The Distant Shore

Pressing forward

never looking back

picturing the future

sailing to the Distant Shore


-Running Demon

You have dreamed of a perfect world, or simply a perfect society; somewhere nothing could go wrong, a place where you could live out life in peace and happiness. Unfortunately, Utopia does not exist on our decaying world, but it does exist in our thoughts and dreams. Utopia, explained here, could be the pinnacle of humanity, assuming the following conditions were met: and so we go.

To begin a perfect society, you need perfect surroundings, a geological and environmental setting ideal enough to host humanities greatest accomplishment. Thus an island, located in the vicinity of the Mediterranean would suffice. The tectonic setting, of said island, would be preferably (but uncharacteristically) stable, with a massive dormant volcano anchoring the central part of the island. The island would be ringed with a variety of tropical cloud forests, tropical dry forests, and workable agricultural lowlands. Before the peoples of Utopia can be mentioned, a fifty meter white sand beach must be incorporated, ringing the island, except for the cliff studded bay that would serve as Utopias only defensible and workable port.

The peoples of Utopia would have a perfect blend of the world’s races. Populations would be appropriately proportioned between an European’s fair skin, the Native American’s tan, and the African’s black complexion. Racism would be none existent; society would start mixed, raising all children in a diverse society. If one is not taught to hate another, one never will. Within these populations would be a need for society to provide for itself, but there is a twist, electronic technology is no longer compulsory but rather a negligible portion within the scheme of things.

People’s contribution would be critical to the survival of Utopia, creating a tight-knit society that would flourish with the personal respect for one another’s part. Employment would work under a system of learned Guilds. Masters and Apprentices would permeate through the populations, allowing one guild to every charge (ex. Doctors, Farmers, Engineers, Theologians, etc…). Currency, clearly, is a difficulty efficiently avoided; for if one performs his part admirably, his payment will be a life supported by his fellow Utopians, each performing their respective tasks worthily.

Education would work hand in hand with the Guild system. Those who chose to fill the positions allotted to teaching would run the education realm. Each individual would be asked to attend ten years of instruction, and more if it was their so desire to join an educated Guild or to become a teacher themselves. Compulsory attendance would not be necessary, for each individual would understand the importance of education and the existence of Utopia. Though ignorance is bliss, wisdom is a comfort that no imagination can replicate.

You wish to know of the government that would run such an ideal society, but you believe none would be necessary, unfortunately you are wrong. Societies, even in states of seeming perfection, are never perfect; they require leaders, customs, and ideologies to support the liberties of the peoples present. This Utopia would have a familiar three branch government; each branch would be headed by one individual, someone recognized through youth as a leader, someone that could be trusted in the worst of circumstances. One leader for each: Justice, Power, and Wisdom. Together and separately they would lead Utopia through disaster, euphoria, and peace, each holding their position until age required the recognition of another, by and through the guilds of Utopia, to be a leader, assuming the role of the respective aged mentor.

The military valor would be headed by the Leader of Power. Not to protect Utopia from within, but to protect it from those that wish to do harm to a society that they will never obtain. A task force of a few selected individuals would be allowed weapons of defense. Within this sector would technology be most prevalent, yet miniscule. Never would the military be in position to dominate the civilized people of Utopia, for before any military action can be dictated, agreement must be met by all three leaders of this society.

In the rare occasion that one would wish to leave Utopia for a higher understanding, or for personal reasons, they would be allowed to leave. But once an individual has deserted their home, return would always be discouraged and denied; for allowing the outside world to infiltrate the beautiful forests of Utopia would be a far greater evil than any one perfect society could stand against.

If my mind’s eye were to become truth, Utopia would be the place for me, a world I could live out my simple life in peace and serenity. Although it will never exist on this sphere, someday I hope to see it, or at least make it… a reality.

Collective Power

Resistance is Futile; this popular expression is from the sci-fi show Star Trek. The phrase is usually used moments before the Borg species attacks, annihilates, and/or assimilates their unwilling foes into the Borg Collective. The Borg Collective is the most powerful mixture of races in the known Star Trek universe. Even though this is merely a scientific fantasy, it shows principals that are very true in the real world. Everything working as a Collective, whether it is the Borg or an assortment of bees, finishes tasks faster, more efficiently, and produces a higher yield than any one individual.

Organizations around the world are hailed for how efficient they are, and many ask: how do they do it? I believe that a man, hundreds of years ago, answered this question when he said, “United we Stand, Divided we Fall.” I contest that he was on to something that could apply to his day, and to the millennia to come. What he was simply stating was, “As a group, a union, an organization: a collective, we realize what others will not, we oppose what others dare not, and we rise where others can not.”

One powerful example of the rise and fall of a collective is the Ancient Egyptian Empire. As an Empire, the Egyptians were hailed for much. They raised a civilization out of the vast deserts of Africa, created the last standing of the Seven Wonders of the World, and exercised control over peoples that were later documented to be an "unstoppable force". This Empire, at the height of its power, was a fully fledged collective, made up of Monarchs, Priests, Scientists, and, to borrow a term from Star Trek, drones. Their wealth was insurmountable, and their knowledge and armies were vast. How then, did they seal their fate? One could easily argue that Pharaoh “Let his people go.” He broke the collective ties that had held his empire together. A civilization that stood as a beacon for generations was demised to nothing without its work force. Egypt once stood united, but as a divided, weakened group they sure came to the sands of the desert.

We as a civilization now need to look at ourselves and compare what we have become to the ancient worlds and the scientific spheres. We do not stand truly united; we have lost the direction that is necessary for a nation, a collective, to walk forward achieving all. We would not have to fear if our goals were concise, accurate, and reflected our values. We bicker and fight within our own states, which leads to states combating states in the Senate. If we truly wish to make a difference in this world, we should position ourselves as a collective. As we achieve this, we will be able to say confidently to ourselves and to those opposing us: Resistance is Futile.

Running Demon