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Sorry for the long post, let me know if there is anything I missed.
What is a survivalist?
There is always one in every family. The one that gets pointed out as weird or crazy or paranoid during family gatherings. I am the one in my family. I am always trying to remind family members to buy extra food or even a first aid kit. Essentials that most modern people dont have. In this essay I seek to gives some clarification to the survivalist archetype.
I think survivalists are a number of things: historians, craftsmen, scholars, creators and outdoorsmen. They have a number of hobbies that revolve around an essential point--to survive. To survive through circumstances that come with living on a planet with natures forces. We know throughout history that natures forces have determined whether or not civilizations have thrived or perished. The antithesis for a survivalist is to perish. To Perish means to ruin, to deteriorate, to be wiped out or die an untimely death. So, to start, a survivalist is one who doesnt want to perish. He is a fighter but also a co-exister who seeks harmony through being prepared. A survivalist wants to chose the time of his dying, not be a victim to the harsh changes of the world.
Throughout history, humans had to be survivalists; it was the norm. Prehistoric man and woman developed tools from rock and plant to grow into a huge thriving metropolis we are today. Somewhere along the line survivalists came to be frowned upon. In America, pioneers also had to be survivalists. Pioneers exchanged and stole much from the indigenous peoples of this country, who were also survivalists. At some point our cities created a surplus of seemingly unending comfort. This illusion has rendered the survivalist obsolete and made human survival a hobby.
As nature continues to show its power, nuclear energy, weapons and terrorists rear their ugly heads and challenge our existence on this earth, the survivalist has a place. Time and time again, lessons are learned: a car accident in winter just far enough from help, a recreational camping trip, a boat ride--small lessons that teach us who is really in control. They humble us, they make us understand the hierarchy of life. The ones who heed these lessons are survivalists because they know our comforts are temporary. There is a complacent part of humanity that becomes dependent on the comforts, that rarely ever leave the shelter of a city or large human inhabitance. They miss out on knowing true life, on knowing the importance of life and not simply perishing. They know the importance of clean water, a good shelter, storing food for the winter, and medical knowledge.
Weapons. We have seen this as the biggest separation between "survivalists" and civilized people who are dependent on others for their food and protection. They have cast their judgment on survivalists. They see survivalists as stockpiling weapons for some future war and slaughtering game senselessly. The survivalists see the civilized urban people as hypocritical with their store-bought meat that was systematically slaughtered and packaged like a plastic doll and their leather garments all coldly detached from the harsh reality of it all. This seems to be the biggest gulf which separates the survivalist from others in society. Weapons, unfortunately, were often the means through which we created this civilization. They have also protected us from countless challenges to our existence. They kill our animals and make clothing, they prepare our food. They protect us from our human enemies. They also cut wood for shelter. Living closer to nature makes humans dependent on weapons. This is a simple fact and one needs only to live closer to nature to see this.
My challenge to those who judge people who carry weapons is to plan a week-long trip in the woods away from an urban center without any knife. Do not bring a week's supply of food or your cell phone. Walk about 30 miles into the forest and simply exist. I think after that, most of even the staunchest critics will come out with some empathy for the survivalist.
The survivalist is a keeper of traditions. I feel it is extremely important to keep alive the skills that our ancestors depended upon. These skills include fire making, shelter building, hunting/fishing, edible and medicinal plant foraging and making clothing, tools. I cant say that I am a master of all these skills but I am studying them one by one. When I think back on our ancestors and all the knowledge they had to have to simply live, it amazes me. They had to know which plants make anything from rope to medicine, which rocks make sparks, which can be sharpened, which can be used to break other rocks, the habits of animals, the weather, weaving natural materials into clothing and tents. It truly is mind boggling, especially in juxtaposition with the specialized modern mind who barely can cook with a microwave, where typing is the only real skill one has to earn a living. Survivalism also enriches your life by giving you the abilities to know you can create from just what is there in nature. What could be more empowering?
Although we would be hard pressed to become proficient in all these areas, I do think it is important to study and attempt as much as you can. I see this as a requirement to the normal skills one needs in modern society.
