1And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
8So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. -- Genesis 11:1-8
Rabbi Daniel Lapin was on Glenn Beck's show today with a profound observation of how there is nothing new under the sun. The struggle for alternative ways of organizing human society is an age-old conflict. If it concerns human affairs, it is probably covered by scripture.
In fact the struggle is further defined in the passage. The conflict is between Abraham, who fears and follows G-d, and Nimrod, who represents human efforts to surpass the need for G-d [sound familiar]? Here is where Rabbi Lapin delves deeper and shows us that the narrative begins with the materials list rather than the architectural program. Indeed the bricks make a statement -- especially in a region blessed with abundant stone.
Bricks are made by man. they are all the same and rocks are made by G-d. Each stone is a unique individual. Socialists seek a collective salvation ['Liberation Theology' would be an example]. Rabbi Lapin pointed out that socialist societies always seek to build blocks of public housing that all look the same. Everyone moves in unison and individuality and creativity are stifled.
The interesting thing here is that individuality is preserved by the scattering of languages. Today the modern world uses tools like social networks to create new forms of unison. One universal translating tool is known by the name 'Babelfish.' 'Friends' become blocks entering your Facebook page. Of course, these networks can be a great tool for creative individuals to communicate... I just used Facebook to communicate with my partner in creating a mural. I also communicated with a photographer to get a CD of her images. I think social networks can be great. Still, there is a sense that tells me they may be used or misused, as every connecting technology has been in the history of mankind.
Our city has many fine buildings built of brick, but our Western State hospital, the site of Eugenics being practiced in our community, is a series of brick buildings. When I was a child in Baltimore, the Projects were an unending series of brick buildings housing low income individuals -- all seemingly created from the same set of plans.
But this, it should be repeated, is not about 'good' or 'bad' tehnology. It is primarily a call to look at how we perceive the structure of our lives in community. Do we look to the Creator who made each of us for the means to live together, or do we seek to create a 'Tower of Power' to supercede the need for communication with the Divine?
Le Corbusier's vision for Paris
Seward Park is typical of American Urban Renewal Projects.
Rabbi Daniel Lapin's Website [click to visit].
One byproduct of such planning is that the places people live become more separated from nature. An article in the Richmond Times Dispatch [click to read] Perscribes an intresting antidote: "In fact, the Japanese have a name for exposure to greenery -- "Shinrin-yoku," roughly translating as taking in the forest atmosphere or forest-bathing. We think this is a great prescription for overall good health and should be taken often."
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