This may be the strangest thing. The concept of something as hackneyed as road kill disturbs me. Dozens of emotions pass me when I see it. Sitting in the car, I would find myself surprised at the sight. Then, reviled and slightly sad at the sight of crushed, deformed cats and dogs or the thoroughly flattened feathers of pigeons, I would become morbidly fascinated. I would squirm at the thought of road kill and yet, be unable to completely get rid of the thought of the sight. Compared to that, nothing of the Sawi culture seems truly atypical to me. Perhaps it is because of ardent years of Discovery Channel and National Geographics or because this extreme difference is so difficult for me to imagine, but the concepts of treason being honored, cannibalism, nor familial hostility do not strike up a certain emotion but rather produces a studious curiosity and rationalization.
As I have mentioned in my previous entries, the Sawi must have a logic behind their actions in order to have survived through the years as they did. There must be justification behind cannibalism, commendation of treason, and familial hostility. If thought through that way, I truly find myself almost devoid of distinct emotions besides intrigue.
If I saw cannibalism happening before my eyes or even happening to me, I would probably vomit or faint (or perhaps both), and very clearly instigate disgust and fear, but the idea in itself doesn't irk me. This is probably because cannibalism, to me, is not a rudimentary means of substenance (unless we were discussing the Donner Party or such) but a religious tool, a means of cultural empowerment. My fascination comes in after passing such a phase. Where did they get this idea in the first place? Of all the symbols the Sawi had to choose from, from where were they inspired to use cannibalism as a weapon? Why treason? Why?
I am absorbed by the very roots if Sawi culture rather than the acts and values themselves, and I cannot even produce a laughable theory. Why and how did the Sawi culture come up with these ideas? Something must have began such a tradition. But what began it?
1 comments:
Yes indeed, What did motivate this change in their culture? How does one get to that place where life is not sacred? One would have to be devoid of a conscience and totally give into evil - and that is easy for man to do. Mrs.Mc.
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