The Daily Populous Monday January 4th, 2021 morning edition
Authored by sites.psu.edu and submitted by zoidbjj

People often find it difficult to settle disputes. When several individuals are in disagreement or possess conflicting ideas, most find it easier to start a physical altercation, exchange sharp words, or simply avoid dealing with the issue. Humans are stubborn and proud; they prefer to believe their own opinions are correct and would sooner throw a punch than accept an alternate view. However, there are particular societies throughout the world which suppress conflict and arrogance by nonviolent means.

The aboriginal Inuit, a hunter-gatherer society which resides in the Arctic, lack formal political organization or a system of laws. Operating under the principles of egalitarianism, the Inuit attempt to maintain an essentially equal social hierarchy in which no individual may consider themself superior in belief or ability.

When conflicts arise within this egalitarian region, it is often the result of one individual bragging about their personal accomplishments, such as making an impressive kill during a hunt or marrying the largest number of wives. Rather than resorting to physical altercations, the Inuit settle the issue at hand in a different manner: a singing contest.

When two individuals are in a dispute, they engage in a public song battle. Each contestant makes up a song ridiculing the other. At the end of the contest, the audience proclaims a winner, and the two people will go their separate ways. The purpose of this custom is to maintain the internal order of Inuit society without violence and bloodshed.

In American culture, as well as many other cultures throughout the world, force is more typically used to settle conflict. Last week, as I rode the bus across campus, I watched as two freshman boys shouted insults and threats at one another before getting off at a downtown stop and tackling each other. Thirty seconds later, they each walked away, no more satisfied than they had been at the start of their fight.

Imagine if they had settled their dispute in the same peaceful manner as the Inuit; rather than each person walking away from the fight wounded and angry, they would have resolved their conflict and perhaps departed from the battle satisfied that they had done their best and expressed and asserted their ideas effectively.

Some may argue that the Inuit are underdeveloped in comparison to politically organized tribes, chiefdoms, and states, and that their song battles are childish. However, their hunter-gatherer society has survived for centuries and continues to thrive under the ideals of social equality, a trait which is not necessarily applicable to “politically advanced” civilizations who immediately resort to violence in the face of adversity.

Dispute between humans is inevitable. However, perhaps if all people were to settle their differences by nonviolent means, world peace would be attainable.

Sources: Mirror for Humanity by Conrad Kottack, umbc.edu

dougalcampbell on January 3rd, 2021 at 23:51 UTC »

Wait... We don’t get any examples? Are mommas fair game? We have so many questions!

Arkonias on January 3rd, 2021 at 23:32 UTC »

Basically the same thing as Flyting right?

TheTiltedStraight on January 3rd, 2021 at 23:24 UTC »

There’s vomit on his parka already