A Language Older than Words 27, 28, 29

Jensens last three chapters are as powerful as ever. He closes of the book strong, but maintains his anecdotal style.

Chapter "out of Mourning, Play" touches on the idea of our relationship with the forests around us. We have been forced into this relationship, and must respect the fact that we need to have extended vision and concern. "Forest, too, have been playing with us."

Trauma and Recovery talks about just that, trauma and recovery. It first touches on appalling attrocities, and then goes on to talk about how the symptoms of trauma are thing like "sutting down feelings, a constrictions of emotions, intellect, and behavior." The ultimate conclusion though is that if we are wrong in thought, then our actions will be wrong and follow accordingly. Also, it is important to not that after trauma, the recovery process is communal and not solitary.

Some key points from the final chapter of "A Language Older Than Words" include ideas like production value over life, and that cooperation overcoems atrocities. We must band together to get rid of poor practices. Failing to do so is suicide for ourselves and our societies.

After finishing the book, I feel overwhelmed. Jensen suggests that to survive we must band together and overcome attrocities. I see two problems with that. A. it is going to be extremely difficult to organize and B. overcoming atrocity is very hard because attrocity is fueled by greed and power. Somehow though, the sane and the brave must cooperate for change...either that or it is suicide.

The connection I see her is to the rest of Jensen's book. Everything has sort of been building to this call for cooperation. He leaves us on an optimistic yet scary quote. "God's speed" as if we are only going to be able to accomplish this with a miracle. Everything seems to come together alright though. Early stuff about schools stunting growth, about the environment having feelings, and about using violence if necessary. It all boils down to change.

I have learned quite a lot from Jensen overall, but it is tough to put my finger on all of it. Here is the message that I will take away from the last three chapters and the book as a whole. I can no longer sit back and watch injustice. Ignorance can no longer be bliss. I must work hard, suffer, struggle, and maybe even approach death in order to band together for change. Cooperation is the key.

Questions:

I really want to know what your five other books are about? You fill this thing with some pretty heavy stuff. What do you have left to write about?