NP but right out of AtD, so to speak..from an interview with Le Clezio

[Mark Kohut]

Western culture has become too monolithic. It places the greatest possible emphasis on its urban and technical side thus preventing the development of other forms of expression: religiosity and feelings, for example. The entire unknowable part of the human being is obscured in the name of rationalism. It is my awareness of this that has pushed me towards other civilisations. 

In this other place you have sought, Mexico in particular and the Amerindian world in general occupy a predominant place. How did you come to learn about Mexico? 

I was sent to Mexico to do my military service. During the two years I spent in the country I had the opportunity to travel. In particular, I went to Panama where I met the Emberas. I spent four years (1970-1974) with this Indian forest population. It was a deeply moving experience, because I discovered a way of life that had nothing to do with what I had been able to experience in Europe. The Emberas live in harmony with nature, with their environment and with themselves without needing to refer to any sort of legal or religious authority. I found that staggering and when, on my return, I wanted to talk about the social cohesion of this community, the critics accused me of being naive, simplistic and falling for the myth of the "noble savage", although this was not at all what I meant. I could never say of these people with whom I lived that they were savage, or that they were noble. They lived by other criteria and other values.