Over the years of studying History, I've found that my favorite area within that field is Social History. That's the part where we examine the details of daily life, and track the changes that shaped one's world in times past. What makes it so fascinating for me is that what lessons are offered by this study are so obviously visible even today.
One of my History professors put it like this: The primary reason for studying History is to avoid living like gorillas, who pass virtually nothing from one generation to the next, aside from DNA and a few individual habits. Each new generation has to start from scratch learning about their world, and there are none of the benefits of accumulated knowledge. The generalizations that so many protest today are a rock-solid ground of necessity for understanding human nature.
How many of us do not know that urban conglomerations are some of the worst, most inhuman and inhumane places to live? City governments are generally the most oppressive, as they have to be in order to function at all. Indeed, the definition of civilization is: a developed set of behavioral standards necessary for people to live tightly-packed in cities. Yet inevitably, the further development of standards and controls tend to de-humanize to the point life is not worth living anymore. It can no longer be called "life."
In such an atmosphere, every small problem is magnified many times. People begin to jealously guard what little dignity they still retain. Small indignities seem to call for fierce responses, as the distance between what little humanity is allowed and complete disregard is very short. This is further complicated by the variations in sub-cultures, with the attendant standards of behavior. What is regional variation in the country becomes by-the-block in the city. Further, while behavioral standards in rural areas arise in part from the natural differences in terrain, "regions" in the city are much more arbitrary, and the culture is usually artificial. Indeed, the urban sub-cultures have so little basis in real need that they are easily swept away with each succeeding generation.
Of course, there are economic advantages to developing urban conglomerations. As is the normal course of human affairs, there are some better able to reap the rewards of these advantages over others. Underlying the civilized ideal of general equality are the very real inequalities of talent so much more easily realized in the density of the hive. The natural tension between the poor and the wealthy is aggravated many times over, and becomes a cause for living in itself. This gives rise to a very highly developed predator class, those who depend on the regulation of behavior even as they defy it. The barriers between the various groups become more rigid, as individual identity is more easily lost -- all the while proclaiming the facade of egalitarianism.
There is greater specialization of economic activity for the simple reason that it is possible, when there are so very many among whom the various tasks of life can be distributed. The one thing one does best can become their whole career, leaving for others the pursuit of other specialties. Yet here again we find de-humanization, as one is reduced in value to the sum of one's output. Since there is little market for a broad range of abilities and interests, there is every reason to squelch the spending of any significant resources on encouraging broad interests. Each element in the economy is reduced to machinery. The very human longing for beauty and art becomes itself little more than another market, and it becomes regulated like the rest.
There are plenty of good things that have come from this, too. Look at medicine as an obvious example. Medical advances often come from having at hand large groups with similar ailments on which to test various comparative remedies. Still, while rural life is hardly perfect, in the generalizations required to understand humanity, we note that living in the country is more human. If nothing else, it demands broadening of oneself, because there aren't any great numbers for the specialization and division of tasks.
At this point it is well to note that it was the fallen son of Adam, Cain, that gave birth to urban living. We know little of life for the third son, Seth. While many might poke at arguing from silence, in this case it seems the best explanation: a simple, rural agrarian existence does not inspire the creation of the sort of building and artifact-making that archaeologists can find, and historians can explain. Further, we note that from Cain's descendents came the first concerted effort to reject the worship of the One True God. They were the first to work at obtaining the secret powers of magic from consorting with demons. Seth's family is known mostly for one thing: "...then began men to call upon the name of the Lord." (Genesis 4:26)
In our American cities are found the greatest source for our loss of liberty: the urban elite dwellers. They are the ones who hold a concentration of political power, who seek to make all humanity into machines to serve the hive, neglecting to mention that they seek to be the collective queen served by the hive. They are the ones who espouse pagan Green Theology, with a plan to drive us rustics off the land, out of our liberties, and into their controlling grasp.
I'd rather serve God, thank you.
Ed Hurst
23 April 2002, revised 25 October 2003
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: People of honor need no copyright laws; they are only too happy to give credit where credit is due. Others will ignore copyright laws whenever they please. If you are of the latter, please note what Moses said about dishonorable behavior -- "be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23)