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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe real Lord of the Flies: what happened when six boys were shipwrecked for 15 months
For centuries western culture has been permeated by the idea that humans are selfish creatures. That cynical image of humanity has been proclaimed in films and novels, history books and scientific research. But in the last 20 years, something extraordinary has happened. Scientists from all over the world have switched to a more hopeful view of mankind. This development is still so young that researchers in different fields often dont even know about each other.
When I started writing a book about this more hopeful view, I knew there was one story I would have to address. It takes place on a deserted island somewhere in the Pacific. A plane has just gone down. The only survivors are some British schoolboys, who cant believe their good fortune. Nothing but beach, shells and water for miles. And better yet: no grownups.
On the very first day, the boys institute a democracy of sorts. One boy, Ralph, is elected to be the groups leader. Athletic, charismatic and handsome, his game plan is simple: 1) Have fun. 2) Survive. 3) Make smoke signals for passing ships. Number one is a success. The others? Not so much. The boys are more interested in feasting and frolicking than in tending the fire. Before long, they have begun painting their faces. Casting off their clothes. And they develop overpowering urges to pinch, to kick, to bite.
Snip
The boys, once aboard, claimed they were students at a boarding school in Nukualofa, the Tongan capital. Sick of school meals, they had decided to take a fishing boat out one day, only to get caught in a storm. Likely story, Peter thought. Using his two-way radio, he called in to Nukualofa. Ive got six kids here, he told the operator. Stand by, came the response. Twenty minutes ticked by. (As Peter tells this part of the story, he gets a little misty-eyed.) Finally, a very tearful operator came on the radio, and said: You found them! These boys have been given up for dead. Funerals have been held. If its them, this is a miracle!
More
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/may/09/the-real-lord-of-the-flies-what-happened-when-six-boys-were-shipwrecked-for-15-months?utm_source=digg
wcast
(595 posts)I used to read the Lord of the Flies with my English class and this would have been a perfect companion piece to teach alongside it.
Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)gulliver
(13,180 posts)bigtree
(85,996 posts)Mr Peter Warner, third from left, with his crew in 1968, including the survivors from Ata.
(Fairfax Media Archives/via Getty Images)
...first-class tale. Thanks for sharing.
Mme. Defarge
(8,028 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,001 posts)Mme. Defarge
(8,028 posts)I posted this under the wrong reply to the OP.
I did read the entire story and was deeply moved by it. Thank you for bringing the errant post to my attention.
...this is what I shout when I become unconstipated.
Maeve
(42,282 posts)crickets
(25,969 posts)That was fascinating, a great read. Thank you so much for sharing this, LiberalArkie!
Princess Turandot
(4,787 posts)... where there is very little. According to Wikipedia, nowadays, there are fig trees on the island, a species of sea bird and the Polynesian rat.
It's a hundred miles south of the main island of Tonga.
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/h3BJSGvuFS2RzToRA
Thanks for posting.
The Blue Flower
(5,442 posts)I love this.
jmbar2
(4,874 posts)Is it just an article or is there a book? I could find a link to the book. I'd buy it.
It's an amazing story.
h2ebits
(644 posts)"This is an adapted excerpt from Rutger Bregmans Humankind, translated by Elizabeth Manton and Erica Moore. A live streamed Q&A with Bregman and Owen Jones takes place at 7pm on 19 May 2020."
jmbar2
(4,874 posts)fascinating story upends a lot of stuff we have come to believe about human nature
h2ebits
(644 posts)I also found the story fascinating. I wish wish there was more info about the Q&A such as what time zone. . . .
murielm99
(30,736 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,001 posts)abqtommy
(14,118 posts)Last edited Sat May 9, 2020, 04:31 PM - Edit history (1)
hunter
(38,311 posts)abqtommy
(14,118 posts)lucca18
(1,241 posts)Thank you for posting.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,339 posts)Quixote1818
(28,930 posts)Midnight Writer
(21,753 posts)GeoWilliam750
(2,522 posts)struggle4progress
(118,282 posts)bigtree
(85,996 posts)SharonAnn
(13,772 posts)PatSeg
(47,419 posts)Thank you for posting.