Just read your response to my e-mail headed "Leaders, etc." I hope you do find/READ Babel Tower, now, as one of its main themes is the attempt to create an ideal society in which there is a place for everyone to "do their thing." It's a strange amalgam of the philosophies of Fourier (who believed that an ideal society could be created in which every individuals passions could be acted out) and the Marquis de Sade's vision of man's dark side.
     My reading has been very much on the dark side lately. I'm not sure whether I'm depressed because of what I read or read these things because I'm depressed. A new baby is giving me chronic sleep deprivation and making it hard for me to see the positive side of things right now. I'd sure like to see some societal changes that would restore my faith in humanity's basic goodness.
     I read a comment, the source of which I no longer remember, by a U.S. politician or military figure that went something along these lines:
     "If and when aliens from another planet come to earth, we can only hope that they are as peace-loving as we are."
     Oh, my God! We might as well just kill ourselves off right now if that's what we can expect from outer space. Whoever said it is one of our Leaders. He obviously knows nothing of smallpox infected blankets, DDT, infant formula, napalm, ethnic cleansing, etc. We definitely need help!

Janet1 - September 5, 1996


     Ouch, Janet1...sorry to hear things have been rough on you lately. I hope they get better for you.

     I know the urge to feel depressed all too well...from time to time I just need to escape from everyone and everything and "recenter myself." Sometimes the causes are biological, I've been stressed out at work which causes me to not eat correctly, which throws my body chemistry off, which causes me more stress, on and on. Then sometimes the causes are social, someone makes a totally inconsiderate comment, or behaves as though they are the only person with feelings and valid opinions. In both cases, just "escaping for a while" either physically by a vacation or emotionally by engaging in escapist activities (like a day full of uplifting movies) usually helps to rejuvenate myself. Other people find they need to go to church or do some other religious activity to recenter themselves. Everybody has different needs.

     I still haven't made it to the bookstore to check for that book...but from what you've said about it, it sounds very anti-utopian. I also don't believe it is possible to have a society where everyone can "do their own thing." Though that might be satisfying for a while, there are many benefits which come from being organized into a society. The cost of a society is to sacrifice some of our natural animal rights in return for the benefits of civilization. We left nature a long time ago when we stopped adapting to our environment and started adapting our environment to us...there's no going back to the Garden of Eden.

     On the other hand, we must never stop striving to improve ourselves. It does not matter that we will never reach perfection, it is the journey that matters. [1] I believe that it is okay for people to do ANYTHING they want to do IF that deed does not have consequences which adversely affect others outside of the immediate action. Basically, you have the right to do and say anything you please up to the point that it imposes upon the right of another to do the same. We must respect the rights of others to do as they please to themselves and to consenting others so long as their actions do not affect us. [2] You have the right to benefit from your labors. [3] We must all be allowed to contribute to our society in a positive way. These ideals and many others are worth striving for, and we must keep tinkering with our society until such ideals can be made reality.

     As far as needing reassurance of the goodness of humanity, just look at all of the people around you who are NOT like all of those responsible for the atrocities you mentioned. Most people are just "struggling to survive," they are not causing others grief. And just look at yourself and other new mothers...if the willingness to sacrifice yourself (e.g. not sleeping, continuous care, etc) for the benefit of another (the new child) is not the very definition of the best of humanity, I don't know what is.

Kenneth

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9/8/96