Then, you look through time, and you watch animals behave over years, decades, and centuries; at the speed of light. You see murder, mass bombings, yelling, shouting, fighting, and no food to come as a result of any act. In fact, with every stroke of destruction, the food becomes more scarce, economical struggle ensues, and each ‘leader’ of one country vs another preaches that they are doing the ‘right’ thing.
Yet, as a species — humans are dying, rapidly.
You look around — lions, tigers, and bears. All living harmoniously with one another, occasionally having a turf war, and fighting to provide food for their families. They attack another species to eat, protect the young of the parents they kill, and bring their prize home to share. Even in their most violent moments, they seem to understand the value of life.
Other animals appear connected to the Earth, they are in touch with movements of weather patterns, and they repeatedly avoid conflict whenever possible.
They do not stand, boast, and attack. Instead, they hide, stay quiet, and only respond if hard-pressed to do so, out of starvation, survival, or fear of destruction. As the years go on, and you continue to witness species’ behaviors, it becomes apparent that humans are actually causing an uproar on Earth. It reminds you of the former human species, another intelligent being, who were eventually endangered and then extinct. Time and time again, these humans are given a high-powered brain; yet, the human brain self-complicates.
Humans — these silly beings. They don’t even understand that by creating a home for themselves they are destroying the home for their future. Eventually, their planet will fight back — and win.
Other animals are living harmoniously, bathing in the gift of water given to Earth — enjoying the sunlight that doesn’t burn or freeze them, and gazing at the stars each night — respectful of the presence of something greater than themselves. These animals. So simple. So loving. They understand the importance of family and tribe.
Why would humans forget how to ‘feel’ just because they learn how to ‘think?’
At some point in time, all human beings are unable to communicate, typically at the beginning or end of life. Yet, in these moments, they seem to find peace. They seem to look, gaze, and smile. They feel.
Add a higher-order brain and everything goes to shit.
Consider this. Humans have the gift. What will they do with it? Will this species survive or will there be another attempt on human life? Each time, they get smarter, but it appears they’re not quite there.
I challenge you to be the difference. Help humans survive.
16 Comments
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One thing is for sure… animals are never cruel to each other. What happens may appear cruel to us as onlookers but their actions are born of need. They do not kill or maim for fun! Not so with us humans … there is so much cruelty towards animals as well as other human beings just for the hang of it that one wonders why .. surely we who have ‘superior’ brain power should see the need to protect and help each other and our planet if we are to survive. The Creator of all this beauty and wonder must surely wonder why He bothered at all. If each of us takes up the challenge to try to be different can we make a difference – we have to believe we can!
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Agree with Carol Cowie fully. The thing that disappoints me the most is humans just breeding, breeding and breeding. We are insanely overpopulating the Earth and in the process destroying so much of this precious planet, animals and ourselves. But that is the one thing nobody wants to hear. Lets rather try and address our problems through any other way, than addressing over population. We are not meant to live in great concrete jungles and all that goes with a concrete jungle and the many millions of people living on top of each other. This simple problem can be solved with better education, family planning, and protective sex. I personally never had the desire to have a child, but rather to become all I could be to make my life count for something rather than creating another life. Oh well there I have added my pennies worth to the topic.
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Thank you for bringing up such a simple and profound thought. In that regard, I recently read a statement that also made an impression, “What would the world be like if women were safe?
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What can I do?
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Love yourself.
Really truly begin and go fully there. The rest follows naturally–and without it, nothing resonates truthfully, never works really. That brings full responsability which is fullest freedom and liberty, including, as an of course, respecting liberty of others to live.
Great response and question. Chapeau.
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Awesome observation, Dr K! What a great lesson for everyone to ponder and act on.
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Dr K..please look at Calvin Luther Martin’s book “The Way of the Human Being.” particularly a chapter named “to the Skin of the World” and speaks of the world of the Native American peoples who were able to step through the skin of the world exchange places with animals and visa versa. It changed when man started killing animals for sport.
Stupid? I’ve seen actual occasions of people being absolutely at one with animals: a lady who could nurse birds back to health: a very dear friend of mine was able to calm most animals that came into contact with her..I once watched her tickle the back of a bee..it turned over and let her tickle it’s front..I’ve seen men live with lions, hyenas, wolves..it is possible to be at one with them..but we are not only destroying the animals but also many of the elder native peoples who still have the ability to teach us how to live together. Anyway thanks for allowing me to blow.. -
One more please..I practice and teach T’ai Chi which used “lessons from animals to improve movement” according to stories anyway..but some people see it as a martial art which should be taught as a fighting art..I took to my T’ai Chi because after ten years of boxing and other contact sports I hope it’s taught me two things: Moving more easily and Learn how not to fight unless life depends on it.
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We can choose between love or fear.
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Yes, you are correct, the planet will win; however, humans will persist as we are an adaptive and resilient species. What will collapse is our society – and to some degree or perhaps altogether, civilization in general – as most all have throughout our existence. Since the advent of fire, humans have manipulated their environment, with the birth of agriculture, even more so. The cause of societal collapse is basically outstripping the available resources often resulting in soil erosion and deforestation, sometimes a climactic shift accompanies the collapse. If societal leaders are able to foresee the inevitable end, and the society lives in a resilient environment, they can enact rules, regulations, laws and religious or societal taboos to restore their resources and decrease their population.
