unique and exclusive to our civilization that we can grasp on to. In my opinion we must re-discover our spirituality in ancient pagan beliefs, much in the way that enlightened thinkers re-discovered classical thinking and culture. Paganism, in contrast to Christianity, is adapatable to its environment and mutates accordingly to new forms of knowledge or logic. Paganism is the impetus of discovery and aspiration because it entails no dogma or "righteous" path. Instead, it has many paths that mirror the complexity of reality. We need not literally believe the bizarre creation myths or legends of Venus or Thor, but we can see them as metaphor or archetypes for our minds or the natural world in which we live. Paganism, when applied correctly, can fit neatly beside scientific logic. If paganism is itself out of the question I propose a naturalism, a reverence for the external world and an understanding of its intricate system that underlies existence. This must be seperate from humanism, which is concerned primarily with hedonism and not advancement. What is often considered evil by Christian thinking is in fact normal and necessary to create a healthy life. Art, Music, Architecture: This was briefly touched upon in my Death of Western Art short. The style of the times is to create what is most simplistic, disposable, and destructive. The deconstruction of music and the minimalism of art could not be any more glaringly obvious. Instead of moving upward by creating something that could possibly succeed classical or romantic music, we have gone backwards and accepted the primitive backwardness as a sign of goodness. It is no surprise that classical music seems uninteresting or unlistenable to modern ears ("this stuff puts me to sleep"), because its complexity and genuine talent is too overwhelming for most. Since most people do not have the patience or ability to create such works of genius they democratically create something bland and promote it as equally good. When everything in society is just "relative", why bother considering what is better? The same is true of architecture, where the functionality and economic cost of construction had become infinitely more important than the presentation of the work. While this is just common sense when conducting business, more serious centers of society, such as capitols, courts, symphonies, city halls, and churches, are adopting the same sterile modern style, effectively cutting us off from beauty. What is your take?
I am similar to you because too appreciate customs and traditions my friend. I hate some shit I see today like in TV and in the streets generaly, it looks like a great big idiocy. I agree we have to move forward somehoe but some things are just too improper. But how can you escape evolution, in order words intelligence. I think its better to at least remember history than to practise it, that is insanity. Thomas Burgoyne
Thank you for your honest response. I am not so much promoting some return to the "golden age" or some atavistic delusion, but I beleive we must re-claim much of our heritage in some way or another, because it is endangered every day by ignorance. It is my response against the globalization of the world, which although it is bringing affordable products and advanced technology to people, it is destroying cultures all around the globe, especially our own. I do not live in a time warp, because our culture is timeless and can be revived. Could you clarify what you mean by that evolution bit? I didn't really understand the question.
You know, I see all these things you list as products of our culture, not its detriment. In fact, all your complaints can be summed up in three little letters: MTV. I hate MTV. I hate the unbridled consumer culture it represents. MTV makes me want to smoke crack. It's insidiously devised to sell stuff, and it can get away with all it does under constitutional protection. In a capitalist society, where everyone's goal is wealth, then everyone will maximize their ability to gain wealth within societal limits, right? America doesn't have a great deal of laws. Just about everything is protected under freedom of speech. Since all speech is free, what an excellent device to sell anything, any way you want. If you trace American history, the more industrialized and productive we became, the more greater our deviation from tradiotional values. During the late 19th and early 20th century, the upper classes became fearful of losing their culture, whatever that was. Since America didn't have much culture, other than a bankruptcy of selling and whatever we borrowed for Europe, we idolized the old poets. Shakespeare was once a household name, his works familiar. Hamlet was produced in American hamlets. But when it was decided that Shakespeare was culture, he faded from popularity. Ironically, it was sentiment exactly as yours that led to the destruction of your culture. A sort of rebellion. Take modern art. It's an explicit rebellion from traditional art forms, mainly those of the neo-classical period which in turn just copied those of classical Greece.
Good point Roman. Perhaps I should have chosen a word other than culture, since as you pointed out, MTV is as much a part of our culture as anything else. Your perspective is insightful and I'll have to think about it for a while.
hmmmmmm from the bitsi read, that author seems confused....on one level he is preaising paganism and reverence for Nature, yet on the other talking about 'primitive backwardness' and how 'high culture' i superior i suppose he isreferring to the African influence in modern music? what do you think? i am part African part English, and have a very eclectic taste in music, so i CAn appreciate classical, and modern classical, and African, Carrabean, Afro Aerican etcetc.....dont mean to brag, but i will anyway. i'd blow each one of yer minds wth the diverse range of music i dig. everyone of you would screm forme to get it off .....cause you'd not like some of te forms of music i like if he mans that the young generation are anto classcal, well sure. but some classical loversw cant dance to save their lives...so they are only half fukin living. i would say the natrual capacity to dance is far more important than cerebreal upthearseness superiority some classical buffs give off!
