JS423 EJournal

JS423 EDUCATION SERVICE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

LECTURE 12/5/07

When we read world events in the context of the times we come to understand that terrorist events are a form of speech or language telling us that the inhumane division of world wealth and resources is not acceptable. That 20% of the world’s population should enjoy 80% of wealth and resources is inequitable.
Imperialism and colonialism by the western powers have led to the situation where the 20% world require the poverty of the 80%. Many current problems in the world can be traced back to the effects of colonialism. While poverty of the 80% promotes terrorism it is also a consequence of shame and humiliation experienced by those who identify with the humiliated 80%. Violence grows out of an unequal world and consumerism and overconsumption by the privileged 20% fuel the humiliation and degradation of the oppressed and poor.
While as a society we crave for more and more material goods to make us feel happy and secure it is interesting to reflect that rampant materialism is not only the root cause of much anxiety and suffering in ourselves and our own society but on a global level causes misery and poverty. With a global perspective hopefully we can find more motivation as a society and as individuals to have non-materialistic goals as our reason for being. The world environmental crisis looms as large as it is because of overconsumption and neglect of non-material values. Perhaps the environmental crisis will help us realise that we have to change our ways, not only to save the planet from ecological disaster but also because it is unfair to the majority 80%.

Whilst there is such disturbing inequity in the world there is a hopeful note when we look at the economic progress that has been made in many poverty stricken parts of the world. Enormous material gain has been made in much of Asia with some parts of South America also pulling themselves out of poverty. Environmental issues continue to grow in these parts of the world but if the world is to climb out of ecological disaster then it is important that all the nations of the world work more co-operatively in the common interests of all.
As individuals we can educate ourselves and others to be more aware of issues and in our own example change our lifestyles.

JS423 – Lecture 22/5/07

We reviewed the links with terrorism through consumerism and humiliated communities . We looked at terrorism and its different guises whether it be in the shape of a B52 bomber or a suicide bomber on a bike. Remnants of the colonial project whereby 20% of the world’s population enjoys 80% of its wealth have an enormous impact on the prevalence of violence in our world. Colonial approaches to wielding power ensured that institutional structures that were established would work to maintain the power of the colonial nations. This broad international structure, initiated in colonial times, is responsible for broad global levels of violence as the 80% of the earth’s population do not have access to a corresponding amount of global wealth.


In examining international developments associated with global conflict we can see that conflict arises not only over territorial issues but also over protecting a way of life. This is particularly obvious when we look at the American ideals and the sense that lifestyle issues are non-negotiable. In particular the mythology of the American Dream is particularly powerful especially as it operates largely on an unconscious or subliminal level. It applies even to those who have difficulty accessing the dream, because they do not have assess to wealth and privilege in the same way that the elite of American society do, because they aspire to the American dream. As such it is a very powerful tool. The mythology of each society has a huge impact on the aspirations of the people of that society. In the American case its effect operates on many levels from conscripting the poor underclass to fight its wars to the broader ethic that consumerism will make you happy.

Symbols and icons such as the American flag, baseball, cleanliness, and the ideal small-town America have an enormous effect in promoting patriotism for country, a consumerist mentality and promotion of American values in general. Activists such as Noam Chomsky make it known that the real agenda of American power wielding is to maintain the disparity of power between the rich and the poor. In this way the American power base can be maintained and propaganda effectively manipulated without the general populace even being aware they are being manipulated. Because the American Dream of a happy life has so effectively been taken into all levels of American life primarily through the media it operates as a driving force on all aspects of society and particularly on those who do not have easy access to the benefits of the materialist society because of poverty or racial background. In these cases the poor and underprivileged aspire to the American way of life and so the hidden patriotic and materialist agenda operates to preserve the status quo.

Noam Chomsky in his lecture to Harvard University, “Distorted Morality” video, on my blogsite, Sauntering2, in 2002, speaks of the need for moral integrity in American attitudes to terrorism. He gives examples of the involvement of the American Government in state sponsored terrorism over a number of decades from the Contras in South America to instances of CIA involvement in terrorism in the Middle East. This terrorism is upheld by the American government as acceptable and legitimate as it purportedly supports the ideal of democracy. Chomsky advocates that the American government is hippocritical in its approach to terrorism as it supports terrorism in order to obtain its goals just as other nations are doing. The American government propaganda asserts that terrorism is acceptable in certain circumstances, that is, to allegedly promote democracy. Chomsky states that an honest approach would be to stop talking about morals, right and wrong, and to assert that America has the benefit of the military and will use it to rule the world.

Being a hippocrit or condemning in others what you do yourself is condemned in the Bible and is antithetical to Christian values. Fear is an effective tool for galvanising public opinion against others when it demonises the other and so not only in America but also in Australia we have the scenario where Australian troops have been sent to Iraq as part of the war against terror. Within the psyche of Australians, icons and images strongly work through the media to make it seem imperative to us that we protect ourselves from terrorism. We believe this will help us protect the Australian way of life and the Australian dream of material prosperity and well-being. Owning our own home in suburbia, having plenty of material things and following a consumerist way of life are promoted as the path to happiness. However when we look at research quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald, June 2-3, front-page, “Millions yearn for 9-to-5 heyday”,( A Desire for 9 to 5: Australian’s Preference for a Standard Working Week, by Dr. Brigid van Wanrooy, a post-doctoral fellow at the Workplace Relations Centre at the University of Sydney) we see that Australians are working some of the longest hours in the industrialised world. They work these long hours to live out this ideal of the Australian Dream that money and consumer goods will make them more happy. However while Australians are more wealthy, research indicates that the increased working hours needed to achieve this goal of materialism have resulted in the breakdown of family and other relationships. With this breakdown in relationships we are finding we are less happy and the dream can be seen as a false illusion.
On a Christian level if we are able to devote more time to building community and helping others then we may find this will lead to not only greater societal well-being but also greater personal satisfaction with life. Upholding values different from the prevalent materialist and consumer approach is critical to preserving not only the environment but also our humanity and basic Christian values.