In fact, it's not mine at all, but a fragment of a comment posted on Chris Trotters Bowalley Road blog, by someone named 'Stevey'. It's possibly bad form to cut and paste bits of what someone else has said, but I liked the way he said it and I'll link back so that he and Mr Trotter can chastise me if the see fit :-)
Here's Stevey's comment (in part).
One of the most distressing things about the last 25 years is the erosion of the collectivist spirit that built the modern nation that is slowly unravelling about us. Let me clarify that statement. We have official collectivism (the stadium of 4 million) and spontaneous collectivism (the grass roots response to the earthquakes and the oil spill.) Official collectivism is all about artificial hype, false consciousness and commodification of human relationships. The other type is about people making human, unmediated connections with those around them. One is heartily approved of by the system, the other viewed nervously as a potential threat (despite weaselly statements about the kiwi spirit.) The initial response of the government to people heading down to the beach at Papamoa was to tell them to stay away. Not for any public safety reasons, but so that any spontaneous collective effort did not materialise. Because once people start to realise that they can do things independently of the government, making positive change in their own communities without oversight from Wellington, the first seeds of true resistance begin to sprout. One thing is for sure though, we have one of the most idiotic administrations in living memory running the show here, and people are slowly getting tired of being told what to do by these charlatans. It might (God help us) take something even bigger than the Christchurch disaster to shift peoples conciousness, but be sure it's gonna happen. Probably when we least expect it...."
Saturday, October 22, 2011
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4 comments:
I once had a conversation with someone who worked for an aid agency that provided medical support in different countries when they experience a major disaster. He share with me his experience of major disasters in highly developed countries compared to "third world" nations.
Apparently many developed countries are so reliant on authorities when dealing with crisis (New Orleans is a classic example) that people are unable to act independently, and there is no sense of a shared responsibility.
In poorer nations the opposite is the case, community action and collective responsibility kicks in immediately and recovery can be much quicker.
It is good to be prepared ahead for a disaster and have some organisation, or chain of command in place, but not at the expense of killing the ability of people to co-operate and act as real communities.
Totally agree bsprout. I have a friend who is in the first wave at major disasters with the Rotary Shelter Box programme. His accounts of the locals coming to after the initial shock and seeing help hit the ground with no politics and no strings, and pitching in to help themselves and those around is inspiring. No waiting for government agencies and bureaucrats to get off their chuffs - just good old fashioned community responsibility and self-help.
Believe it or not, this whole blogosphere thing is new to me! What I wrote on Bowalley Road was my first blog or comment (or whatever you call it) ever... It is fascinating to watch how conversations and ideas are exchanged and develop.
Mr Robertguyton you are free to use any of my writings. I'm just another joe who's pissed off and thinking out loud (in between just getting on with it...)
bsprout, good point. I saw similar things to what you describe when I was in India. Does this mean that parts of Christchurch are now in the "third world"? My point is exactly about breaking this dependence on the "authorities". Too often they are a hindrance rather than a help.
Well, congratulations, Stevey, you scored a direct hit! I hope to read more of your thoughts and hope I won't have to wait too long before I do. There is much to be lost from dilly-dallying :-)
Your 'official collectivism' comment is just so right for today!
Do you read The Archdruid Report?
http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/
Always excellent, but his most recent post pertains to what you've written very closely.
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