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<p><strong>Off the Map: An Expedition Deep into Empire and the
Global Economy</strong> <br>
Chellis Glendinning
<br>
Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers, 2002
<br>
187 pp., $15.95, paper
<br>
ISBN: 0-86571-463-0</p>
<p><em>Off the Map: An Expedition Deep Into Empire and the Global
Economy</em>, is Chellis Glendinning's latest attempt to get us
off out "buts" and active for the good of ourselves and the world.</p>
<p>In an earlier book, <em>Hello, My Name is Chellis, and I'm in
Recovery from Western Civilization</em>, Ms. Glendinning argues
persuasively that we are all addicts. As a group, as a tribe, as a
hive, we have bought into a lifestyle that includes a renunciation
of personal responsibility and an addiction to comfort. It's not
doing our bodies or our world and good, but it is proving hard to
shake. </p>
<p>For example, at Alcoholics Anonymous, the template for beating
addiction, we learn that we are not capable of escaping on our
own. We need companions and hard work. And it is generally agreed
we need the good will and assistance of the Big Fellow Himself. In
her latest book, Ms. Glendinning gives us hope that such needs can
be met. She does this by offering herself up as a case study. In
brutally graphic terms, she describes childhood abuse that her own
father visited upon her and her brother.</p>
<p>She then draws an analogy between the effect of global
imperialism on our world and the effect of familial imperialism
upon her own body, effects poisonous to all. She tells us,
metaphorically, "Friends, if I can survive and become whole, you
can too, and so can our earth. Don't give up the fight!"</p>
<p>Through struggle, and by humbly accepting the help of her
community, Ms. Glendinning is healing. She tells us that she is
getting better. And based upon this book, we must say, "My God, I
believe her." She has beaten the odds. So we may, too.</p>
<p>Characteristically, Ms. Glendinning also stirs our minds with
some provocative and troubling propositions. For example, what if
maps and computers, those favored toys we all love, are not such
good things? Maps give us the illusion of possession, thus leading
to imperialistic pretensions. They purport to represent Truth.
They are some expert's opinion, which we follow thoughtlessly. We
no longer look for signs and clues among the way, but trust in
this abstract to bring us home safely. Therefore, maps dull us to
the actual breathing sensuous world that surrounds us.</p>
<p>As for computers, they have ills to answer for us as well. Many
have observed that our world is being taken over by inhuman,
amoral entities called corporations. Ms. Glendinning points out
that these corporations are made possible by computers, and are
run by computers. Computers have been presented to us as our
salvation, but they might turn out to be bad weavers, connecting
the evil we see growing everywhere.</p>
<p><em>Off the Map</em> offers the reader big hopes, big thoughts,
and big dreams. There is a Yiddish saying: "It is not our
responsibility to finish the work, but we must not allow ourselves
to stop." Thank you, Ms. Glendinning, for preserving in these
labors which enrich us all.</p>
<p><em>— Laura Weisberg</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Order from:
<br>
New Society Publishers
<br>
PO Box 189
<br>
Gabriola Island, B.C.
<br>
CANADA
<br>
(800) 567-6772
<br>
<a href="http://www.newsociety.com">www.newsociety.com</a></p>
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