For the first time in history, a century has begun where more than 50% of the world's population (6.3-6.4 billion people) are living in metropolitan centers. Because of this, the 21st century is becoming known as the Urban Century. There are many questions that arise from such a shift in social idea and activity. How do the cities deal with the drastic increase of population? Is it possible to develop these growing urban centers in a sustainable way so that they do not become increasingly dangerous and unhealthy? Will this have a negative effect on rural areas or will it enable them to maintain their natural environment? And finally, what is it that is causing this shift in popular opinion?
Many schools of Architecture at Universities around the world have created a "Department of Sustainability," teaching its students to plan urban communities in an eco-friendly and non-intrusive way, at least as much as is possible. The skill of developing an inner-city community, while keeping in mind the environment is an extremely difficult task, and leaves many to wonder if it can be done. Cities are nothing if not cement and steel, built on top of the natural environment. Is there a way to create expanding cities without completely destroying the nature that surrounds them, or even making them completely self-sustainable? This is every architect's struggle. Especially in the "green" crazy world that we live in.
The greatest fear of those who live in the city, or who are planning on moving there, is the threat of crime and disease. The common belief that living in the city brings along ill-hygiene and constant threat of illness is one that has been thriving since the first city. And with good reason. It is true that the high poverty level in inner-city projects simply furthers the threat of illness and disease. The same is true with crime. The higher the poverty level, the more crowded the conditions, and the higher threat of misfortune befalling brings along a high crime rate due to those who have fallen victim to their circumstances, as well as those who simply take advantage of the opportunity to prey on those who are struggling. Yet, even with these valid fears, cities continued to grow throughout history, bringing more and more people in simply because the pros far outweighed the cons. The close proximity to numerous business opportunities, the social aspect, and the potential to raise oneself from the bottom of the pile to the top of the heap are all reasons that people long to be in the city. As in any great adventure, experience worth living for, or business venture, there will always be risk, but it seems as though people have found these risks to be miniscule compared to the unending possibilities and excitement of urban life.
Although most cities tend to grow upward or downward (skyscrapers reaching into the sky and shopping malls and subways submerged under the earth), growing outward has become more and more popular as the inner city is left behind due to its deteriorating living conditions and "old-school" feel. The suburbs have become the picture of American living, close enough to the city to enjoy its benefits but far enough away to experience your natural environment, at least to some extent. This "urban-sprawl" taking over previously undeveloped land is what has many of those who still chose to live in rural areas worrying about their loss of land. The good news is that those who are truly against urban centers tend to live far enough away from them that they will be unaffected by the demographic shift that is occurring, except for being able to enjoy the growing isolation they will experience due to everyone moving to the city. Those who like their nature but still lived close enough to metropolitan centers that they will feel the expansion will soon find that they may actually benefit from the growing population, which equals more business opportunities, a much broader market.
I am one who adheres to the suburban lifestyle, for I enjoy both the hussle and bussle of the city, as well as the outdoor activities that the natural environment provides. I see no problem with those who are drawn to the city, and vice versa. I do believe it is important to have both kinds of people, or else there would be no balance in this world. We need people in both types of centers, rural and urban. Therefore, the best we can do is enable those who are living in the city to strive for a more self-sustaining lifestyle, and work in developing such communities as the cities grow, which they undoubtedly will. Although, hopefully not to the point where we have created our own Coruscant. I believe at that point we would have something to talk about...
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The Return
There is no one who does not like a good I-once-was-lost-but-now-I-am-found story. An exciting tale where trials and tribulations were overcome in order to produce a more enlightened being. The caterpillar becomes a butterfly. Is there anyone unfamiliar with the moving narrative of the Prodigal Son, his wonderful life unable to fulfill his want for something more, his selfish desires leading him into a proverbial wilderness, and the heart wrenching, joyful return home. That return is what we all long for. To be forgiven of our mistakes and recognized as the changed (for the better) being that we are. There is no hero or heroine in history or fiction that has not experienced the wilderness, a dark time in their lives that they have needed to be redeemed from. Is it not true that the best, most effective testimonies are of those who have experienced the worst and yet overcome their circumstances?
It is our daily struggles, our personal times of greatest despair and darkness that build our beings. Without these, who would we be? Yet, knowing that we must go through them in order to be continually improving our character does not make it easier when devastation befalls us. This is why such stories are loved by all. It is the discovery, the realization, that all people have a "wilderness." We are not alone in our struggle. Many have gone before us, and many will go after, and we all have the power to overcome.
As I thought about the two stories I wished to illustrate these thoughts with, too many came to mind who were still in their wilderness, or never made it through to the other side. However, the stories of Doug Batchelor and John Nash have always resounded with me, and I believe them to be wonderful examples of "returned ones."