If leaders fail to implement social safety-net measures, people will take matters in their own hands and war ensues. Women and children are targeted as it’s the quickest way to drop the population level. This has been documented outside our species, such as the band of chimpanzees that took up weapons and attacked a neighboring tribe, killing (and eating one juvenile) females and infants and kidnapping them for enslavement.
Among predators, they do kill outside of hunger if prey is plentiful – perhaps to hone their skills or teach their young. They also practice infanticide both within their species – to ensure a superior gene pool – as well as other predator species, ostensibly to reduce competition.
Even insects practice slavery and plants have strategies that assist them in invading new territories. Violence and aggression abound in nature and within us, the difference is that we have the option to choose our behavior.So what can we do? Be the peace – it first must be found within before it can be projected out. We have a number of excellent teachers – Mohamed, Christ, Mahatma Gandhi, Peace Pilgrim, Martin Luther King, Jr. and even Anwar Sadat in the end – who have gone before leaving us with rich histories to follow. Granted, few of us have the fortitude to follow in their foot-steps; however, we’re all capable of embracing small acts.
The best thing we can do is to be physically fit – strong and agile – I think Dr. K has our backs on that one if we’re willing to do the work. Practice a martial art that focuses on body, mind and spirit – predators prey on victims – a strong body carried straight and in confidence will be bypassed for easier pickings. If we share what we’ve learned, predators will run out of victims and fade away – women can be safe.
But, never trade your freedom for safety – it leads to fascist oppression. Regardless as to
whether the oppression is based in resource restriction or self-determination, the result is usually warfare – although the Berlin wall and iron curtain fell without it – maybe there is hope for us.-
The real answer, I’d say, Sharon ( a name of peace, by the way is it not?) is to handle and dissolve the violence within each of us, and the residues of the far too much family violence that comes from these religious rape cuulture societies, such as the JCM trio of brothers who are destroying the planet and anywhere they have inserted themselves. (Judeo-Christian-Muslim are the initials of course), whos base principles are abuse=love and vice versa. Domination submission as expression of truth vs, well, truth.) Predators will run out of victims, I understand what you want to say; but the creation of the violence and the mindsat that rapes in anyway comes from the reaction to the abuse that is taught and then lived. That is stopped, transformed into truthfulness and loving, healed, inside, and is the only real answer. Saying no to violence (because he’s right, it’s boring, it’s the sign of failure, not, as these other ways teach, of victory) is of course a part of that process. But never works definitively if vioence stays the reference point. Why “non-violence” as a term is a non-sense term, because it hooks the authority to violence. Vs Peace, which is a state of living healthily and well on its own. Far greater that “non-violence”. Which is the answer I am writing to your thoughts here.
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I think religious rape culture is too strong. There are groups in all faiths and atheists as well that exercise violence. If you look at the originators of the JCM you see a different character. Of course you’ll have to read authentic texts to see the level of non violence of Muhammad, but the personality of Jesus is pretty well known. Media is biased so it’s easy to overloook the violence going on in less popularly villified communities, but it’s there. Violent individuals and groups use any justification available to commit their crimes. Whereas non violent people of all backgrounds will always constrain these tendencies and seek cooperative solutions. We need to accept diversity and not fear it, then applaud all efforts of non violent resolution and deescalation. And teach our children the same.
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I have a friend who calls this phenomenon of humans….homo sapienism. We have actually run roughshod over the planet. We are surviving at alarming numbers at the expense of other species. My friend said that humans are not a keystone species, i.e., a foundation species on which other species need to survive. One such keystone species is the prairie dog and out west, humans do their best to eradicate them. In American Indian lore, we also have the good wolf and bad wolf working in our core. The idea would to NOT feed the bad wolf. My friend takes this to extremes, living within a walking distance radius, or at the most a bike ride. She does not use electricity or other modern conveniences I her home, and pretty much wears the same clothes all the time. Weird? But she has a valid point in all she does. I asked her to write a book, but the only way that is going to be one is to have someone follow her around and record what she says. Any takers?
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Hi Carmen!
Your friend sounds awesome, and committed to living in the way she believes. I hope more people will meet her and learn from her. It’s interesting you mention Native American thoughts on good wolf and bad wolf; I spend a lot of time learning from the thousands of years of knowledge and wisdom passed down by this wonderful culture and civilization. They understand our interaction with this planet as well as anyone I’ve ever spoke to, or possibly way better.
“Mother” Earth speaks volume. She is mother to us all, which makes us connected, and each of us important to the next. Effectively, trees, animals, and the planet are all part of the same being… Or pulse.
With a shifted focus, we survive, flourish, and gain love. With love, comes happiness.
Thank you, Carmen!
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Perfect. Yes; Anyone who was coming of age grew up with this, then saw it under attack from1980 onwards in the USA. Thank you for bringing it back out into the light.
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You’re welcome, Sid! I appreciate you tons 🙂
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