What makes a community?

[Sally]

@Carl Russell 146 wrote:

I believe that when the veils are eroded and the bare naked truth of our vulnerability on this planet are clear, people naturally respond the our most basic need, our most basic skill, Community. This is happening all around us. It is happening right here on this page. Some people will have to wait until the artificial power structures collapse, others have been gaining increasing levels of insight for many years.
Carl

I think this is so true. Right now so much of our true vulnerability is veiled, covered, “protected” because we live, at least I live, in a largely artificially constructed environment based on fossil fuels. I can act as if I’m not related to the rest of life, like I’m not essentially a living, breathing, naked, big-brained, self-aware, but highly dependent living being.

As fossil fuels become less available the veils will fall. Do you know that the actual definition of apocalypse is “the unveiling?” The beautiful truth of our utter dependence on connection, with each other and all of earth’s life forms will be unveiled and those things that currently insulate us are no longer there. It is both an exciting and a scary thing for most of us to consider.

I have experienced this at all levels. In my closest relationships I learned as a child NOT to need (be needy, whiny, dependent). I wrote more about this in my blog Need is a Nasty Word and how our culture is all about denying need.

As an adult coming to acknowledge my deep need for others has brought huge feelings of vulnerability to the surface. As I’ve worked through that and allowed myself to acknowledge the need for my partner, for close, clear relationships with my adult children, and for transparency with my handful of close friends it has been challenging but also deeply satisfying.

I imagine the same will be true as I “practice” that vulnerability in the context of wider mutually dependent circles of community when the veils are dropped and we find out we do need each other and our landbase because we can no longer buy our way out of that need with ancient sunlight (fossil oil).

It is a time of great possibility and challenge in the area of acknowledging both our great potential as big brained beings but also our incredible vulnerabilty as living, breathing, members of the community of life.

Sally

[Gulo]

Planned communities have not all failed, but many have, yes. I think they are “ahead of the curve.” They fail because there have been too many other easier options for people who, advocates of the idea of planned community or not, come from a culture fully steeped in the myth of independence.

I hope to see more planned communities arise and actually make a go of it (in fact, the former i am already seeing), as i think we are going to soon run low on working alternatives. Planned communities will begin to work when we have less option to let them fail. I hope many of the newer communities will in some way incorporate draft animal power.

Don’t forget that the Amish are a planned community. So are the Hutterites. Considering the odds, i’d say they’ve done rather well.

[Rick H.]

Hi, I know this is an old topic but I see an entry from Dec. ’08 so thought I’d comment since I’m fairly new to the site and slowly looking it over. I get the feeling folks are looking for a deep meaning to community. The Amish example was mentioned. From living in quite a few places over the years I agree that the very close knit kind of community many look for must have a center that all agree, or more properly, believe, is an undisputable fact. This gives an anchor and balance that can be leaned on in troubled times so the whole thing doesn’t blow up. It is very hard to just pull a few ideas together and make those that kind of foundation. It must be bigger than any individual and the product of either some long established belief, undisputable fact or shared experience.
Community in the more common meaning, the general area we live in, many hope this will mean that people can be freindly toward each other. Help each other, without always needing to ask. Have the well being of the town, area, etc. at heart in their actions and so on. This takes time to develop. In the very trasient society we live in now, and I’m as guilty of this as anyone, it’s tough to do. Many people come to rural areas not to fit in, but take over. The ‘local hicks” just doen’t know any better is often the attitude. Instead of coming to become a part, they to often want to form things to their vision, and that causes hard feelings. I’m not saying that changes for the good are wrong, things take time, willing change occurs from examples of what works.
So, I think community is what each of us makes of it. No matter where we are. Other peoples behavior doesn’t have to dictate how I behave. Do your own thing without being offensive and others of like mind will find you or you them in time. Take it from someone who’s been on a few sides of this kind of thing. It takes a little work and time but that feeling of community can come. I think you feel it more than see it. Thanks for letting me ramble. Rick.

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