Thursday, September 27, 2001

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

Review by Reason Wilken

A Gorilla’s Version of The Meaning of Life (And Why We Should Listen)

Imagine this scene: A man is sitting in the dimly lit office of his adopted professor. The professor is explaining, in great detail, the origin of man and the course of human evolution. To illustrate his points, the professor draws various maps of the so-called “Fertile Crescent” in the Middle East and references biblical stories with the ease of an Ivy League historian. His student listens intently as the professor makes complex inferences and analyses of where man has been and where he is going. The professor is a gorilla. What is wrong with this picture?

In a word, nothing. Though one might not expect much in the way of cultural insight from a gorilla, Ishmael is clearly different. He has apparently taken to educating himself during the long hours in his cage, and as a result has become well-versed in human civilization. His area of expertise is, fittingly enough, captivity. Exactly what the concept of captivity has to do with the course of human evolution is not immediately obvious, but it quickly becomes clear.

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Daniel Quinn recommends...

"The article "Why Are We So Hated? Looking Beyond Osama Bin Laden" by William O. Beeman, Pacific News Service, September 12, 2001, provides a terrific global perspective of the September 11 attack. I highly recommend it."

I read this article recommended by Daniel Quinn. I don't think the author means to excuse the actions of the terrorists, but simply help us better understand Osama bin Laden's motivation. With that reservation I too recommend it. ... Timothy

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My Opinion

Bill Ellis writes: "September 11 marks the end of the nation-state and the beginning of a fully globalized world.  As we all move through the rubble of WTC and the Pentagon, mourn for the lost lives, and celebrate the heroes, we are also cellebrating the beginning of a radically different World.

"Globalization has been slowly creeping up on us for a few decades.  The corporate world was the first to globalize.  Left alone in this new mode it developed an arrogance that eclipsed governance by the nation-state.  But a globalized civil society emerged to question corporate globalization.

"Unfortunately the voices of the protesters were muffled. The globalized corporate world was too dominant. So in parallel with this rise of a corporate globalization has been the festering hate of many left without voice in this new world.  Global terrorism rose to become the final arbiter of a new globalized society."

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