Is our penchant
for the Natural, natural?
What is
behind our predilection for the natural?
Nowadays especially,
there is so much value attached to that word. Things like ‘all natural whole
grain goodness’, or ‘non toxic all natural household cleaning kits’, are some of the
more common marketing jargons of today, amply proving this.
But it was
not so, some time back. Things like ‘Fortified grain’, ‘Vitalized oil’, were the ones in great demand. Now we are
discarding the fortified, or vitalized, stuff, giving it a rather repulsive
term, artificial, and choosing the rather feeble ones in lieu, naming them of
course, with a rather agreeable word, organic.
Why?
I think we,
the people, make up societies. Therefore, societies behave exactly like people.
Our
behavior, and our priorities in life are not the same in our childhood, youth, or
old age. In a similar manner, societies, and nations which are constituted by
the societies, also have their priorities changing over time.
Thus, when
the world was in in its childhood, which, let us say, is the period before the
industrial revolution, we witnessed a rather low demographic, cultural and
economic status. The period thereafter shows a burgeoning society that is ceaselessly making
fast and steady leaps forward. We were at home with great changes,
explorations, and successes. Now I think the world is entering its old age. The
signs that we see everywhere of decadence and, an agitated and unstable state
of societies, I think, is an indication that the present social setup is an unsuitable
one.
We can
confirm this just by looking around. See any nation of the world. Everywhere,
it can be seen that more and more irrational happenings are taking place. Our penchant
for the natural, therefore, is just another example of the irrational.
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