Tonight I met Paolo. He is one swell guy. Paolo is from Grado, the hometown of Cristina and Marcello. Paolo just returned from spending some time in an ecological community in the Alps (he biked all the way there and back). He says that he's searching for an "alternative reality," one in which people no longer live off of the earth, but live with the earth. To him, this idea is rather radical. He seemed to think that I couldn't understand his philosophy and was reluctant to explain it to me in Italian (he said it was too complicated). But I understood perfectly. I'm also searching for that alternative reality. For a life of simplicity, void of egotism and materialism. For a place where "Yes we can" is not just a slogan but a way of life. A world where capitalism is viewed as antique and barbaric. Where equality is no longer granted but definite, natural.
Paolo says that his life has consisted of three steps. At the first step, Paolo believed that he could change the world for the better. Realizing that this was rather naive, Paolo moved onto the second step. He no longer believed that he could change anything, and didn't see any reason to try to fix a world that was so knowingly corrupt. But like anyone with the propensity to acknowledge the inequalities and material corruption of the world, Paolo was unable to remain apathetic for long. Thus, Paolo is now on the third step. To create an alternate reality. To build his own little world. One day when the unsustainable system of capitalism falls, when the soil of large-scale farmlands is depleted, and when people are actually poisoned by processed foods and cable news shows, Paolo's little world will still persist. Is it really so radical to be one with the earth?
Human beings are leeches and there is only so much blood to suck before the earth is dry.
On a lighter note, life here is good. The food is good, the conversation is excellent, life is slow, and Luce said "let's go!" today.
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When I think of the term "alternative reality," I think of video games. But that term exists as a strong metaphor, don't you think? We do, after all, live in a world where egotism and materialism are synced battling the notion of "simplicity."
ReplyDeleteIn one of my English classes this summer, we read a Young Adult novel by Suzanne Collins called "The Hunger Games." Set in a post-apocalyptic world where teenagers are chosen to fight to the death in a televised duel to the end (think American Idol with much more carnage and no voting rights), the novel makes a powerful comment on the society in which we live.
You say human beings are leeches and "there is only so much blood to suck before the earth is dry." I can nod my head yes since we--myself included--are consumers of media, something that tends to help our economy thrive.
If such an alternate reality exists, please let me know. Just let it be after this season's Bachelorette...
:)