The Monstrous Dawn of Progress January 12, 2012
2011-43316
SOSC 1

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman (1903) "Maxims for Revolutionists" We all know progress is the idea that the world can become increasingly better in terms of science, technology, modernization, liberty, democracy and quality of life. These term looks forward to an ideal completeness or perfection in respect of quality or condition; -- applied to individuals, communities, or the race; as, social, moral, religious, or political progress. Many say that no man will ever be satisfied and each of us is hungry for change. However, we know that progress is a very subjective terminology. What if our view of progress is to have three full meals a day and hunt more food more than we need? Our natives roamed their lands for ages. They roam an autonomous region which is molded by their own culture and way of living. Their adaptation to these lands is very impressive due to the fact that they have stayed in this place for a long time--thus, it makes them more invincible to the dangers of their natural environment. In contrast with these, we try to colonize our indigenous people and force them to live our own way of living without thinking that they could not handle the fast phasing of our daily living. We deteriorate the current order of a simple society which bring about pandemonium to their physiology, behavior and culture. One study shows that the indigenous people of Australia, Maori, are now suffering from high risk of lung cancer. Doctors assumed that almost all cases of lung cancer in Maori are due to smoking; this is unlikely to be the case because long before, it is not in the culture of the Maori to smoke. Smoking only penetrated the culture of Maori when they forced to undergo European settlement. Environmental tobacco smoke (passive smoking), smoking marijuana, occupational exposures, diet, socioeconomic status, or level of deprivation are also likely to play a role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer in Maori. (Journal of the New Zealand Medical Association) Another case reported, according to the article “The Price of Progress” is the aggravated case of vitamin A deficiency in Brazilians which caused permanent blindness. Many specialists speculate, the deficiency was worsen by a milk distribution program. However, who will be jailed by only giving milk to the people they think needs it? None; who would even believe that they would lose their sight only by drinking milk? Health hazards are suffered by indigenous people because we try to inject our diet to their pre-existing diet which is very dangerous for them. We kill them slowly, not purposely but we do. Another issue is about their lands, although the United Nations are trying their best to address the problems of human rights violations on indigenous people, it was still a growing problem for the natives. The modern people try to push them away from their lands to transform these “sacred” lands into mining grounds, leaving it deforested and polluted. What is worse is that the ecocide contributes to the genocide. As the land becomes polluted and ruined, the resources will soon die and the tribes that live around the land will run out of supplies making them famished. Some of they die in their lands others are pushed to the plains to become slaves and beggars. This is very unacceptable. In my own experience, I have seen how the people have treated our indigenous people in our own country. The “unat” as what we are usually called fools the “kulot” by bargaining their resources unequally. One instance I vividly remember is when a “kulot” traded one kilo squid to a “unat” and he was only given a kilo of rice. Although we know that the value of squid is a lot higher than rice. What do we really want anyway? Why don’t we just be proud that there are still existing races which have preserved our cultures for ages. Even though we promise them a better future, none of these happens because we falter in our amenities and it causes them much trouble. We are only good in beginning things but at the moment that we found out that things get a little more complicated we just disappear leaving the natives nothing but despair. We have been destroying a pre-existing order that has been present for ages. They can survive and progress in their own belief, culture and presence of God. The only thing we need to do is to safeguard them against all harm and fear.

“The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth” Chief Seattle-Squamish To witness what our ancestors have left behind is such an incredible gift. They help us see where we came from that serve as our guide to continue our future. Let them progress by their own means and let them feel their progress just the way we want our progress to be. At some point let us still be reasonable for we are only dots on Earth and we should know how to respect her orders.

Janessa Joy T. Bongkahig 2011-43316 V-4R