It is a foolish culture that fails to remember the wisdom that brought it to the place it is. Our society, with all its amazing technology, only exists because of the powerful skills of our ancestors. They had the ability to live with nothing that their two hands could not obtain. We are out of touch with our past and someday it will cost us dearly. A simple example was hurricane Katrina. This was a city full of modern, advanced, civilized people. They thought that their technology would keep them safe. When Katrina struck, we saw thousands of people screaming for help and dying like pathetic helpless sheep. It was heart- breaking to watch people basically saying, "we can’t help ourselves--please get us out".

Now imagine Katrina-like conditions on a grander scale: a nuclear attack, a major volcanic eruption, a major virus, a meteor hit, or a worldwide climate change. There may be no electricity (which any of these events could lead to), which means no lights or heat in the winter; no water because the well pumps need electricity; no fuel for your car because the pump is empty or it can’t run since it needs electricity. You go to the grocery store but it has been cleaned out already and all the perishable items have spoiled. With no fuel as mentioned before, no food is coming. How long would you live? Remember, we are talking grand scale. The National Guard, Red Cross, FEMA aren’t coming to help this time. How long would you live? We are so advanced and technology savvy, but will it help us? Our society thinks it is stronger and better than ever. In reality, it is as weak as it has ever been. Take a look at the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Most people did okay because they had skills. They knew how to hunt, fish, grow gardens and can their food. They knew how to make their own clothes and bake from scratch. They knew how to cut firewood and cook and heat their home with wood or coal. Imagine the Great Depression again. Today the affects would be tragic.

Many people today are too "modern" to know these things. Someday 1 year from now, or maybe 100 years from now, most of our culture will die when a major event occurs. It may be a geological event, warfare, economic collapse, a biological pandemic or a combination of these. History leaves no question if one or more of these events will happen. Our only question is when. Only the people who live close to the earth that have kept the ancient wisdom alive will make it and some of them will probably perish.

So you may be thinking that I am hoarding guns, ammo, and food and waiting for the end to come. That is absolutely false. I do not live in fear but I have studied enough history to know that it repeats itself. From time to time major devastations happen on the face of the earth.

There are many things about modern life I love and enjoy. However, I feel that keeping the ancient skills alive is just being responsible for future generations and myself-future generations who may just need the skills someday.

Also for me, studying the primitive skills is a great excuse to spend time outside. It gives me something to do with my family. It results in real quality time. When I am in the wilderness I feel at home and not nervous about the unknown or getting lost. This allows me to enjoy nature in a way I cannot begin to explain.