As a one time, aspiring anthropologist in my early college years, I was, and remain, fascinated with the the premise Dennis Sevakis advances: how primitive cultures view and interpret the wonders of civilization upon first encounter when they have nothing to aid them within their own long—existing and unchanged frames of reference.

Conversely, it is all too often the advantaged parties in such encounters who fail to understand the incredible difficulty of so many of the disadvantaged in absorbing new concepts and beliefs which have hitherto held no place in their existence. Such failures of understanding by the advantaged parties then frequently lead to unrealistic expectations; and the primitives' failure to meet these expectations often leads to distrust and, all too frequently, conflict.

With most of earth's primitive societies now engaged with modernity to some extent, I find my thoughts turning to what role humanity will play when finally we encounter a civilization from beyond our own small galaxy. What do you suppose will be their equivalent of speaking paper? 

Food for thought, hmmm?

Russ  Vaughn   3 05 06