Thursday, September 29, 2005
Another African story (sort of)
I've been reading a story from an old friend of mine and it got me thinking again on why I like a place like Tanzania so much.
Walking down the driveway after finishing cell group, past the neighbours inside their comfy houses, getting into the extension of personal space called a car, driving to an intersection and making sure to get out of the way of other people...
Each day the cycle begins again, people getting along with their own lives by themselves, either avoiding or devouring each other...
It's different in a place out there like Africa. If you isolate yourself you die. Physically and perhaps swiftly.
I guess it's the same rules in the western world too - but you die only one day at a time.
Maybe it's the rich sense of community in Tanzanian villages that I miss...
Walking down the driveway after finishing cell group, past the neighbours inside their comfy houses, getting into the extension of personal space called a car, driving to an intersection and making sure to get out of the way of other people...
Each day the cycle begins again, people getting along with their own lives by themselves, either avoiding or devouring each other...
It's different in a place out there like Africa. If you isolate yourself you die. Physically and perhaps swiftly.
I guess it's the same rules in the western world too - but you die only one day at a time.
Maybe it's the rich sense of community in Tanzanian villages that I miss...
# posted by Mansfield @ 9/29/2005 10:43:00 pm 
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We've been experimenting with types of community here in Auckland. Trying to create a culture of living in each others' lives. It's working a little, but we're still so atomised.
By the way, do you really believe in predestined freewill? I've never really understood it, so if you do could you consider posting something of your thoughts? Or email me.
By the way, do you really believe in predestined freewill? I've never really understood it, so if you do could you consider posting something of your thoughts? Or email me.
I think you'll find as long as the structure of the society allows one to be able to have a roof over his head and keep his stomach full by himself (eg. buying your way through the basic needs), there won't be quite enough "glue" for any type of community to take root.
Our units of exchange are so tokenised that it abstracts people to consumers and producers, and even the human contact necessary to make transactions are contrived (in the name of customer service, of course). That smile over the counter is a trained, insincere response 99.9% of the time.
I'll let you pick apart my understanding of Predestined Freewill later :)
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Our units of exchange are so tokenised that it abstracts people to consumers and producers, and even the human contact necessary to make transactions are contrived (in the name of customer service, of course). That smile over the counter is a trained, insincere response 99.9% of the time.
I'll let you pick apart my understanding of Predestined Freewill later :)
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