Nature Deficit Culture
“Use it or lose it” comes to mind here. Senses turned away from the natural world in favor of an artificial one will reflect a more insensitive humanity. It may transform humanoids into technovoids . The difference is the degree of feelings that will be lost in the transition.
Building physical walls between ourselves and nature prevents us from feeling the outside world and makes us less compassionate as a culture. It drains our insides of its sensitivity to the emotional side of our humanity. Less compassion breeds harsher demands on the environment and fellow man. How can anyone develop more compassion, when feelings diminish each time another wall goes up?
Many writers have pointed out that we have many kids with “nature deficit disorder.” Too many kids in this country, our culture, our society, are turning on machines and away from nature. From video games to Myspace, increased screen time seems to be a serious threat to man’s survival from himself.
This vortex of hi- technology ever sucks the human psyche into an evolution of mankind over to a kind of zomboide existence. Before it is too late, I believe we should pay attention to the wisdom of native people who prescribe a philosophy of life based on the Seventh Generation Principle.
They live by a credo of doing everything today, so that the outcome will favor perpetuation of a future seventh generation. This means passing on accumulated earth wisdom to each successive new generation. Much value was put into story telling and interacting with kids out in nature. Passion is developed by hands on experience and interacting with the natural world. It is real. Not artificial.
If you get lost in the woods, knowing the route to escape the danger is no where as valuable as understanding how to survive on the land. Intellectualizing nature on a screen is like believing the map is the territory. You may be heading in the right direction, but might die before getting to the end. Not knowing how to survive the elements and forces of nature could be your downfall.
The bigger implication is the symbolism of global warming and the future of Mother Earth. Moral of the story: Spend more time with kids out in nature. Feel the outside to nurture the inside and a sustainable future.
