Think For Yourself
A Letter From Iowan Mary McBee
Letters From Iowans is a part of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. We encourage you, our subscribers, to share your perspective in this column. To make your voice heard, use this form to send us your essay:
My father was Norwegian, my mother Scottish/English, both descendants of immigrants from the old countries. Mother often said, if there was any quality that she and Dad wanted to encourage in their children, it was, “Be independent and think for yourself.” That wisdom proved to be both a blessing and a burden throughout my long life.
I came into the world in spring of 1941 on a family farm in northern Iowa. I entered into a deeply flawed human culture, and it took 83 years to understand how and why everything had gone so awry, even in spite of an additional 18 years of “higher” education. During that time I was completely unaware that both our schools and churches were being skillfully used as tools to craft our youth to move smoothly into our capitalist economy and political systems.
The first major flaw in our systems struck me at a very young age, this being that we humans were superior to all other species on Earth, a conclusion, of course, that came from us. Likewise, the religion we created also assured us that we humans were superior. I couldn’t make sense that simply being able to dominate and use other species for our benefit equated to some kind of superiority. To me, not understanding the many varied kinds, depths, and various intelligences of other species who were different from us was nothing more than proof of our own profound ineptness.
The second major flaw I discovered was in our educational system, one embedded in the belief that our culture was superior and that everyone had to constantly compete. Every morning while attending my small rural country school we began by pledging allegiance to the flag and singing a few Christian songs. We went on to learn some history, mainly of white Americans, especially those who had become rich and famous. And we learned that Columbus discovered America, Ponce De Leon discovered Florida, Cabeza De Vaca discovered South America, and some white Englishman was the first human to make it to the North Pole. I recall no mention in our books or on our maps of the many indigenous peoples who had been living in all those same places for thousands of years before we Europeans even arrived; except, oh yes, of a few Indians joining us one time for Thanksgiving dinner. Basically, it was about who could get the best grades in spelling, arithmetic, and reading. We were from special people, and competition was the name of the game.
The brainwashing continued into high school. Any history lessons continued to focus upon white Europeans/white Americans and their explorations and accomplishments. Civics class had us memorizing the structure of the wonderful democratic and economic systems in place in our country. No mention of other options. In addition, we were instructed on typing, math, writing business letters, the basics of biology and chemistry … all of which should help us transition smoothly into the capitalist economy awaiting us. Along the way, my family and I continued attending the local Methodist Church, regarding how to be good Christians and perhaps even help spread the word to those unfortunate others who were outside our enlightened faith.
Then came the college years and beyond. More structured education with barely a mention of other comparative social, economic, or political systems, much less other religions. Basically, just more grooming to ensure we rolled smoothly on into “jobs” in the capitalist machine.
Did I question any of these “systems” while growing up? You betcha, constantly. My dilemma, however, was why so few of my classmates and friends weren’t similarly confused. They seemed content with everything as it was. Most often I concluded that it was just me who somehow didn’t fit in, but then I would remember what Mom had said.
Discovering the third major flaw was a biggie. It came at age 20 after I married into a Native American tribe, a culture that miraculously still had many ancient traditions intact. What an eye-opener to see the world and existence through very different eyes than what had been my indoctrination for decades, one with totally contrasting economic, social, religious, and political values. Thus began a lifelong exploration of many other religious, economic, and political systems beyond our own that had been explored by humanity through time.
During ensuing years, my innate affinity with animals also drew me into more awareness of the dire loss of other species and destruction of natural habitats on our planet. This led to studying of still other systems that actually helped to preserve the many different environments rather than destroy them. With this awareness also came the understanding that saving not only other species meant saving ours, too.
It was a very long journey of discovery.
I now believe that we have no democratic government in this country. Our government has long been captured and controlled by wealthy people representing the capitalist and corporate economy, ones continually exerting enormous pressures on elections and elected officials. A person would have to be blind not to recognize that capitalism has always been an inherently exploitative and destructive system. The highest goal has aways been that of making money and thus gaining influence and power in this country, especially for those few managing to get to the top (never mind by what method).
Capitalism has completely infiltrated our cultural systems and has succeeded in brainwashing people to believe that this is valid and acceptable. The system has continually used its power to have courts, police, and military enforce its goals. It has worked successfully to coerce schools, media, and churches to incorporate its message and philosophy. Along the way, the capitalist system has incurred massive destruction of numerous environments both here in our country and worldwide. It has long used our wonderful democracy as simply an enabling front to serve its own selfish needs.
Sadly, most of our elected government officials have capitulated and done little or nothing to contain or divert the enormous damage that has resulted from our capitalist system. Now today, we have arrived at the absurd point where nothing really matters in the operation of our government except money and power. As Antonio Gramsci once aptly stated, “The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: Now is the time of monsters.”
No wonder I have been uncomfortable throughout life. It’s been hugely stressful and a constant challenge to dance continually along the edges of this massive capitalist-dominated system just enough to survive, yet not get sucked into the soul-destroying vortex swirling madly at the center of capitalism.
However, I had been encouraged to think for myself.
Mary McBee
Tama, Iowa
mmcb444@gmail.com
Letters From Iowans is a part of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. We encourage you, our subscribers, to share your perspective in this column. To make your voice heard, use this form to send us your essay:
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Powerful & thx for your essay. Many great points. What's really disturbing is that those who benefit the most from capitalism are the most reluctant to give anything back.
Iowa has a longstanding tradition of people from all walks of life who could … and wanted to … think for themselves. This letter gives me hope that particular tradition has not passed into history.