DESERT Colleen Keyes Desert, You are a wild red Indian pony, And you roam across the plains, Unsaddled, unbridled, and unbroken. You wander heavy-footed, And your lava hooves fall hard against the earth. Men have fenced you with roadways And bridled you with wire and cement. They have saddled you with cities And hobbled you with iron rails. They ride you, pretending they are gods. Men think Their ribbons of Pavement and lace-work of Wires and wood are all they need to Hold you. 14 A CRITICISM OF OUR CULTURE Larry R. Eames Philosophy's field is broad and inclusive. It is an attempt to understand the world, its meaning, and its values: it is an attempt to participate in an active world and answer questions concerning the kind of world we would best want to live in; it inventories what kind of a political system is best for mankind; and it is anxious to create more and better value systems for people to live and guide their lives by. Philosophy is also concerned to reconcile man with "spiritual values" and to cast whatever light is possible upon the bettering of man's economic mode of life. This is the kind of philosophy of life that our culture lacks. A culture aids man in what he believes. It often ties, binds, and gags man into submitting to certain beliefs, and more than not fails to present him with enough alternatives in life suitable for his choosing. At times there have been reported cultures that did not even furnish men with the belief that choosing is important. Thus, a culture's philosophy is important. If what man believed to be true in life did not make any particular difference in social action, then I would submit that philosophy is an extracurricular activity not worth the attention of the common majority. However, since the action of human beings whether voluntary or involuntary often involves meaning of some sort, it becomes necessary not only to interpret that meaning but to understand why it comes about. The "why" is generally considered to be due to the beliefs, ideals, and goals that certain people wish to make manifest. The direction and interpretation of these beliefs, ideals, and goals is what is lagging in our culture. 15