Time

The Anglo culture measures time in a single dimension (ie, hours, minutes, and seconds). A value is placed upon each fraction of time. My time is worth $10 an hour (or $100 or $14,000 , etc). I spent 4 hours screwing around with this that or the other thing. Time marches on.

Science tells us that time exists like a fourth dimension. Actually, that is probably playing a bit fast and loose with the facts. But some of the latest thinking uses time as a thing that can be manipulated (ie, bent, focused, existing in parallel aspects, etc.). Way above the Gringo Renegado's paygrade!

It turns out that some other cultures have a different concept of time. Not only the "mañana" attitude (discussed in Language and Culture), but also an idea that time, or rather the value of time, can be measured in at least one more dimension. The Mayan shamans taught that time should be measured and valued according to the intensity of the moment.

I am not sure that they are right, or wrong for that matter. But take a moment to contemplate what you, dear reader, are doing right this moment, and value the intensity of it (not that you could be earning $10!). Many of us living outside have discovered that there are kernals of wisdom to this concept of time, and that discovery has enabled some of us to better understand the nature of the rat race that we left behind. Add the Fox News idea that issues are simplistic and black and white to the idea that time only matters as a measure to arrive, and I submit we have a recipe for the political and cultural neurosis that is so visible from outside the United States looking in, and almost invisible when one is on the inside.

Indeed, there is a lot of examples of the consequences of the unilateral definition of time around the world, and it is not a castigation meant only for the Gringo Renegado's compatriots. I propose that being inside makes it very difficult to discover and live under a different idea of time.

Wait! The sun is setting behind the volcano.....