I’ve been called a caveman, a sexist, and a whole lot worse by various internet people. I’ve done my best to be fair and granted in the past I did write in an inflammatory style (mostly to cause strong feelings which translates to views and attention which can translate to money in my pocket) but overall still had the nuggets of truth I wanted contained within. But through all of this there’s something I’ve noticed.
Barring bat shit crazy people (and there are a lot, especially in the one’s getting angry on the internet) is that most people when explained some basic things can actually come around to your way of thinking. When you sit down and say “Hey here’s where I think you misunderstood me and this is what I meant. Is that not something you would say has some truth to it?” and then go from there.
Which got me thinking about other things. For example something I’ve often thought about is how as a society did we end up where we are right now? How did all this craziness and unhealthiness how did all of this violation of the primal/cosmic order (that causes true goodness and health) come about? Now obviously there isn’t only one factor to blame but rather a cluster of them. However there is one underlying thing that makes the difference.
Without The Why The How Doesn’t Matter
We were all told some form of morals as a kid most likely. It might have just been do this/don’t do this (even if our parents did the opposite) and when asked why we might have gotten a “because I/other authority figure said so.” without any further explanation. And as kids this might have been all there was too it. After all we were kids and dependent and not exactly possessing critical thinking skills in spades.
Usually these same “morals” or ways of living or whatever you want to call it are questioned (and thereby rebelled against) in the teenage years. So to after awhile return back to them or some to never come around to them again (usually because of experiences with those who pushed them more than anything). And let me say this is the absolute worst way to go about transferring good beliefs or understanding to your children. Yet it’s how most do it.
When this happens it leaves gaps and those gaps are eagerly (eagerly being an understatement) filled by those who wants control. So when the “Why” isn’t transferred then nothing will be there when these others come in and say “Hey those morals/ways of living/whatever aren’t so great after all (insert crappy but at least somewhat decent argument here) right?” to which the person who was never given the “Why” behind things can only say “Yeah you’re right” and be led away.
Civilizations Fall Without The Why
There’s a famous quote with many different supposed originators that goes something like “Don’t take down a fence unless you know why it was put up in the first place.” when the “Why” behind the fence is forgotten it’s only a matter of time before the things being kept out by the fence say “Hey why is this thing even up in the first place?” and eventually it gets torn down allowing them free reign to wreck whatever it is they want to.
Wisdom has to be transferred or it dies. That was the importance of tradition to pass down the accumulated wisdom of those that came before while still allowing for growth and adaptation. But when this wisdom isn’t transferred then over time tradition can lose it’s true power and eventually will be called out and thrown away. Without the “Why” things just don’t work. All healthy societies take priority to pass on the “Why” to their children, the wisdom.
Not just meaningless words or even worse “Because I said so.” but elders who actually live out those things that they say are important and then show why these things are important so understanding is created in those coming up in the tribe. This “Why” wasn’t transferred or at least wasn’t transferred very well and this went beyond just the 60’s but long before that.
Get The “Why” Above All Else
The “Why” is what matters and it’s the “Why” that’ll make the difference as well as give defense against those that would want to come in an destroy your culture/morality/way of life etc. and then we end up where we are. Yes, there are many reasons because of it and many factors involved. By the not transferring of the why is one of the biggest. It’d be like not transferring an immune system to your child when he/she was born.
We all know had they would go. The child would be killed by viruses and the like very quickly. Well the world is no different. It’s filled with viruses of the mind, body, and spirit and if they can’t get physical death or suffering they’ll find it in the mind or spirit. Might even prefer it in the spirit. Make sure that you understand this “Why” yourself, live by it, and then transfer it to those that come next. The world might very well depend on it.
