Amidst the Earth and Her Children

“I spend so much time above the earth,

thinking about life and each man's worth

How can one person be worth more

than a thousand people knocking on his door.” -The Kooks

      In a time when the value of human life was stripped away and the aftermath of war was prevalent, there were people that protested this kind of life. Discrimination was rampant and poverty reigned among a people that had brought this upon themselves. During this time, those that saw the detriment of this society's way of life chose to separate themselves from a life of destruction to find something better. They moved their people to a valley in the east that was over flowing with vegetation and life that rested between two mountains. The land was fertile and good for farming. The vegetation was fruitful and provided a safe environment for animals to roam the land. The animals were not afraid of the people and became a very present part of the community. If one stood in the middle of the valley they would hear the wind interacting with nature, quiet scampering of animals, as well as the laughter and learning amongst the valley people.

     The valley people learned to live off of the land in the most efficient ways, wasting little and utilizing even the smallest bit of nature. They loved their work because of its representation of their freedom from their old lives, while also having a choice in what kind of labor they took part in. Early on in the valley community's construction, they fashioned humble dwellings that consisted of one or two rooms depending on the size of the family. The purpose of the dwellings was to promote family intimacy as well as provide a place to rest the mind and the body without encouraging seclusion. Although every valley person was responsible for his or her own dwelling, the community joined together and built the homes as a group effort. There was no property to be purchased or location given to more prominent valley members. Everyone was on equal ground with the rest of the community and this was the basis in which they built their community.

 



      When the valley people looking at the rest of the world they could not help but notice a common thread that weaved itself throughout every story of war and unrest: Inequality. The valley people were not comfortable with the idea that any person or group of persons had a right to something or did not have a right to something did not. This idea of inequality spread to every aspect of life and infecting everything. It tainted gender, race, age, sexuality, economic status, intellectual status, and even family prominence and ruined everything that had ever been good. The valley people desired to live in harmony and equality with all of creation and began governing themselves based upon this idea.

    From the beginning of construction in the community there was a question of government and
organization. For a time they chose to leave this issue untouched but one cannot have a group of people together for long without some kind of order in place. There was no form of government that the people were in agreement with on every level. They wanted everyone in the valley to have a voice regarding every issue as well as equal rights to agree or disagree with anything in the community. They did not want any individual to hold more power in the community than another nor did they want to place restrictions or laws upon the people without everyone's consent. They found that the only governing principal that would work for the valley would be the least structured form possible. As a community, the people met together and decided that any problem, request, idea, or complaint would be brought before the entire community and as individuals with ties of unity they would consider the topic of interest until the party in question was satisfied. No one's ideas or complaints would ever be ignored or dismissed. Compromise and acceptance was key to order and ultimate contentment within the community. The community had no money system or kind of bartering and so there rarely were problems regarding material possessions because everyone in the community contributed their part and in return had their needs fulfilled.

     Initially everyone worked along side their neighbor, performing tasks for the good of the community such as building homes, the planting and harvesting of crops, watching children, and becoming more acquainted with the earth in order to fully utilize the nature they interacted with. They refused any kind of economic system in order to avoid the existence of status and social class. Every member of the society was required to take part in working for the good of the community and in return everyone had their needs met. As the community grew, the variety of necessities grew and the different kinds of work expanded. They were no longer solely focused on the necessities of survival, but also the needs and desires of the people in every day life. With the work field expanding the valley people were able to be more specific about the kind of work they wanted to be involved with. Although members of the community were required to work and contribute to the community, there was no set line of work any one person has to adhere to. Members of the community were encouraged to explore their passions and give back to the community in ways                                                        

they were inspired to do so. No one would ever be forced to harvest crops if they felt more comfortable mending a fence or singing to a child. The valley people never forced anything upon anyone. Activities quickly sprung up in every way of thinking from science and engineering to art and encouragement. There were groups of people dedicated to studying the plants of the valley for medicinal uses, people that offered a safe place to speak ones thoughts freely and find affirmation, as well as groups that focused on interpreting the words of the soul onto whatever medium (painting, writing, singing, etc.) the artist felt compelled. People had many ideas about what a community needed to stay physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally healthy and there was never any lack of labor in any area. The valley people wanted more than anything else to not forget the past that was not too far behind them. To serve as a constant reminder they held weekly gatherings where the people of the community met and shared the products of their labor and told the children of their past. It was vital for them to pass their vision on to the children in order to sustain a future for the valley community.