What is a survivalist?
There is always one in every family. The one that gets pointed out as weird or crazy or paranoid during family gatherings. I am the one in my family. I am always trying to remind family members to buy extra food or even a first aid kit. Essentials that most modern people dont have. In this essay I seek to gives some clarification to the survivalist archetype.
I think survivalists are a number of things: historians, craftsmen, scholars, creators and outdoorsmen. They have a number of hobbies that revolve around an essential point--to survive. To survive through circumstances that come with living on a planet with natures forces. We know throughout history that natures forces have determined whether or not civilizations have thrived or perished. The antithesis for a survivalist is to perish. To Perish means to ruin, to deteriorate, to be wiped out or die an untimely death. So, to start, a survivalist is one who doesnt want to perish. He is a fighter but also a co-exister who seeks harmony through being prepared. A survivalist wants to chose the time of his dying, not be a victim to the harsh changes of the world.
Throughout history, humans had to be survivalists; it was the norm. Prehistoric man and woman developed tools from rock and plant to grow into a huge thriving metropolis we are today. Somewhere along the line survivalists came to be frowned upon. In America, pioneers also had to be survivalists. Pioneers exchanged and stole much from the indigenous peoples of this country, who were also survivalists. At some point our cities created a surplus of seemingly unending comfort. This illusion has rendered the survivalist obsolete and made human survival a hobby.
As nature continues to show its power, nuclear energy, weapons and terrorists rear their ugly heads and challenge our existence on this earth, the survivalist has a place. Time and time again, lessons are learned: a car accident in winter just far enough from help, a recreational camping trip, a boat ride--small lessons that teach us who is really in control. They humble us, they make us understand the hierarchy of life. The ones who heed these lessons are survivalists because they know our comforts are temporary. There is a complacent part of humanity that becomes dependent on the comforts, that rarely ever leave the shelter of a city or large human inhabitance. They miss out on knowing true life, on knowing the importance of life and not simply perishing. They know the importance of clean water, a good shelter, storing food for the winter, and medical knowledge.
Weapons. We have seen this as the biggest separation between "survivalists" and civilized people who are dependent on others for their food and protection. They have cast their judgment on survivalists. They see survivalists as stockpiling weapons for some future war and slaughtering game senselessly. The survivalists see the civilized urban people as hypocritical with their store-bought meat that was systematically slaughtered and packaged like a plastic doll and their leather garments all coldly detached from the harsh reality of it all. This seems to be the biggest gulf which separates the survivalist from others in society. Weapons, unfortunately, were often the means through which we created this civilization. They have also protected us from countless challenges to our existence. They kill our animals and make clothing, they prepare our food. They protect us from our human enemies. They also cut wood for shelter. Living closer to nature makes humans dependent on weapons. This is a simple fact and one needs only to live closer to nature to see this.
My challenge to those who judge people who carry weapons is to plan a week-long trip in the woods away from an urban center without any knife. Do not bring a week's supply of food or your cell phone. Walk about 30 miles into the forest and simply exist. I think after that, most of even the staunchest critics will come out with some empathy for the survivalist.
The survivalist is a keeper of traditions. I feel it is extremely important to keep alive the skills that our ancestors depended upon. These skills include fire making, shelter building, hunting/fishing, edible and medicinal plant foraging and making clothing, tools. I cant say that I am a master of all these skills but I am studying them one by one. When I think back on our ancestors and all the knowledge they had to have to simply live, it amazes me. They had to know which plants make anything from rope to medicine, which rocks make sparks, which can be sharpened, which can be used to break other rocks, the habits of animals, the weather, weaving natural materials into clothing and tents. It truly is mind boggling, especially in juxtaposition with the specialized modern mind who barely can cook with a microwave, where typing is the only real skill one has to earn a living. Survivalism also enriches your life by giving you the abilities to know you can create from just what is there in nature. What could be more empowering?
Although we would be hard pressed to become proficient in all these areas, I do think it is important to study and attempt as much as you can. I see this as a requirement to the normal skills one needs in modern society.
