Aug

12

P o HOn a recent vacation to Hawaii, we explored some of the history and culture, and ended up at Pu'uhonua o Honaunau, now a small and beautiful National Historical Park on the Big Island that recreates a once-special refuge in the Hawaiian culture. The purpose of these refuges was twofold: sanctuary, and absolution. There weren't many of them in the islands, but as long as you could find a way to make it to the refuge without being captured or killed, you would then be safe, a shaman would spiritually absolve you of your "sin(s)," and you could return freely to society.

I find it fascinating how cultures build in these special exceptions — places where the usual rules don't apply, and formal mechanisms for getting away with breaking serious taboos that otherwise would be punished, or being relieved of obligations. Roman Catholics have the confessional and the sanctuary of the Church, ancient Greek actors could ridicule kings with impunity, the Japanese don't hold against you anything you say while drunk, the neutrality of certain nations, e.g. Switzerland, is globally respected, west coast Indians had potlatches to cancel debts, and even US presidents issue arbitrary amnesties at the end of their terms.

It seems societies need a symbol to remind them that sometimes it's best to just forget it and move on.

I guess the contemporary Wall Street equivalent would be the $33 million SEC settlement…


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