If you were to look at my bookmarks on delicious.com, you would find the story of Doug Batchelor, who labels himself as "The Richest Caveman." Batchelor grew up in an extremely wealthy family, giving him the privilege of being able to afford anything he cared for, not one want was unfulfilled. Except that he was unhappy with his life, unsatisfied with the lack of personal connection within his family. So he left. He turned to the typical remedies of one in blinding despair: drugs, drinking, women. Anything to take his mind off of his unhappiness. It was not until several years later, when he was living in a cave in southern California, that he ran across a Bible that some hikers had left. It was through his lonely study and doubting nature that he discovered a story that resonated with him. He could relate to the anguish of the writers, and the longed for the joy they had seemed to discover. He had found the way out of his "wilderness" and decidedly made his choice to act. Although the details that followed this decision are outlined in depth through my delicious.com link, it is important to say that the final outcome of his redemption story shows him as a major pastor and evangelist of the Seventh-day Adventist faith. He is well known not only for the numerous books he has written, but also for the major evangelical seminars he holds with Amazing Facts. Doug Batchelor struggled through a dark time in his life, one filled with doubt and emptiness, but he overcame. He found the way out, finally admitting that he needed one.
The second story that I found myself dwelling on over the last week is that of Mr. John Nash. Although his story is much less obvious of a redemption story, I see similar themes throughout his life. Nash was a young genius of mathematics and inventor of the theory of rational behavior. Within a few years, in 1958, he received tenure at M.I.T at only 29 years old. However, this picture perfect life of a young genius did not continue in this pattern. Within one year of his receiving tenure, Nash began showing progressed signs of paranoid schizophrenia and was released from his duties at M.I.T. Over the next several years Nash wondered all over America and Europe, struggling with his illness and unable to keep a medicated routine due to it. Everything he had known and loved was unreachable to him, and he fought to maintain his standing in the intellectual world. However, he was nearly incapacitated for almost two decades, and it was not until the early 1970's that his illness began to evaporate. He slowly began working on his theories of mathematics again, and gradually returned his life to before his illness. Working on many projects through the next couple of decades, John Nash was eventually awarded the Nobel Prize, along with two other fellow scientists, in 1994 for, what he considered to be, his most trivial work.
Both of these men struggled with, what seemed to be, insurmountable obstacles. Both men were able to find the strength to overcome these trials and return, improved, to a world that they could now better understand and fully appreciate. Realizing that despite their despair, they were blessed men, given a second chance that they refused to throw away.
It is our daily struggles, our personal times of greatest despair and darkness that build our beings. Without these, who would we be? Yet, knowing that we must go through them in order to be continually improving our character does not make it easier when devastation befalls us. This is why such stories are loved by all. It is the discovery, the realization, that all people have a "wilderness." We are not alone in our struggle. Many have gone before us, and many will go after, and we all have the power to overcome.
As I thought about the two stories I wished to illustrate these thoughts with, too many came to mind who were still in their wilderness, or never made it through to the other side. However, the stories of Doug Batchelor and John Nash have always resounded with me, and I believe them to be wonderful examples of "returned ones."
If you were to look at my bookmarks on delicious.com, you would find the story of Doug Batchelor, who labels himself as "The Richest Caveman." Batchelor grew up in an extremely wealthy family, giving him the privilege of being able to afford anything he cared for, not one want was unfulfilled. Except that he was unhappy with his life, unsatisfied with the lack of personal connection within his family. So he left. He turned to the typical remedies of one in blinding despair: drugs, drinking, women. Anything to take his mind off of his unhappiness. It was not until several years later, when he was living in a cave in southern California, that he ran across a Bible that some hikers had left. It was through his lonely study and doubting nature that he discovered a story that resonated with him. He could relate to the anguish of the writers, and the longed for the joy they had seemed to discover. He had found the way out of his "wilderness" and decidedly made his choice to act. Although the details that followed this decision are outlined in depth through my delicious.com link, it is important to say that the final outcome of his redemption story shows him as a major pastor and evangelist of the Seventh-day Adventist faith. He is well known not only for the numerous books he has written, but also for the major evangelical seminars he holds with Amazing Facts. Doug Batchelor struggled through a dark time in his life, one filled with doubt and emptiness, but he overcame. He found the way out, finally admitting that he needed one.
The second story that I found myself dwelling on over the last week is that of Mr. John Nash. Although his story is much less obvious of a redemption story, I see similar themes throughout his life. Nash was a young genius of mathematics and inventor of the theory of rational behavior. Within a few years, in 1958, he received tenure at M.I.T at only 29 years old. However, this picture perfect life of a young genius did not continue in this pattern. Within one year of his receiving tenure, Nash began showing progressed signs of paranoid schizophrenia and was released from his duties at M.I.T. Over the next several years Nash wondered all over America and Europe, struggling with his illness and unable to keep a medicated routine due to it. Everything he had known and loved was unreachable to him, and he fought to maintain his standing in the intellectual world. However, he was nearly incapacitated for almost two decades, and it was not until the early 1970's that his illness began to evaporate. He slowly began working on his theories of mathematics again, and gradually returned his life to before his illness. Working on many projects through the next couple of decades, John Nash was eventually awarded the Nobel Prize, along with two other fellow scientists, in 1994 for, what he considered to be, his most trivial work.
Both of these men struggled with, what seemed to be, insurmountable obstacles. Both men were able to find the strength to overcome these trials and return, improved, to a world that they could now better understand and fully appreciate. Realizing that despite their despair, they were blessed men, given a second chance that they refused to throw away.
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