PARACULTURE PAGE 7 PARACULTURE - WHY PARACULTURE AVOIDS DIRECT CONFLICT - SPREADING GOOD MEMES - WE COULD keep on being a imperialistic country, in a larger imperialist system of exploitation of the poor by the powerful, or we can begin to implement a different system. Imperialism past, present and future requires destruction of individuals, destruction of other cultures, and assassination of dissenters: This leads to retaliation from dissenters as they become aware of helplessness. People in a world of injustice will first try peaceful means and when frustrated enough they may turn to violence. Violence is never the answer but discussion and example can do much to change the world. If people see that the culture they are in is making them slaves they will attempt to gain their "freedom", and perhaps learn to enslave the en-slavers.. The American public is becoming aware of the limitations of imperialism and many want to move on to a more egalitarian way of working with other people of the world. Imperialist ;leaders use war and devious economics to take from other people. Ultimately uncontrolled and greedy leaders not only preys upon other cultures but ultimately preys upon its own citizens. Ruthless leaders are willing to enslave their own people in order to to retain power and control. To change all this will take time, as vested interests will do anything they can to retain the power and wealth they get from the established system . This resistance by the powerful will continue for a long time and they distort and defeat many new ideas that has the potential to interfere with vested power. My idea is to avoid direct confrontation but educate while developing new ideas to set an example and perhaps to create new systems which because of their honesty and wisdom sidestep dictatorial leaders. Paraculture realizes this, and believes that small units of aware people can build some islands of aware and rational individuals and groups who can set an example for future humane ways of living. Aware people can build virtual communities :perhaps these will lead to actual communities. If communities are built that are reasonable and convincing,(communities that work), the ideas may spread to the rest of the worlds populations as a sort of healthy set of memes that will spread throughout mend' lives and empower a better life for individuals and groups. A meme is a small idea that can be transmitted through society somewhat as individual genes in organisms spread through species. See where searching Wikipedia for memes and emetics takes you. Robert Dahl (see Wikipedia) makes his view about democracy clear. "No modern country meets the ideal of democracy, which is a theoretical utopia." To reach the ideal requires meeting 5 criteria: 1.Effective Participation - Citizens must have adequate and equal opportunities to form their preference and place questions on the public agenda and express reasons for one outcome over the other. 2.Voting Equality at the Decisive Stage - Each citizen must be assured his or her judgments will be counted as equal in weights to the judgments of others. 3.Enlightened Understanding - Citizens must enjoy ample and equal opportunities for discovering and affirming what choice would best serve their interests. 4.Control of the Agenda - Demos or people must have the opportunity to decide what political matters actually are and what should be brought up for deliberation. 5.Inclusiveness - Equality must extend to all citizens within the state. Everyone has legitimate stake within the political process. Instead, he calls politically advanced countries "polyarchies". Polyarchies have elected officials, free and fair elections, inclusive suffrage, rights to run for office, freedom of expression, alternative information and associational autonomy. Those institutions are a major advance in that they create multiple centers of political power. Robert Dahl professor at Yale - was awarded the Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science in 1995. ERICH FROMM - ABOUT ERCH FROMM QUOTE Fromm's ideal character type, the mature "productive character", the person without a mask, who loves and creates, and for whom being is more important than having, The second chapter of my book will combine several Psychological and self help concepts to explain, believe it or not, happiness. Vastly oversimplified happiness is when a person has enough, not too little and not to much. That sounds simplistic but I develop it greatly using the works of aware psychologists with a bit of zen added. Certainly I have doubts about whether a new society can be designed and implemented. What would be the cost? First we invest only ideas and words. Second we hope they will change the future for the better. Three we implement the ideas within our limits. My opinion is that if enough people accept a non-religious practice of the 5 basic precepts of Buddhism the idea will spread. These principals should will only offend people who want to impose their ideas of behavior on others. I believe that even in the most theocratic countries and societies the ordinary persons wants to have the freedom to live with people who are not fanatical, people who in turn want their own freedom within obvious moral bounds, People want to think for themselves while cooperating with others because of the benefits of sensible, honorable, cooperation. ERS . PARACULTURE PAGE 7

HOWARD ZINN HISTORY OF USA go to youtube and paste the following in or just search Zinn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftpqALvXjO0&feature=related Robert Dahl (see Wikipedia) makes his view about democracy clear. No modern country meets the ideal of democracy, which is a theoretical utopia. To reach (or approach) the ideal requires meeting 5 criteria: 1.Effective Participation - Citizens must have adequate and equal opportunities to form their preference and place questions on the public agenda and express reasons for one outcome over the other.

2. Voting Equality at the Decisive Stage - Each citizen must be assured his or her judgments will be counted as equal in weights to the judgments of others.

3. Enlightened Understanding - Citizens must enjoy ample and equal opportunities for discovering and affirming what choice would best serve their interests.

4. Control of the Agenda - Demos or people must have the opportunity to decide what political matters actually are and what should be brought up for deliberation.

5. Inclusiveness - Equality must extend to all citizens within the state. Everyone has legitimate stake within the political process. Robert Dahl calls politically advanced countries "polyarchies". Polyarchies have elected officials, free and fair elections, inclusive suffrage, rights to run for office, freedom of expression, alternative information and associational autonomy. Those institutions are a major advance in that they create multiple centers of political power. Robert Dahl professor at yale - was awarded the Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science in 1995. QUOTE ABOUT ERICH FROMM Fromm's ideal character type, the mature "productive character", the person without a mask, who loves and creates, and for whom being is more important than having,

Certainly I have some doubts about whether a new society can be designed and implemented. But the costs of making an attempt are not that high. What are the costs? First we invest only ideas and words and a little time. Second we hope our ideas will change the future for the better. Third we build small communities on line and link with other people to see what real things can be done. My opinion is, that if enough people accept a non-religious practice of the 5 basic precepts of Buddhism there will be a basis for a way for people to live and work together. These principals should not offend anyone but fanatics who want to impose their ideas of behavior without thought. The Buddhist ideas do not conflict with most other religions current in the world.. I believe that, even in the most theocratic countries and societies, the ordinary person wants to have the freedom to live with people who are not fanatical, who want their own freedom, within obvious moral bounds. People want to live and work with people who think for themselves while cooperating and surviving with others. People recognize the benefits of sensible, honorable cooperation as they retain their own basic rights. What these rights might be I will discuss later. ERS

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