1985-2004

“CULTURE WARS” – PHASE “Unraveling”

In this phase the Moral Landscape, the counterculture deepens, and “old ways of doing things” come unraveled. The term “Cultural War” was coined in 1992 by then Presidential candidate Patrick Buchanan and describes the dramatic cultural and social unraveling which may continue through the 2020s. NGOs shift the terrain and a “Third Sector” arises.

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1985

Biodynamics

THE FIRST COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) FARM

Jan Vander Thun brought the model from Zurich. “In Switzerland there are presently five groups, primarily urban, with 100-200 households in each. The members or shareholders as they are called, have agreed to find land together, to capitalize the operation, and to pay all of the operating costs. In two cases they have expanded from gardens to full farms with dairy, grains and fruits.”

“Imagine an agricultural experience that can inspire young people to pursue an agricultural path, both because of the private rewards and because of the social and economic respect. Imagine providing for those with less in the community by allocating shares for that purpose. Imagine a place for the handicap to be appreciated and integrated within a broad community. All these imaginings

and more exists now in various locales around the world and they lead to one primary point. Quality food. For there is more to food than its purity, taste, and beauty. If you can imagine, then you connect. The examples are there. (Pg. 64)

1987 Summer — Journal for Biodynamics, Number 163, Page 58-64)

Jan Vander Thun, Robyn Van En and Hugh Ratcliffe started Indian Line Farm in 1984-85. (2)Photo by Patti Barrett PHOTO © Copyright, 1987, Journal for Biodynamics)

1997

END NOTE (8) 1997 – END NOTE (8) U.S. Critics — People For Legal And NonSectarian Schools (PLANS) demonstrate at Oak Ridge public school in Sacramento. Oak Ridge is experimenting with Waldorf teaching methods.

PLANS launches a “flame” website that is linked to international critics web sites. Charges that Anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner are “cult”, “satanic”, “racist” and “anti-Semitic”. And that Waldorf education “indoctrinates” children worldwide. Eventually, PLANS gets funding to file a First Amendment lawsuit claiming that Waldorf education teaches Anthroposophy which is a “religion.”

2000

ASiA –An Anthroposophical Internet Anti-Defamation task group formed. The worldwide effort to counter widespread false and defamatory claims of occultism, “anthroposophy is a religion”, racism, anti-Semitism in Steiner’s work, and Waldorf practices. Led by volunteers funded by the Anthroposophical Society in America. Names itself the “A-Knights”.

2003

– International Right Living Award — The “Alternative Nobel Peace Prize” given to Ibraheem Aboulish, SEKEM Anthroposophical Community, Egypt.

BIODYNAMICS — LOS ANGELES TIMES reports: One-third of California wine growers move toward “sustainability” put 160,000 acres in transition to organic and Biodynamic.

A-Knights — Robert Mays and Sune Nordwall create WALDORF ANSWERS WEB SITE to have comprehensive responses to the disinformation put out by critics. www.waldorfanswers.org This site receives 30,000 visits per year. Visit this site to read all FIRST AMENDMENT COURT FILINGS.

Biodynamic — Manhattan Wine Tasting. “Many of the 500 guests at a Manhattan tasting sponsored by 74 biodynamic and organic producers in June departed with a simple impression: worldwide the Biodynamic movement resembles a small insurgency. In the wine trade, sympathizers, even skeptics feel a tug of enthusiasm.” The Wine News Magazine, Howard G. Goldberg, August / September 2004.

2004

Federal Lawsuit decided in 30-minutes. PLANS fails to prove Anthroposophy is a religion for Establishment Clause purposes. PLANS appeals and loses vs. Sacramento City Unified School District and Twin Ridges Public School Districts. Despite having lost the First Amendment court case, PLANS continues its disinformation campaign and writes Benicia ISD. This is countered by Aknights.

THE FLICKERING MIND, an excellent book by TODD OPPENHEIMER, is attacked by an organized campaign of critics. This is a clear example of the “Culture War” that rages on the internet and media to this day. Published here are the exchanges between the anti-defamation group, “Aknights” (Anthroposopical Knights), the Anthroposophical Society Administrator Jean Yeager, and AMAZON’S LEGAL AND PUBLISHING DIVISIONS.