Daniel Quinn

I have, in the past few weeks, read Daniel Quinn's Ishmael, The Story of B, and My Ishmael. Now, I know that there are many people who have read these, and many who have felt a fire kindle within them: a desire to save the world, if you will. And many have gone so far as to actually do something, however slight toward this goal that is not noble or morally right, just absolutely necessary for the continued survival of this species.

I'm not sure that the continued survival of this species is such a good idea. Quite frankly, I'm tempted to hope that we don't develop the capability of planetary colonization before our current path drives us to extinction.

The problem is, when I use these words, we, us, I'm just talking about the descendents of the Taker culture. There are still a few Leaver peoples left on this planet, and they don't deserve the destruction that will befall our planet.

That's another thing. Do you think it could be possible for our culture to die out, but the planet still to recover? Because I realized, as I typed the above paragraph, that the Leaver peoples will not necessarily die our as the rest of us do, unless we take the planet along with us, which is very possible.

But I hope, not inevitable.

But what do I do? Instinctually, my first thought is to grab a knife, a blanket, and a water bottle and head out. Fuck Taker Culture! But then there is of course the issue that I could never survive out there on my own for long. Okay, so I take some survival courses. I become the best damn survivalist ever. And I leave. And survive. And have a great life out in the middle of the Law of Life.

But what happens to everyone else? Do I have an obligation to save everyone else too? Because I could do it, man. I could leave and go and be Jane Goodall or whatever. But is that the point of Daniel Quinn's works?

I actually do think that it could be a point. He doesn't want us to give up technology, doesn't want us to 'go back' to anything. Part of what he wants is for us to go make lives for ourselves that are worth living.

I think I'll end it here for right now: You have to save yourself before you can save the world.