Hagar, Have you read the Fountainhead by Ayn Rand? If you haven't, I definitely recommend it. Personally, I can't stand objectivism or objectivists. They miss out on some real key stuff. There's a certain irony in worshipping another person's works about how not to worship another man's stuff. About my bit on how capitalism and free speech rewrote culture. I'm a really big fan of capitalism and free speech, don't get me wrong, and I'm certainly not trying to make any judgement calls, either way in this argument. They're just observations. On your bit about the need to change our religion. That's complete hogwash. Like all human constructs, religion adapts. I can engage in premarital sex without being stoned, or even fearing my Creator's eternal wrath. Doesn't the Vatican accept evolution as an ok theory? Recall, this is the same institution that sent the Inquisition after Copernicus & Galileo.
How can paganism and a tin Coca-Cola can be on the same level? In other words, by backwards and primitive I mean appealing to a lack of aesthetic sensibilities or a profound connection to taste. African art and traditional african music is at least nature-based and although it can hardly be called advanced it is not backwards. I personally don't believe in having an african influence in western music (perhaps selective parts that might enhance it). African music is its own creation and should flower on its own terms. Revering nature is not primitive, it is natural. You missed the point: liberalization of biblical scripture is the blasphemy of scripture. There is no such thing as a Jewish, Christian, or Islamic moderate. The Vatican felt forced to accept it and I hardly believe for one second that they adhere to it. Although I don't like to defend the church, it was actually the church that saved Copernicus and Galileo from the public. Copernicus was encouraged by the cardinals to publish his works and Galileo himself believed that his discoveries were compatible with the bible, only that the general populace was unwilling to dig deeper into the scriptures. Christianity preaches a fundamental hatred of life. It cannot accept the world in its natural state, thus it must demonize natural systems and human understanding of them to create the "City of God".
While I agree with your point on scripture, there is an obvious discrepency between what people practice and what they preach. Religion, in my mind, holds no special place in anything, not even a special thing to be hated or scorned. It's too human. It's full of contradictions. I was looking through the Old Testament today, and realized how out of touch the written word is with modern life. Yet that doesn't prevent people from practicing Judaism or Christianity and functioning perfectly with the modern world. Many religious people engage in the sacreligious. Since religion is entirely human, it can only be defined by humans. If the Holy Books say one thing, and people do another, I tend to typify Christianity by action. Communism looks good on paper. Theoretically communism works. In practice, communism is something else entirely. So it is with religion.
If such is the case, it is best to simply abandon that religion in favor of something that might actually apply to reality.
You are a prude. If you try to force me to wear your preppy bullshit, I'll twist your head around so far, you will see things that Owls could not see. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Yes, and it is also decadent. Of course I am being western-centric, because the entire point of this topic was to enhance western culture. It is only primitive in so far as the fact that primitive people practice it. Should I assume eating is primitive because early humans also eat? Personally, I have an admiration for primitive people, as they are not ruined by the cosomopolitanism that taints our society. But once again, I apply the term primitive to those with a taste for the simplistic, idiotic, and animalistic, not necessarily people who live primitively. That's not what creativity is, that is what hybridization, assimiliation, and cheapening is. That something is said to be "creative" says nothing about its particular value. Preschool children are creative, so are elephants with paintbrushes. No there is not. If you are not following the exact words as written down in the Bible you are going against the words of god. Furthermore, it is moderates who keep the fundamentalists in our society alive through their toleration and inability to take a firm stand on an issue.
In addition: dude, what the fuck do you have against hot chicks in slutty clothing? You more easily see thier tits that way. It also means that you have more of a chance with 'em, 'cause they're so slutty.
I expected as much from all of you. Not only do you throw relativist arguments against me, but you truly believe that you might change my opinion by doing so. Yes I am a snob and I am up my own ass, good. I'm not concerned with the toxins you all pass off as entertainment or culture, I'm not concerned with those who worship money as the central preoccupation of life. To me, it seems that none of you have a concern or care for anything at all, or perhaps you are too weak to even make critical decisions so you simply pass off all things as relative. This is the state of society that Tocqueville predicted in Democracy In America: a state of nihilism. Does preventing you from throwing toxic waste in a river stifle your creativity? Some things are just stupid. Tell me, what gift will you have bestowed to the next generation? What will they look back upon in our time period? Nothing, because it will all be forgotten.
Alright, here you go. I found this in the thread "On The Turntable Today". It's pretty impressive and I'm really glad I was fortunate enough to hear it. How blind I was to think that some music might be better than others. It really is all relative isn't it? Do you honestly think that in 200 years anyone will listen to garbage like this? Do you honestly think that anything you value now will have any long term value? That is how you gauge quality: the ability for something to last through the ages and appeal to each generation.
As it should be. Why do you internalize a philosophy of increasing our mark on the natural world? This has lead to the destruction of ecosystems we require for life.
