Kudzu

Here in the south, everyone knows about kudzu. It is a pest, a vine that, once established, is virtually impossible to eradicate. It climbs relentlessly over other vegetation in its innocent self-actualizing quest to survive; engulfing the host and blocking the life giving sunlight. Ultimately it can asphyxiate even the tallest, hardiest tree.

Most southerners are familiar with its history. It was imported in the 1800's from Asia by agriculturalists to prevent soil erosion. It seemed a good idea, then. But time often proves that occasionally even the best of intentions can turn sour. Unfortunately, kudzu is now entrenched and as much a part of the landscape as dogwoods and azaleas. Truth to tell, it isn't all bad. In the orient, the root is used to make a high grade, nutritious tofu and the thick woody vines are excellent materials for constructing beautiful baskets. But for the most part, there is no way around it, kudzu is insidious.

I see kudzu as a perfect analogy. Like so many other good intentioned attempts to advance our civilization, Kudzu Rules have slowly taken over and are choking out what was initiated as simple human fairness. Like kudzu, the idea that to survive and succeed we must conquer and use others, rejecting integrity, honor, and selflessness, grows mindlessly and with such speed, the deeply rooted values on which this country was founded are literally withering from lack of light. In a sincere effort, thinly disguised as promoting human equality, we, as a nation, at the close of the second millenium, are now subject to lowest-common-denominator syndrome. Creeping upward in subtle increments, slowly surrounding and binding us, our beliefs about what is expected of us as human beings are gently smothered and replaced with the deep green, leathery leaves of lack of accountability.

In case you have been too busy to notice, here are the new

Kudzu Rules of Society:

Self first. Serve your self. Make yourself happy first.

Be offended easily. Be quick to defend your position. Shoot if you feel your position or space is threatened. Lie if it protects or advances your position.

Never lift anyone else up, it might temporarily dislodge you from your position.

Steal if you can't have what someone else has. After all, society will defend you because you are disadvantaged.

Don't ever blame yourself for your bad decisions. Someone else is always available for that, especially your parents.

Choose self-fulfillment. If you are struggling with the choice of living and dying nobly or self-fulfilled. Others can take care of themselves.

You are what matters. Remember, no matter how little effort you exert, you are as good as anyone else and deserve everything anyone else has. If you need therapy for your confusion, the new professionals (with the exception of Dr. Laura) will encourage you to realize yourself, create and cultivate your self-esteem at all costs.

Redefine compassion as "doing for" instead of "teaching to do".

Squelch independent thinking whenever possible. Recognition of innovative ideas threatens the self-esteem of underachievers.

If you are an antique, like I, from the old school of thought, you are distressed, as I, by this inch by inch strangulation of what is civil about civilization. I truly feel sorry for all the hapless pupils of the new school who will never understand what hit them when the last ray of sunlight disappears.

Even kudzu needs something solid to grow on.