It really doesn’t matter what the issue of the day presents itself to reflect – it all boils down to fundamentally divergent values.
Dr. Stephen Covey presented it thusly: On one side you have those living life according to the “Law of the farm” – on the other “The Law of the School”. The former is natural, God given, the semblance of order and life cycle; The latter is a man-made interpretation of selfish self-interest.
A farmer is given to follow the natural law to receive benefit of harvest. He must tend the soil, plant the seed, provide the natural and needed water and fertilizer, then follow up with care -over time- constant tending, sheltering and nurturing, to gain the final benefit of reaping the reward, the harvest.
A farmer cannot “cram” or skip any process in order to achieve success. The process must, naturally, begin with point ‘A’, follow the B, C, D, E, steps in sequential and reconcilable order importance, and finally, after laborious endeavors find himself at the end. The goal.
But “School” is a man-made endeavor. It is possible to skip class, blow off the numerical and sequential reading, do those self-interested things in the stead, and then, just before the final test to gauge comprehension, “CRAM” with desperate intent, and find yourself with just enough information retained to pass the man-made estimation of knowledge.
Following this “easier path”, might afford the benefit of title – but it does not reflect the intrinsic understanding of real knowledge. Only the ability to claim such knowledge litmus is possible.
Such is also the distinction of association. Or, at least, by my own weak explanation, the distinction between a conservative who values the “law of the farm”, and a progressive who finds greater self-interest in the “law of the school”.
One, non-industrialist, views value from effort: “we find these truths to be self-evident, that we are endowed by our creator, with certain unalienable rights”. Perhaps described as a common understanding that life begins with “A” and, if lived properly, and with proper intent, delivers ourselves to the point of “Z”. Accepting that certain defined “self-evident” truths are commonly understood.
Perhaps, for the sake of understanding those truths can also be defined as “values”.
However, over time those truths, or values, from the mindset of the industrialist or “Law of School” follower, are able to be manipulated – smoothed – re-evaluated, behind a more desperate need for selfish pursuits.
At first such a view would be met with admonition and shame toward those who seek the short-cut to selfish endeavors. Then, over time, as the coalition of the self grows, the guilt is diminished behind the size of their association.
Time progresses toward a stage of great consequence, where the balance between those farmers, and those schoolers equivocates. Eventually there are equal parts makers and takers and the great period of determination presents itself.
I believe that time of consequence is all around us right now.
And what great decisions lay afore those who find themselves recognizing such consequential status. To borrow:
[…] it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
[…] Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments Values long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed […]
[…] We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War […]
So here we are, a rag tag bunch of misfits, finding consequential purpose from our association; And, by great necessity, the binding commonality which affords us some measure of oxygen amid the swirling parasites who demand proprietary ownership of the air around us.
The Tree House is a place of conversation with a purpose, not the least of such purposeful importances are the safety and security of knowing you are not alone.
The Last Refuge.
A place guarded heavily, protected vehemently, and cherished closely, for all the aforementioned reasons.
This is also why those who expose themselves to be of such selfish constitutional upbringing, or determinations of their self-driven preferences, are dispatched with full measure of disinfection.
Sundance