Technology and "Primitive" Cultures?
When one examines human cultural traits, and particularly
those expressed in politics, one trait stands out from all others. That trait
is cannibalism. Cannibalism! Really?
Doubting Thomas’s take a second look. Across all cultures
humans devour themselves when they expand outward leaving behind desolation,
much the same as does a fairy ring of mushrooms. Great civilizations that
expand without direction eat themselves off the world map and have done so with
few exceptions since the beginnings of recorded history. Wars started on too
many fronts. Think Hitler’s Germany. Expansion so rapid it overwhelms the
backbones of cohesion such as supply and communication lines. Think Rome, or
more recently, the Soviet Union. Eat or be eaten; Predator or Prey.
Civilizations are by nature cannibalistic, in the final stages preying upon
themselves.
But what does that say about real-life cannibals? And I
don’t mean the perverted soul in the movie “Eating Raoul” or the desperate
starving travelers wintering at Donners Pass. I’m talking about cultures that
never devour their own, which citizens of “civilized” cultures metaphorically
do with self-righteous ease. I do mean primitive cultures that prey on unexpected but welcome
visitors for that tasty treat of human flesh. Think Garden Spider. Who are the true primitives?
Well, last year I had the opportunity to explore that question with the
head of one such jungle tribe. Did I venture into the wilderness to do so? No.
I discovered and friended him on Facebook. Yes. Facebook. It seems that the
social media and technical revolution have reached the Amazon dwellers, and I
don’t mean those who traffic Amazon.com.
In our initial encounter, he was put off when I addressed
him as Chief.
“I prefer to be called ‘Supreme Elder,’” he said, noting that he
had been duly elected by his people.
Neither did he appreciate my referring to
his electorate as a tribe. As we got further into the discussion, it became
apparent that he was not only up with technology, but world politics as well.
He had been following closely the machinations of U.S. politics and was
surprisingly knowledgeable of the issues threatening humanity, particularly as
it impacted on his tribe’s environment and health. It was when I broached the issue of health care that the
interview took an unexpected turn.
“Our people have approved a health care
policy directive that outlaws food not raised organically.”
I was stunned. Could this mean they had abandoned the
practice of eating human flesh?
“Oh no, just uncontaminated flesh,” he replied.
“Uncontaminated?”
"Yes. We prefer eating what your country categorizes as the
One percent. They are a true delicacy. If not available, we tolerate as low as
53 percent for the average community feasts. But eating visitors from the
bottom 47 percent is considered a health hazard and subject to levy of an extra
cow for health insurance premiums."
“What’s the difference?” I asked. “Human is human.”
“That is a myth promoted by your mass media like Fox news.
Mass media exist to protect the one percent from the people. The evidence shows
that the one percent is well-fed, raised on organic produce and protein
supplemented with wild-caught game. This is a healthy diet for my people. The
47 percent, on the other hand, are contaminated with chemicals from a lifetime
ingestion of cheap processed foods that nourish only the coffers of the one
percent. Very toxic to the people. The exception is the visitor from the 47
percent who is under age five, but soon even that will become too contaminated.”
“But how can you distinguish which visitors are which?”
“Sometimes by the amount of currency in their wallet. The
less cash the more likely they are of the one percent. Neither do the one
percenters carry credit cards as all their shopping is done by 47 percent
employees. We also evaluate the purity of their flesh by brand labels on their
clothes and footwear. It is not difficult and the health subcommittee has
issued guidelines to assist the people’s cook’s in their determination.”
“But how can you make those determinations from so deep in
the Amazon?”
“Google or Amazon.com searches are a peoples’ favorite. It
is not difficult. You will have to excuse me now. The peoples’ cook informs me
that an honored visitor is being brought before the Council and it is nearing
dinner time. But let me end by expressing to you my great fear. I fear that
revolts of the 47 percent in your country will severely curtail travel of your
53 percent to my country and put an end to our One percent delicacies. Until
next time.Your Facebook friend, The Supreme Elder.”
“PS: I see from your photos on Facebook that you love the
spectacular water views from your most magnificent upper Manhattan Penthouse,
so you would feel right at home on the peoples’ waterfront community here on
the upper Amazon. We’d love you and your wife to visit here where you could
achieve a greater appreciation of our cultural, culinary and technological
advancements.”
