Grow or Collapse

By TLS

Sam Harris is an exceptional thinker. He seems to have an ability to drill down to the base constituents of an issue, evaluate those against a set of moral and ethical standards, then rebuild the issue with a clear(er) understanding and opinion, and is then able to take an informed position on that issue. This is a rare skill indeed!

In the clip I saw, he mentioned a real, growing, and increasingly concerning problem of the modern age: Half the population wants to contract and retreat into isolationism while approximately the other half wants to grow into a global community. These are not very compatible goals.

There is no shortage of hills upon which to die trying to plant the proverbial flag of one beliefs or opinions. But, I think this one is getting close to the base issue facing us today. Grow or collapse. I think that sums it up pretty well.

I understand the comfort of isolationism. Basically a double middle finger to the rest of the world and a sign posted that says “No Trespassing, violators will be shot!” Sooo, strangers better keep away and don’t bother us in our utopia.

That’s works fine, when you’re strong enough to back it up. But, if a country isolates for too long they will likely stagnate and then decline. A nearby neighbor, who is not interested in isolationism, may then be strong enough to dictate terms to the once high and mighty. Not a great outcome for the overly proud.

Growing into a global community presents its own problems though. We are a wildly varied people across the globe with a colossal difference in views and beliefs. How is a Muslim extremist terrorist ever to reconcile with a gay Los Angeles based pot smoking Jewish Buddhist? I can think of one or two challenges there.

However, I still believe that is the better way forward. We may be in a ‘modern age’ but we are an infantile species, and we very much act like it. I believe these are our growing pains. Similar to our teenage years; painful, difficult, and awkward. But we got through it and I’m certain most of us would not want to regress back to that state.

Growth is painful, difficult, and tiring. But I think regressing will ultimately be far more painful and detrimental, even if half disagree.

If you’ve read this far, I’d love to hear where you stand. Do you lean toward isolation, growth, or something in between? Drop your thoughts in the comments and share this with someone who needs to think about the choice we all face: grow or collapse.

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