Tuesday, September 11, 2012

The Fire

There was a huge prairie fire by my house yesterday. It’s the second of its kind that has happened this year, and rarely does our summer conclude without one. On each such occasion, my initial reaction is to weigh the loss my family might suffer should our home burn down, and for the most part I’m at peace with this potential material impact, though I’d never invite it. Once I’m reminded of that, the next phase of each big fire experience leaves me feeling anxious, like I should be doing something to help put it out. But because of the specialization of knowledge and authority that occurs in our culture, I and the vast majority of other able-bodied men are rendered impotent to assist. We’re told to stay back, let the professionals do their job. I see this as a problem, and it compels me to contemplate why we aren’t training our young adults, all of them, to respond collectively and cooperatively to these kinds of regular dangers, or even how to successfully acquire food and water, or maintain the material stuff we rely on, or conduct emergency medical procedures. It’s like we’re purposely keeping our public ignorant, and it bothers me. Worse still, where I live, there’s another level of this culturally-induced ignorance invested in a long-held racial divide. This too surfaces with the fire, which crossed our fictive boundaries, and rekindled an entirely different kind of flame. Over the last twenty-four hours, I’ve written a couple statements about my thoughts on these matters, and posted them to my Facebook page. I figured I’d share a video recording with all of those involved in FMK, in which I read and elaborate on these statements… again, as part of sharing experience




1 comment:

  1. Dear Ryan,
    First i trully hope that everything will be find for you in the near future. Even though it seems only material, there are a lot of feelings attached to a house. The experiences made and shared there stays in the atmosphere.
    I sometimes do feel like you, that I would be able to react if only people let me. It happened once in a restaurant, where an old man felt suddenly on the ground. I rushed to help him and was perfectly calm, asked if there was a doctor.
    There was none so I took care of him myself I was 20). When the professionals arrived, they asked me if I was a professional and because I was not put me out quickly. I had only received basic instructions on the matter but I did exactly what was necessary because I was able to stay calm.
    Just like you, I believe anyone should be able to take care of the loved ones, even and especially when facing danger. I believe that traininjg in the martial arts should contain a serious part about medication and first aid. This year I encouraged every 9th graders to undertake a first aid formation and many teachers agreed to assist. To me this is a very important matter and we should learn and train our basic survival instincts in order to become responsible.

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