"Unfortunately I think it’s fair to say that, at least when it comes to political and economic power, the world tends to get taken by those who see the world as theirs for the taking. Which is a master-of-the-universe perspective that’s antithetical to the ideas of environmental and social mutual flourishing that are behind your work. But I’m curious to know whether it’s a perspective that you think you can understand."
~ David Marchese
"David, I don’t understand it. But I think about it a lot. In my kinder moments I try to think about it empathetically and say people with that perspective were not raised with the word 'humility' in their vocabulary as a good thing. 'Humility' in Western culture is to be meek and mild and dispossessed. In Potawatomi ways of thinking, we uphold humility. Edbesendowen is the word that we give for it: somebody who doesn’t think of himself or herself as more important than others. What that means is that everybody is as important as you are, and what that creates is this sense of vitality and community and family. Like, dang, aren’t we lucky to be surrounded by these genius bats and incredible fireflies? Humility that brings that sort of joy and belonging as opposed to submission, that’s what I wish for those folks you’re talking about."
~ Robin Wall Kimmerer
No comments:
Post a Comment