In David Brin’s Survival of the Fittest Ideas: The New Style of War -- a Struggle Among Memes we explore the history or memes and different kinds of memes that are used universally. We look at four main ones, Paranoia, Machismo, The East and the Dogma of Otherness. Paranoia is the idea that there can only be one superpower, and we must fear everything else. Machismo refers to a patriarchal society, in which mans voice, rules all. The meme of the east states that as a society we must join forces and do well together, we cannot achieve greatness as an individual, only by being an important member of society. The final meme, the dogma of otherness states that diversity, and ever changing societies are the key to a peaceful society.
This article really makes one think about who makes a society run, and what is really defined as a perfect society. For such a long time, America was looked at to be the most powerful country. Yet, right now, we are trillions of dollars in debt. We still find ourselves, and our military fighting battles all of the world, and attempting to fix the world’s problems, when here on the home front we are struggling with many of the same issues. I realize the quality of life in America is much higher than it is in most other places around the world, but as a country we cannot change other countries around us.
The question I developed while reading this article was who is to say what is defined as the ideal meme for a society. Within the article, we get a look at the societies of Russia, China, and Europe. It shows how each of these societies has spent time in numerous meme’s yet we are never introduced to the goal of a society. Is having one leader within a man the correct route, or should we be looking for and trying to achieve diversity. Should we be working as a group, or should we be staying on our toes and watching every move that everyone around us makes. These are the types of questions that need to be tested, to see what combination of these memes can make up the ultimate society.
I agree with your thought that as "America" or the "United States" we cannot change other countries. Each nation is made up of millions of people, but the view is the same no matter what society it is: when the ideas of one country are forced on another, it is viewed as an intrusion. I think Brin would say that we can only influence each other as individuals spreading ideas -- America is a big and dominating country, but an American is a person who can interact with others. Although our country's policies do greatly impact others, in terms of spreading ideas I think that Brin would agree that this must be done through individuals, on a more personal level than on the grand scale of world politics.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with your statement that as a country America cannot change surrounding countries. You don't think that if the US stopped producing goods that other countries needed and stopped buying what other countries have that we do not, it wouldn't change anything? Other countries dependency on American goods and consumption rates give America a unique power to control the global scene.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you were saying about the United States. I wrote a similar thought in my blog. Although I must say it is amazing how America once so powerful and full of jobs and a booming economy is now anything but that. So that leads to many questions and one in particular leading up to China. Our debt is mostly to China and with china becoming the worlds super power what can America do to regain what we've lost?
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