[Reader-list] ways of life...contd.

[Jeebesh]

Here is a brief paragraph from a e-book on canada. from http://www43.statcan.ca/01/01b/01b_001_e.htm

"Ways of life

In Canada, as the ice sheets retreated and life re-emerged, groups of  
humans gradually began to occupy the entire land mass, up to the  
northernmost regions. For more than 10,000 years, they developed  
original cultures and ways of life suited to their environment. Then,  
a few centuries ago, the Europeans arrived, bringing with them a  
culture that was the product of long development in another—and very  
different—world. In the beginning, their relationship to this 'new'  
territory was dictated strictly by European needs for fish, furs and  
wood. However, those who settled in Canada eventually developed ways  
of living that combined the lifestyles and cultures of both the Old  
World and the Aboriginal peoples. Then, some decades ago, Canadian  
society fell into step with other developed countries in a frenzied  
race to produce and consume. It has since achieved one of the highest  
standards of living in the world, but at the price of considerable  
stress on the environment."

Nothing extraordinary. Many in this lists will find affinity with  
various permutation of this narrative.  The actors will change with  
different circumstances. The end may be in various degrees of  
incompletion or with various degree of wounds.

The question around "ways of life" is understood well when we :
i) assume an homogeneity,
ii) or a critique of environmental degradation
iii) or marketing new developments in lifestyle or real estate

It attracts.

But to think through the question of "ways of life" in an  
heterogeneous environment will be next big intellectual challenge.  
This to my own understanding canNOT be done within the rubric  
orchestrated around the closed and numbing constellation of state,  
nation, religion, and industry. This constellation almost makes it  
impossible to think among others :
  - how we resolve and live conflicts in our daily life (only a small  
fraction of our daily conflicts reaches the courts!)
- how to belong or not to belong or imagine multiple belongings or not  
to belong
- how we makes draw spiritual resources to live with our bafflement,  
wonderment and mysteries
- how to rethink our relation to our body and that amazing great mass  
called nature.......

warmly
jeebesh