Civilization as we have known it to exist
has re-appeared as a barbaric monster it was back in the darkened days. A
complex systems of societies developed with internal characteristics of customs
and cultures, it has no reared its ugly head to attack the very basic
foundation of a modern world seeking to take it back centuries into the earlier
parts of the world’s history.
Most of us know of the early rise, growth
and decline of earlier civilizations. Whenever the world reached a potential
perfection of the quality of life, someone or something spoils the goodness of
society and turns it into an evil advance of hate, greed or lust for power.
These advances are often fueled by religious and spiritual norms of our
civilization but spurred by war, violence and greed by political means and
intrusions.
In other words, when the level of
civilization reaches it peaks of goodness, can it be brought back down by the
poor maintenance of such positive developments and growth by the negatively
motivated, unethical relationships usually grounded in human immoral and
criminal behaviors.
Perhaps we all overestimated the meaning of
civilization. We know that the opposite of being civilized is to be ‘barbaric’
in nature and how that is defined is truly interesting as it is all based on
cultures and practices that appear to be normal or unacceptable to different
people divided into classes or groups of men, women and children belonging to a
specific race, creed, religion, color or nationality.
To each their own, civilization may be
applied to human groups indiscriminately based on the perception at hand of
those who judge and sit in judgment of others aka bigots. Hence, we have
changed the word to mean an acceptable standard of behavior, similar to
etiquette. A phenomenon that casts a shadow on crude, unacceptable ‘barbaric’
behaviors.
But evolution and revolution has brought a
deeper definition of the word civilization. It has now enveloped, encircled or
wrapped up other characteristics that are both inner and outer layers of
acceptance or disapproval. This has brought on two key words that describe
today’s assessment of the world as we justify ‘racism’ and ‘imperialism’ with a
wish to dominate others either religiously or politically.
Powerful nations have formed an alliance to
defeat other nations deemed to be a threat to their own way of life or because
of greed or power. Using the term under this description, we are now pitting
one element of civilization, the more complex, refined, sophisticated society
that is viewed superior to the other lower description of another element of
the opposite civilization, the weaker barbarians and culturally dominate them
into slavery or dominance or even death.
One cannot erase the fact that this same
conflict exists also within a culture or civilization itself. A conflict that
may lead to a civil war if not maintained or controlled to preserve peace by
adhering to the expected integrity and cultural standards set by the foundation
of such civilizations or groups of men, women and children as they grew up and
enjoyed an education, freedom of religion and free-will thinking.
Think of culture as a specific set of
ideas, religious beliefs, customs, arts, political wills and other elements
that makes them unique. This includes the creativity or development of
intellectual minds to embrace more intricate and personal aspects of the
cultures that includes literatures, philosophical ideologies, architecture and
other fabrics of life that makes them believe they are unique and elite.
Certainly, grounds for
conflict and future clashes or political strife as these are all subject to
perceptions and truths attached to the values placed on such items, categories
or suggestions. What guides their thinking is their educational and intellectual
resources provided to give them insights and recommendations of which to choose
or follow. One can see the value of schools and media from this point of view.
It should never be underestimated.
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