One Planet, One People 


Coon posed the entirety of human history as cultural evolution, with expansion of "us", and corresponding reduction of "them", beginning with the individual and nuclear family, gradually extending to the tribe, the neighborhood, the parish, the city, the feifdom, the state, and the nation. 

We met with DC area Brights and Secular Humanists today, and heard an erudite but lucid talk on the subject of "One Planet, One People". Carl Coon, former ambassador to Nepal, was the speaker and the talk was based on his 2004 book of that title.
The main thesis of the talk (and book) was that humankind is on its way to developing a planetary ethic of allegiance to humanity as a whole. Coon posed the entirety of human history as cultural evolution, with expansion of "us", and corresponding reduction of "them", beginning with the individual and nuclear family, gradually extending to the tribe, the neighborhood, the parish, the city, the feifdom, the state, and the nation. Now, only a single additional level stands between us and the achievement of an ethic of planetary identity, with no remaining "them" (apart from the criminals, anarchists, and terrorists). It's an optimistic view of the future and its inevitability, in spite of temporary setbacks. There was a spirited discussion following the talk. I'm appending a poem/song from the book to whet your appetite.

Thanks to Cory Carter for organizing this!

Tom Moore
"A piece of the sky and a chunk of the earth lie lodged in the heart of every human being." -- Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852)


People of Earth
by Carl Coon

People of Earth,
We reach for the stars,
But never forget,
That the Earth gave us birth

Children of Earth
Your numbers were small
Your knowledge was slim
But you worshipped the Earth.

Everything changed,
Our numbers increased,
We worshiped false gods,
And we ravaged the Earth.

Now that we've grown,
And know what we are,
We love and respect
Our mother, the Earth.

People of Earth,
We reach for the stars,
But never forget
That the Earth gave us birth...
Yes, the Earth gave us birth...
Gave us birth...
Gave... us... birth...
 

Posted: Mon - March 21, 2005 at 10:01 p.m.         | |

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