expanded to larger regional expressions of the same form, which again could be based upon eco-cultural communities of a much larger scale – think, for example, of organizations similar in size that covered by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the European Union (EU). Securing diversity through eco-cultural difference, these regional systems of governance would provide for a single directional voice, which in turn would serve an alternative and reflective voice representing the newly constructed nation as a whole.39
Mind you, this stands in total contrast from the absurdist expansionist proposals for a new North America put forth by Trump to acquire Greenland through military force if necessary and Canada through economic force if necessary.40 First, the eco-cultural proposal presented above is grounded in science, conversation, and negotiation – not in narcissistic and expansionist fantasies of a single individual with authoritarian tendencies who controls the presidency and who, with a nuclear arsenal at his disposal, feels free to threaten acquisition through brute force.
Second, the eco-cultural proposal builds upon existing historical, economic, and cultural partnerships that have been established through treaty and mutual acknowledgement to re-envision a new way forward where all benefit through new economic agreements and security arrangements – it does not set or ignore common ground in the quest for
acquiring precious metals or greater control over Arctic territory.
This should alleviate fears of those who believe a change in governance would necessitate a diminished miilitary standing in the world. - which itself could then diminsh our economic
power. If reform were to take place democratically and strategically over time, through a peaceful transition, defense
frameworks could remain in place to protect the new governance structures and economic arrangements. In fact, engaging in such an undertaking might well improve our standing in the world nationally and internationally.
Third, the eco-cultural proposal offers the prospect of strengthening democratic norms by acknowledging diverse groups of people with different cultural interests and traditions – it does not threaten those democratic norms or create fissures that could be exploited by political adversaries such as Russia or China, as would be the case should one NATO member (the United States) move militarily against another (Greenland by default is a member of NATO, given it is a territory of Denmark).
It is, in fact, because the eco-cultural community proposal offers such a unique vision and opportunity that it becomes necessary to expand the conversation beyond theorists and scientists to people and organizations who have experience actual experience building creative communities – people like Brunello Cuccinelli, Michael Murphy, Virgil Ortiz and organizations like Creative Growth, Food for Soul, Southwest Creations, many of whom have been profiled in this magazine.
These are people and organizations who understand their culture and their traditions, and who attempt to move those traditions forward in respect while empowering those who work for and with them in profit. These are people who serve as guiding lights, the leaders, shining a way forward in darkness, oftentimes in unwelcoming if not hostile environments. Through them we can envision a future not of darkness and dark traits, but light and enlightenment.
Let’s listen to and engage them in such a quest. They know how to do that about which we speak.
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