Whitney Swaim - Grand Strategy (Outside Topic 2)

A few weeks ago I attended a lecture by Professor Lawrence Wilkerson, who proposed a grand strategy for America that would improve its economy and global strength. While this seems irrelevant to topics discussed in class, there was one part of Wilkerson's strategy that was quite relevant to the contrasts between primal and modernized societies. Wilkerson supported the ideas of having more concentrated cities/towns with mass transit and walkable routes. With raising energy cost and demand, Wilkerson proposed this type of society in order to help the U.S. become more sustainable. Interestingly enough, this seems quite similar to the ways of indigenous societies that have relationships with their local land. Primal groups utilize local food, building materials, and other resources. This sounds so simple, and it is ironic that modernized society seems to have such a hard time finding its roots. It has created a reality so detached from the natural world that it seems nearly impossible to make a smooth transition back.