monkey wrench

most of us have seen the movie ‘The Gods Must Be Crazy’.. and what really 'hit' me is how 'language' has become the defining factor of who we are..

the almost surreal scene where everyone falls to the ground scared to death except one deaf man who happily goes on with his work because he can't hear anything..

life of the peaceful, loving bushmen and life in the city.. primitivism versus civilization.. if primitive translates to wild and wild to barbaric.. what does 'civilization' mean?

are we back there.. but that is impossible.. because when they find a dead elephant, they wonder why anyone would need to kill for the tusk and not to eat.. willing to travel a whole day and night to ask another tribe to share in their meal because there is sufficient for everyone..

when an empty bottle falling between them breaks their peace.. disturbs their humanity.. they take real pains to throw the bottle not the 'human-beings'..

I am grateful to Mr.Richard Clark for writing about the ‘Monkey Sphere’.. and the 'apathy' each has.. towards the faceless ones.. as humanity takes shape in a handful of people who matter to us..

earlier man had to cover huge spaces to know or talk to other groups of people.. today, when we have covered that space.. it has stopped making a difference..

a bushman runs non-stop for miles to save his children.. still helping a dying man on the way..

his thoughts don't have the 'sphere' ours have.. no fears.. no judgement.. no criticism.. no rancour.. like the zen masters say to what is enlightenment? - "When hungry, eat. When tired, sleep." after 'progress' and 'civilization'.. this is what we seek!