The Widening Gyre?
Over in another forum, someone posted something about "the first step in the total collapse of civilization appearing in the same place civilization first started"-that is, Egypt.
Here's my response:
Now, that's interesting.
The ground-level news that's leaking through the blackout-and NOT getting on the Big Mass Media-suggests that, while PROTEST is widespread, actual RIOTING is fairly limited.
I'm not sure I can see a popular uprising against a dictator, Muslims uniting to defend Christians against sectarian violence, or peaceful protesters linking arms to keep looters out of museums, as "the end of civilization".
Unless, of course, you define "civilization" as "a rigid, hierarchical society where everyone knows his place". This is an entirely valid definition, and most certainly had its roots in Egypt, Babylon, and the other prototypical agricultural societies. Cities and Kings emerged hand-in-hand, and so did the tendency to equate "disobedience" with "wickedness".
If you subscribe to other definitions, rooted more in human rights and decency, this doesn't look so much like the END of civilization as the BEGINNING.
Here's my response:
Now, that's interesting.
The ground-level news that's leaking through the blackout-and NOT getting on the Big Mass Media-suggests that, while PROTEST is widespread, actual RIOTING is fairly limited.
I'm not sure I can see a popular uprising against a dictator, Muslims uniting to defend Christians against sectarian violence, or peaceful protesters linking arms to keep looters out of museums, as "the end of civilization".
Unless, of course, you define "civilization" as "a rigid, hierarchical society where everyone knows his place". This is an entirely valid definition, and most certainly had its roots in Egypt, Babylon, and the other prototypical agricultural societies. Cities and Kings emerged hand-in-hand, and so did the tendency to equate "disobedience" with "wickedness".
If you subscribe to other definitions, rooted more in human rights and decency, this doesn't look so much like the END of civilization as the BEGINNING.