It’s a beautiful late winter day in the Sonoran desert. The temperature is dry at 80 degrees F, and a light breeze of warmth is coming from Mexico.
While work-exchanging at a hot springs, a friend and I are prepping to harvest extra roosters. In the realm of yard birds, only one adult rooster is necessary; the others create noise and competition. You never know which youngsters will make it to adulthood, so we wait to see who makes it before we begin a process of elimination.
Our method is less than scientific, yet it has worked to create the desired atmosphere at a commercial hot spring. Guests want the ambiance of yard birds but not the constant noise at dawn.
We watch and keep track of the roosters, their interactions with each other, and how much noise they make. The ones that interact well with guests, have beautiful plumage and don’t make a lot of noise are in consideration to be the one we keep. The rest are harvested for stew.
We were laying everything out and preparing to harvest when my co-harvester answered their phone. “Hey, you coming?
“Yes, I am coming.”
“If you hurry, you can help us process the birds.”
“No, I’m civilized; when will the soup be ready? I’ll come then.”
“What?”
“I’m civilized; I don’t do that. When is dinner?”
“You know we are having rooster stew, right?”
“Yeah, I look forward to it. Don’t show me the process, though.”
My co-harvester hung up the phone and told me the conversation in case I didn’t hear.
A conversation ensued. Ultimately, two amateur philosophers decided, “That is a definition of civilization. A symptom, if you will. An ‘I want the rewards yet do not want to know about the process or cost. Don’t tell me.’”
And for the record, yes, that individual showed up and ate lots of stew.
Do you run across people like this in your life, see them on the internet, or are you even that person?
The one who does not want to know so they can live guilt-free. It’s not that they don’t want things; they want to ignore the cost while experiencing the rewards. They can compartmentalize to an extreme.
I do not want to know we fight in Afghanistan for resources, that we fought in the gulf for oil so I can have plastic televisions, cars, whatever I desire to pay for. I don’t care what it does to the world or other people. I want it.
I ask myself questions all day long. I spend tremendous amounts of time thinking, sometimes leading to overthinking and anxiety.
Observing their behavior, I gain truckloads of knowledge about myself and my fellow humans, which I find more valuable than just reading about our tendencies. Watching someone lie about switching a price tag is mesmerizing. Imagine watching someone switch tags, and then when security or a manager confronts them, they lie easily, as if it is their default mode.
Watching a two-year-old human lie is enlightening, to say the least. It is proof that lying is instinctual for many; a majority of humans lie regularly. Being taught not to lie takes conscious effort.
I believe the lying comes from a place of survival, that reptilian brain we’ve talked about before:
https://medium.com/@cmhalstead/thought-is-an-illusory-thing-74c34e74d377
I believe lying comes from a place of oppression. You have to lie to survive and protect those you care about. You had to lie about how much food you had because they would take it. The same with “money.” Whatever their version of currency was, you had to lie to keep it, or they would take it.
There is a long human history of violence and oppressive leadership both within families and outside the home. Some are taught that is the only way to lead. Others are taught to seek oppressive leaders because this is how their parents led and how they are raising their children, so it must be the correct way to do things.
Other humans have a higher level of consciousness, which they have developed from the same hardships, either personally experienced or taught by parents and mentors.
Are you one who seeks mental knowledge? Me too. Do you wonder why all humans do not strive to be “better” humans? Me too. The answer to this one is a simple truth that some will call harsh. Humans as a race (the human race) are at different levels of evolution and development.
Lineages have different stages and backgrounds, creating different mental and physical levels for the human descendants in that family tree. The location and belief systems of that family determine the mix.
For example, some believe taking on qualities from other lineages is bad, but I believe it is good.
A quick imaginary journey in our minds tells us a lot. Imagine growing up in an area run by Warlords; warlords have managed the region for generations. These warlords take all children when they reach the age of 10.
Do you think you would hide your children? Or would you happily donate them to the cause?
Let’s continue on that imaginary journey. Imagine growing up in an area that promotes personal empowerment and provides free education to all citizens, from grade school through college or trade school. All children who are citizens of that area will receive guidance on what their natural personalities are
Do you think you would hide your children? Or would you happily donate them to the cause?
Don’t be so in denial, lying to yourself that you allow yourself or your children to be oppressed. Be honest about the positive value of empowering citizens to make conscious choices for their betterment, a greater good, if you will.
Be aware of the costs of things. Someone is paying even if you don’t. This often looks like wars for resources or belief systems. Your child may not go to war, but someone else’s is.
If you want to be civilized, at least be a conscious citizen.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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Photo credit: Raychel Sanner on Unsplash