      Education in the valley was a natural progression that fell into place without any set decisions. Much like everything else in the valley, education was meant to be something someone was passionate about. Children were required to reach a certain level of basic education in the areas of math, english, and science and past that they chose the path of education they took. Children were encouraged to further their education in two directions simultaneously. They were encouraged to study what interested them in order to develop their passions as well as study what they thought to be beneficial to the community. When they finished both courses of study they were to choose any field they felt most comfortable serving in. Some children chose to work in multiple fields until they discovered their fit in the community. At the age of sixteen, courses of study ceased and a valley person was considered an adult that possessed a voice of their own regarding community issues and was capable of making their own decisions. Prior to this age a child's parent was responsible for the well-being of the child and the parent's voice also represented the concerns of the child.

     The valley community continued to grow in size and maturity as a people with an identity. Their moral code centered around complete equality and unity in every aspect of life. This moral code was found deep within every valley person by nature. The society had been constructed in a way that caused each member to mirror the code of equality and unity without having to consciously try. This code surpassed personal religious preference and specific human character. Every member matured and developed into whatever person they would naturally become with the code resonating from within. The valley community did not enforce any religious practices, instead the people were encouraged to freely explore spirituality for themselves. Most of the people found faith and spirituality in nature and oneness with the universe while others found truth in Christianity and Catholicism. The difference in religious beliefs did not cause division because their vision of equality bound them together in unity on a much deeper level.
 

 

     The ultimate unity that the community recognized was the marriage between two people. Marriage
was greatly celebrated among the valley people and held in high regards as a sacred unity. Unlike the world they left behind, they did not discriminate against race or sexuality and so all marriages were accepted and encouraged with great joy. Marriage celebrations often went on for days; everyone would sing and dance and let their hearts overflow. The representation of the ultimate unity was the most celebrated occasion for the community as a whole. Sex was not viewed as a sacred act but instead as the result of something sacred. This idea was similar their view that equality among mankind was sacred and the valley community was not sacred, but a direct result of that equality.

     Material possessions to the valley person were thoroughly appreciated, but never were they worshiped or the central focus of anyone's existence. A person's possessions were meant to better their lives in terms of efficiency and personal fulfillment. Things such as art, books, clothing, toys, and décor were an expression of one's inner self; they were meant to be aesthetically and intellectually pleasing to aid in both mental and emotional well-being. Fashion was not a statement of status or social standing, but rather an expression of identity. Clothing was mainly composed of natural fabrics derived from cotton, flax, and soy in order to utilize the environment as well as reuse the materials after extensive use. The clothes followed an earthy color scheme that promoted well-being and a connection with nature.

      On an average day in the valley, one would rise at sunrise for a morning meditation that would vary depending on ones personal beliefs. One might consist of prayer and worship towards the creator while others might attempt to attain complete unity with the earth. The community would join together for the first meal of the day to satisfy both physical and emotional needs before facing the day. After the community meal, people began work in their area of expertise until the early afternoon. The early hours of the day were seen as the optimal time for creative expression and were to be utilized and not wasted. The work day would end shortly after the midday meal and the rest of the day was free time for the individual to spend how they pleased. The afternoons were often spent enjoying literature, experiencing art, enjoying physical activities, and sharing ones personal thoughts and emotions with loved ones. The evenings were filled with community gatherings, times of worship and dance, family fellowship, and a light meal would be served at sunset. These structured but carefree days provided fulfillment and internal contentment for the community. When each individual had a specific purpose and place,  unrest and feelings of emptiness were rarely felt. The valley people did not only live in unity with one another but in ultimate harmony with the earth and its children.

     This piece was inspired by MLK's speech “I Have a Dream,” as well as The Kooks' song “Time Above the Earth.” Within these two auditory pieces of literature I found a utopian idea that was attainable and questions that needed to be answered in order to attain them. After hearing their words I was compelled to write something that incorporated the ideas King presented in a way that I felt could be attainable. If I were able to live in my own utopia and take part on a day to day basis I would want to benefit the community by writing literature that promoted equality and evoked emotions that would be profitable to people searching for harmony and unity with mankind. To benefit myself I would want to study philosophy and study complete expression of one's true self. Something I would do with the aid of others to benefit the society is expressed through how the community lives, utilizing personal passions in order to meet all of the physical, emotional, and mental needs of others


Citations:

King, Martin Luther, Jr. “I Have a Dream.” March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
        Washington, DC. 28 August 1963. Online Speech Bank: Top 100 American Speeches.
        Ed. Michael E. Eidenmuller. 2014. American Rhetoric.

       <http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm>.

The Kooks. "Time Above the Earth."Junk of the Heart. Virgin Records, 2011. Digital File.