The Internal Struggle of Modern vs. Ancient

The internal struggle of modern vs. ancient is a difficult one to manage, so most would think. Wal-Mart has located one of it's modern stores in San Juan, Mexico, near the ancient city of Teotihuacan. Some say it's a really good thing, and some say it's a really bad thing.

On the plus side, the "quality" of life will increase for those who have access to the store because of the "affordable" prices.

I could go on and on about the words I put in quotation, but I won't go into it too much because I need to focus on the main point I'm trying to make. I know it sounds like I'm criticizing the capitalistic mentality of Wal-Mart, and I am. So, breifly;

The idea of quality makes me laugh sometimes. What it seems to be the definition of quality by corporate America is supposed to mean factory-manufactured goods; be it from America or not, factory-manufacured nonetheless. They have all their reasons why that is: quality control, etc. But what about the quality that mastercraftspersons like Maria Martinez, whom as a folk potter, is known as one of the greatest artist in history. She was a self-taught artist who made one-of-a-kind, priceless, pottery in New Mexico. At least some capitalistic countries can appreciate their artisans. Japan holds national treasures whom are actually people; people who create beautiful pottery and swords and many other crafts the ancient way and not in fast-paced factories. I don't see America naming Wal-mart as a national treasure. Do you?

My next quick point is the idea that Wal-Mart thinks it's so accessible, to any population it puts it's self in, that one just can't help but buy their products. And because one can't help themselves but buy them, there in lies the problem. Because they're "affordable," they become a dependancy. And we all know what it's like to get stuck in a loop of dependancy, don't we? (ahem, oil). Thus, we become slaves to our addiction.

Now to my main point... There are historical lessons we must learn. There are too many similarities, between now and then, that the ancient Teotihuacan culture can teach us. It is believed to have become self-destructive when it did because of, not only the depletion of it's natural resources, but also because of the guilt the consciousness of it's people had to endure as they watched themselves falter on day after day. It is very well understood that when we have a one-crop agriculture happening, nature doesn't tend to like it. Mono-agricultures are an absolute necessity of corporations like Wal-mart to survive. For example, this I heard on NPR just the other day, a reintroduction of farm animals to crops is now necessary, by means of nature to take it's usual path, so that the soil may be re-enriched, so that the crops can continue growing as they do. Otherwise, the soil can become barren, and/or pests of one kind can thrive causing a disruption of plurality in species in that particular location. Well, even though our experts can see beginnings of self-destruction happening, the ancients did see it happen. We must keep in mind that Teotihuacan lasted many more centuries than we, America, has. God only knows how long their actual suffering lasted when they did exist. It's no secrete that money controls government. So, why are we relying on our government to take charge, when we know that's not what is going to happen?

The best way for us to take charge, is not to "charge," if you know what I mean. Don't use credit cards, and don't buy from Wal-Mart or Wal-Mart-like companies. Hey, buy locally if you can. It might or might not be a little more expensive, but hey, you know what? The quality will be much better in all the levels you could think about: You'll be purchasing from a specialist like Maria Martinez, you'll be free of dependency, you'll be doing good for your community, and you'll be maintaining your environment healthy (be it locally or displaced; like at a factory that no longer needed to create pollution because we didn't demanded it to do so).

We don't need them. we need only you, me and our neighbors; the global family... Hint... Don't you find it interesting that west Mexican cultures had contact with the Inca, thousands of miles away, and we, with all of our technological wonders, like the internet, are having trouble saying a simple, "hi," to our neighbors as we pass them by on our way to work?