Going Tribal

One of the best shows on television today is the Discovery Channel's "Going Tribal". The synopsis is Bruce Parry, a former British Royal Marine, seeks out ancient tribes still isolated from the modern world in the remote jungles of Africa, Asia, and South America and lives with them for up to a month, adopting and assimilating into their society and culture. The show is absolutely fascinating and wildly entertaining, if for no other reason than seeing Bruce eat, drink, smoke, and be mutilated in ways completely alien (and often painful) to those of us in the Western world.

I logged on to the show's website looking for details on exactly what happened to Bruce when he nearly fainted during a genitalia mutilation ceremony performed for him by the cannibalistic Kombai tribe in Indonesia (episode "Living With Cannibals") and was surprised at the vehement criticism logged on the message boards.

Criticisms ranged from accusations of exploition, to belittlement, to accusations the show may single-handedly be destroying indigenous cultures by causing the natives to question their belief systems. One comment was in response to the genetalia mutilation ceremony, claiming that by refusing to participate, Bruce may cause the Kombai to question their belief system and consequently destroy it. Another critic was upset that Bruce was bringing these societies into contact with Western culture, which has historically destroyed and displaced native cultures.

These are absurd criticisms that are built upon dangerously thin and poorly-reasoned logic.

I agree that studying these tribes is an invaluable academic exercise that teaches us more about ourselves and where our cultures came from and that it would be a crime to destroy these cultures without cataloging and learning from them.

But to keep these people isolated from the modern world in the interest of preserving their culture? That just seems criminal.

How can anybody claim it is right to study these people to benefit our own knowledge base, and then abandon them to remain in their ancient societies without quality of life-improving modern technology or medicine? That is more like exploitation than anything "Going Tribal" is doing. Why should we Westerners keep our vaccines and farming techniques to ourselves? Why would we not want to give these people the same access to the modern constructs that make us the society with the highest quality of life and healthiest, longest-living people to have ever graced the planet? Let them keep their beliefs and cultures, but give them the opportunity to live better lives through modern technology and health care.

I also do not understand how causing them to think critically about their belief systems is a bad thing. Indeed, the world would be a better place if more people spent more time challenging their own belief systems. Should we not challenge the African belief systems that cause some those societies to practice female circumcision? Should we not challenge the Islamo-fascist belief systems that cause young men from the Middle East to become suicide bombers? Should we have not challenged the Nazi belief system justified genocide? If the Aztecs were still around (and yes, I realize the irony of using them as an example), would we not want them to challenge their beliefs that sacrificing young children is the way to worship and pay homage to the Divine? If we were more diligent about challenging our own current belief systems, perhaps the world could be a more peaceful place with less war.

So why is it any different to get these societies to challenge their belief systems that promote cannibalism and mutilation of young girls and boys?