Tonight around the sakau table I had an intensive conversation with my host father and uncle about the modernization of Pohnpei and the changes that have inescapably taken place. The topic started by me asking my father about his childhood and how things were different when he was growing up. He described the lack of roads, cars, boats, electricity, clothes, food and all technological devices of the modern age. Although he is only around 60, his life has seen changes applicable to Americans 50 years before his time. The progress of westernization did not reach Micronesia until after WWII and technology is even more recent. He did not see his first car until the late 1970’s and did not have electricity until a decade ago. I was fascinated to hear about daylong canoe trips around the island and hours of walking to reach school. The timeline of modernization has been delayed in Micronesia and it is an interesting example to analyze how our western society has progressed henceforth. Micronesia can be viewed as a microcosm of societal expansion on a global scale. There is an influx of influences flowing into this small island and transforming its culture rapidly.
In the last couple of years of my time in America I have become rather disillusioned with the exponential technological advances and increasing dependence on cell phones, TV, video games and the luxuries of western world. I was critical of the abandonment of the natural world in favor of concrete jungles and air-conditioned cars. I felt that Americans were in some way losing touch with the things that truly make us human. Instead of having serious conversations, people tap some keys and send a text message. Instead of playing games and joking around, people zone into a video game world and become lost in a fantasyland of virtual reality. Instead of spending quality time with family, people melt into the couch and mindlessly drone themselves into a hypnotic state of contentment in front of the TV. Instead of taking a hike through a forest, people wander through the endless pages of the internet looking for an intriguing tidbit of something to excite their dulled senses.
Usually I am an unrelenting optimistic. I am a huge proponent of positivity and have a foolish expectation that everything in the world is keen and dandy. I rarely dislike people and hardly ever criticize things around me. However, this exponential progression of technology and our ignorance of the natural world and traditional lifestyle have irked me lately. Nonetheless, I do see the benefits of modernization and technological improvements. Improved communication, loads of fun, exciting entertainment, better quality of life, and reduction of work are all positive aspects of these changes. It is inevitable that people will want better things and a better life, so these progressions will continue to multiply.
One of the main reasons I joined the Peace Corps was to experience what life would be like without all these modern amenities that we have become accustomed to in America. I wanted to see how people have survived and prospered for thousands of years. I wanted to prove to myself that people can still be happy (maybe happier) without the material objects that we prize so dearly. I hoped to find the true meaning of our existence by stripping humanity down to the bare essentials and just living simply and purely.
Pohnpei provides a wonderful example of a society caught between these two worlds. They are beginning to embrace technology and western culture, but also maintaining their traditions and values. Talking to my host uncle tonight really enlightened me to the opinions of the locals on this progression into the modern age. I asked if he thought that Americanization of the Micronesia was a positive or negative thing. He undoubtedly thought it was positive. He acknowledged the negative aspects of bad influences from music and movies, the increased pollution, and the disintegration of ancient traditions. However, he had many more positive points that he illuminated to me.
First off, he assured me that Pohnpeians still maintain their cultural heritage despite the stream of outside influences. People still value the importance of community and family. Local leaders are still honored. Collectivism is still practiced in every aspect of life. Their lifestyles may have changed, but their true culture has held stable and resilient. Furthermore, they are a ridiculously happy group of people. They smile, laugh and relax all the time. Although they may seem destitute and poor by our middle class American standards, they live comfortably and happily. They have what they need to survive, and everything else is a bonus. Family and community outweigh all other aspects of life and as long as those entities are intact, there are no problems. So far, I am convinced that people are contented and happy here in Micronesia.
My uncle then explained that a desire for a better life is undeniable in all human beings. People want to have more things, people want to work less, people want to be healthier, and people want to be happier. In many ways, westernization has brought these things to Micronesia. Medical care is available, transportation opens doors to new places, media shows outside ideas, and education enlightens the youth to the knowledge of the world. Daily life is no longer a struggle to survive. Pipes bring water to the household, instead of walking a mile to lug a pail of dirty water up a hill. Roads allow quick movement around the island. Markets provide easy access to products and food that would usually not be available. Schools teach children about concepts and ideas that spark passion in their minds and motivate them to pursue their dreams.
All of these things are progress. Progress is good. Overall, progress almost always improves the quality of life. Technology is a function and byproduct of progress that conveys information and applies the ideas spurred by progress. Ideas and knowledge are wonderful and everybody in the world deserves to be educated to their hearts desire, but sometimes those ideas can create technological advances that ultimately harm the vitality of our society. The expansion of knowledge should always be supported and the progress of civilization that ensues is a natural stride that improves our society.
Our discussion then moved to the anomaly of a civilization that denies progress and modernization. For example, some of the Yapese outer islands in Micronesia do not allow motorized boats or western technology to infiltrate their traditional society. They want to maintain their culture, so they refuse to progress on the same path as the rest of the world. At first, this seems very admirable to me. I respect their decision to obtain knowledge of the outside world but decide to disregard it in favor of their customary way of life. They do not want technology. They do not want to progress. This may seem respectable and commendable, but then I thought of the Dark Ages of Europe. The middle ages were a time where knowledge and progress were forgotten. People stopped emphasizing modernization and expansion of ideas. As a result, life sucked. Feudal lords dominated the lands, 98% of the population were starving peasants who died by the age of thirty, and the field of academia was washed into obscurity. Progress was impeded and everything went to shit.
So no matter how much I kick and scream, the world will continue to modernize and globalize. The diverse cultures and societies of the world will meld into a homogenous mixture of universal modernity. It is very likely that in 100 years local languages will be replaced with English, the majority of the world will dress the same, listen to the same kind of music, and aspire to the same lifestyle. That utopian possibility of the world is wonderful in many ways. Equality will pervade the oppressive regimes of the world, overall well being and health will skyrocket, everyone will have the opportunity to travel the world and pursue their goals, communication will be less complicated and life will be a hell of a lot easier. However, we will lose a lot of what makes us special as a race of human beings. The diversity and unique traditions of the world will be slowly replaced with a globalized norm of culture.
I refuse to be pessimistic about these changes. The transformation of the world is underway and it cannot be slowed. Societies will alter, technology will advance, and the world will homogenous and connect. These things are inevitable. Instead of complaining about the changes, I hope to make people cognizant of the progress that we are undergoing and urge them to remember to stay in touch with the things that make us who we are. Go climb a tree, talk to your friends face to face, walk sometimes, read a book, and never lose the things that make you special. Remembering our identity and culture beyond the constraints of modern society is imperative to our happiness.
And when it comes down to it, that’s all I really care about. I care about people being happy. I am a hopeless hedonist and strive for the things that make like worth living. Progress makes people happy, so I support progress.
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