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Robert H. Little
935 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto California 9430l-3395
Aug 28/92
It is almost against the law to be part of a group
that are attempting to create and maintain a way of life
worth passing on to their children and grandchildren.
When I was a child, a favorite hymn in Church was.."SHUN EVIL
COMPANIONS."
Now parents are told that their children will be more
successful in the world if they mix with a variety of
children regardless of non creative habits and bad language
for as an adult they may need to get along with people of
a variety of life styles and values.
The fly in the ointment is that a successful cultural group
attracts envy. The late Sir Bertrand Russell in his small
book. THE CONQUEST OF HAPPINESS. states that the greatest
cause of unhappiness is Jealousy, and the antidote was
admiration.
I tell people to start admiring before they got jealous.
Enjoy bright people, don't drag them down. Learn from them.
When I talk about being a successful person, I don't just
mean money. However, A rich person who is a very decent
person is much to be admired. They are more tempted.
For many years, I have wondered why some people have unusual
skills. Maintaining big copying machines is an example.
When I see them working, I may ask them about the
skillfulness of their father and grandfather. It always
turned out that they were also skilful.
One exception was of a very skilled man who said that his
mother was the mechanic of the family. His father was
intelligent but spent his time at the typewriter writing
articles etc.
Most of my life I have been a conservationist. It has not
been a winning battle but is a great feeling to be working
for a great cause. Knowledge, facilities and World wide
communications are now available.
What to do? Possibly nothing. We may be going down the
drain. However, in desperation, scattered areas may revert
to living in harmony with our basic nature. And being
dedicated conservationists.
The goals could be wonderful. Most illnesses are
mostly just big business. I have written several hundred
pages about my work. Hope to publish.
In the meantime, I will share a bright concept with you.
The editor of the Oakland Tribune,spoke to the Commonwealth
Club at their Friday Luncheon. Aug 28/92. He observed
that in spite of the bad publicity that Congress is getting,
the average citizen likes his congressman. Why?
It must be that the average congressman spends much or most
of his time pushing legislation that will bring some
government goodies to his constituency. I understand that
new congressman start out with good ideals but then may get
trapped by the unnatural pressures in Washington.
August 31/92
This is a deep subject. It could go on for
ever. Let me outline again my main concept.
It is that humans have been around for about a million years.
For almost all that time they lived and functioned as part of
a small group. People did not evolve as individuals but
the group evolved. We now speak of cultural groups and
cultural values. If enough individuals and families
were willing to sacrifice present gains for future benefits
that elevated the tribe or village, then a child could be
born into an established way of life that had great
potentials benefits for youth and age.
Presently there is much talk about establishing a multi-
cultural society. This may be good political talk- talk
but has no relation to reality .
There has been discussion for years as to why SOCRATES chose
death rather than exile. Apparently life without a
community had no appeal at his age and state of learning.
I believe that we all need a village.
