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Learned Blindness As Religion
He cupped his hands around the plant and blew gently into it. Then he looked up at me. “It’s sick,” he explained, pointing at the leaves. “It was healthy yesterday,” he added, “when we came along this trail.”
He stood up. “We have to report this to the elders.”
I stood there gawking at that plant. I could see nothing exceptional about it, no reason why Shakaim would have noticed it in the first place.
That night, Shakaim gathered members of the community around a fire. He described in detail the state of the plant when he had last seen it, and the changes that occurred in the ensuing thirty-six hours.
…A vote was taken. And although several people pointed out that there could have been other causes for the sickness, the decision was unanimous — If there was any possibility that people were contributing to the problem, then people had to take remedial action.
This so-called “primitive” rain forest tribe did not require 100 percent certainty. It neither equivocated nor allowed short-term inconveniences to get in the way….
A new rule was adopted for the entire community. That trail would be closed.
Outside the ceremonial lodge, Shakaim and I stood in the clearing and peered up at the starry night. “Interesting how different our rules are from…
