Interesting observations, I'd like to offer a few of my own, if I may:
I also question whether social problems can ever be truly
"solved," since they apparently "go with the territory" of inhabiting this
sphere for whatever brief time we're here. NOT that I advocate apathy, but
rather that (to paraphrase, I believe, Jesus): the poor are always with
us.
I suppose in an ideal situation social ills would be remedied
entirely, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Perhaps it has to
do with the developmental stage the vast majority of humanknd seems stuck
in--put a man on the moon, but can't get along with the people next door,
i.e., technologically advancing, yet emotionally & spiritually still in a
cave (Mother Teresa & MLK as rare exceptions).
In many respects I see this as analogous to casting children's
developmental stage as the equivalent of "ignorance." In time, people
become adults, drive cars, etc. Perhaps as Teilhard de Chardin posited in
his Phenomenon of Man that its merely a question of when humankind will
ultimately evolve to a more advanced stage.
Herodotus and other ancient Greek historians first began to
record the history of the Peloponnesian War in the hope that the next
generation would realize the stupidity & futility of war and "get it."
Apparently a lesson yet to be "gotten" some 2300 years later.
Taking another perspective (Eastern) this becomes a matter of some
curiosity in that some Hindus and to a degree, Buddhists, might suggest
that we're here to learn lessons. If you don't snap to what's happening,
you'll get the same lesson again, but in a different time, place & with
different players perhaps--but the same "lesson." That's not to say that I
support China stomping on Tibet, or think that people should starve in
India (or anywhere for that matter), but another culture might argue for
the role of Karma, etc. In any case, same social problems...different
"lens."
Since we're all programmed to "check out" of here eventually, wars
against cancer and telomere extensions notwithstanding, I guess I'm more
in line with the Zen Buddhist amusement at man's railing against
Impermanence...Ain't nothin' constant BUT change.
So, until I'm scheduled for that Dirt Nap, I suppose I'll just do
the best I can with what I've got, help whoever I can along the way, and
see how the denouement unfolds.
P.S.
As for "wars against nature," I believe the first time that I came
across that mindset was in the works of Bacon. But then again, didn't the
Bible advocate that "man" was to have "dominion" over Nature? As far as I
can tell the Judeo-Christian perspective towards Nature is, at best,
ambivalent, if not outright conflicted.
P.P.S.
I suppose that in the final analysis it's a matter of the
belief system or philosophical perspective that one embraces. Ya
know...what ever "gets you through the night" or "floats your boat."
for whatever it's worth...
Bill
On Thu, 22 Jan 1998, Chester Gates wrote:
>
> Bishara and Kara both make good points about service and society, but i
> think there is a fundamental assumption they make, namely, that "the
> problem" can be solved. that may be a noble sentiment, but i have found
> it is one that leads to immense frustration. over the years i have come
> to believe that "the problem" with the world is very complex and
> "insoluble" and that i will continue to work towards its solution.
>
> Kara urges us to "dismantle the systems that perpetuate the need for
> assistance" and Bishara says that " we have to become transformational not
> mere reformists." but this exactly the language that everyone uses. Newt
> uses it. Clinton uses it. Ralph Nader and Ross Perot, too. even overseas
> in france, congo, china and burma, everyone is trying to "transform" their
> society. and here in the streets of baltimore as we transform society by
> drastically changing the rules governing state aid to individuals, the
> people who have relied on them are scared. they want change, but not
> that kind of change. there hasn't been a lack of ideas about "the
> problem" and its causes and solutions, it's just that up to right now,
> january 22, 1996, none of them have worked. if by "worked", i mean
> "solved the problem".
>
> consider a pressing problem facing the world. kids are stupid. face it,
> even the smartest 2 year old can't balance a checkbook, drive a car
> safely, or talk meaningfully about the american political scene. here's
> the "cure" to this problem: set up schools and educate them. we now
> understand that this solution by itself does not solve the problem. one
> reason is that education occurs beyond the confines of school. kids learn
> at home, in the malls, on the playground and by watching tv, and not all
> of that education is mutually reinforcing. and to make matters worse,
> kids, being human, make errors of judgment. sometimes they believe
> things that we "know" to be wrong. so we struggle with ways to make
> education better. now, if someone were to suggest that one day we should
> be able to close the schools, since we won't need them, i'm pretty sure
> most of us would be puzzled. that's because the problem of childhood
> ignorance is not a static problem, it is dynamic. even if we help all of
> today's kids learn, there is going to be another generation to teach.
>
> now, back to the general question about how to change society. i think
> that "the problems" we face in society are not static things that we solve
> and then forget about. we may rid the world of smallpox, but we have
> aids. we may get rid of the detested dictator mobutu sese-seko, but now
> we have laurent kabila. we have zero population growth in sweden, but
> more growth in india. "problems" won't go away.
>
> this means i have some options. i could just give up hope, watch reruns
> of the brady bunch and occasionally groan. or i could get really angry
> at those who perpetuate the system and promote radical change, at any cost
> to other people. or i can get up in the morning, eat my breakfast and
> continue to work for social justice knowing full well that in the end,
> there is no "solution" for the "problem". while it may be easier to
> measure success and failure in bills signed into law or governments
> overthrown, i really do believe that the small, incremental successes,
> like teaching a child to read, or helping an elderly person die with
> dignity, or working with a homeless man to find a job, are just as
> important. if your skill lies in creating laws, pursue it. if your skill
> lies in teaching, pursue that. and if your skill lies in talking to your
> parents on the phone late at night, then pursue that. they are all
> important skills, and they all change society.
>
> i look forward to seeing more conversation about this topic and how others
> see social justice issues in their work and their lives.
>
> peace
>
> Chester Gates cgates1@gl.umbc.edu
> 1713 East Fairmount Ave., Apt. 5 HOME: (410)276-2539
> Baltimore, MD 21231-1524 WORK: (410)455-2494
> The Shriver Center
>
>