whatever the socio-political, economic reasons given, underlying it all was that great pathetic lunatic insecurity that drove men to cling to various illusions of certainty & permanence. the supreme irony, of course, was that they clung to those ideals because they were scared witless by the uncertainty & permanence of death. to the domesticated, nomads were an unwelcome reminder of instinct suppressed, liberty compromised, & control un-implemented. -tom robbins, "fierce invalids home from hot climates"