CULTURAL MATURITY

I know, I know, you are asking yourself what am I aiming at with this cultural maturity?   Let's just say it's not a phrase I pulled from some web site or blog but just came to me as fitting in regard to my belief, there is that word again, my belief that humanity has the power to outgrow its ability to exterminate itself whether by greenhouse gasses, economic greed, or simply pushing the atomic bomb button.   Pick your darkest fear.  Mine was fanned by early grade school fire drills only we had the earthquake bell, the fire bell, and then the bomb bell.  

I do not recall how or even when I decided there was hope for humanity.   It probably had a lot to do with discovering science fiction novels at fourteen.  It seemed someone both smarter and more imaginative than myself had hope for a future I had never considered.  Then why could I not?  Let me give you one clue: President Reagan.  There is this punk song from an LA band that ends in " Ronny baby you are forgiven in hell! " it always seemed to sum up my feelings about the mans administration completely.   If I was freaked out by the thought of his posturing I am sure the rest of the world had to be.   

President Clinton allowed a belief that sanity might prevail but then who would have thought Bush junior would get the nod from our beloved Supreme Court.  Fear: Dick Chainy, torture, rendition, WMD, war, body bags, and collateral damage?  I was afraid those freaks would push the button just to win an election; and why not those representatives pushed every other partisan button.  They sure pushed mine!

Anyway, you get the picture, but what of this so called cultural maturity I was looking for?   Was it just a dream of a few sci-fi writers that infected my mind?  Could it be humanity is really just a rotting carcass of walking talking self aware cannibalistic parasitic maggots?  I know that even looking in my own mirror there stands before myself the horror.  I can recall after 9/11 watching those jets flying into the World Trade Center over and over again and hoping Bush would have the balls to drop a few tactical nukes on whomever was responsible.  The horror looks us all in the mirror.   

Cultural maturity.  I had given it little thought until yesterday when it became the basis for a few of my blog comments regarding President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize.   I will agree there must be members of humanity who are more trustworthy then myself, then you, or you, or even you.   Fortunately we have the ability to entrust these leaders of the people at our ballot box.  Perhaps that is what I am looking for.  Sure we may not have the strength to keep from pushing the button ourselves but we are capable, most of the time, to discern those with such strengths.

Cultural maturity ?  In the last chapter of Stienbecks East of Eden ( as well as I can remember it has been about fifteen years) Adam Trask is dying but while in the progress of forgiving his son he has this discussion with his Chinese domestic about what makes us human. He used a Hebraic term "timshel"(sp) which meant choice and it is this choice which defines us.   Perhaps this cultural maturity I seek for humanity is this timshel (choice) but coupled with both a share of speculative possibility and just enough fear to keep from pushing buttons better left un-pushed.

M. Paul ;-) <3