Humans have continuously extincted, endangered, enslaved, and/or interfered-with almost every other mammal on Earth since before recorded history. The bible and other human writings give us free reign over the world's living things, and we've taken to that task enthusiastically. From systemic animal agriculture that alters the planet's climate more than fossil fuels do, to genetic modification of ourselves and other species, to our ownership of pets, to the culling of "non-native species", to releasing modified mosquitoes in Florida, and on and on. We consider ourselves the kings of Earth, the custodians of Nature, the owners and controllers of all life.
But a curious bear touched - literally just touched - a human visitor to a lush hillside trail, and will be trapped and executed as a result.
Humans continue to expand our cities and settlements, squeezing Nature into smaller and smaller zones, and then we react with deadly violence whenever we encounter it.
Questions
When will we learn to exist alongside other living things, instead of always seeking to exploit, use, profit from, and discard them?
Is keeping, breeding, and "domesticating" (literally enslaving) other species moral? Other than our own religious texts, and "tradition", what gives us that right? (That's not rhetorical. I'm really asking for an answer to that.)
Are humans (and our uncontrolled greed) good stewards of the natural resources and living things on Earth?
If we cared enough, couldn't that bear be relocated (still plenty of trauma for an innocent being), instead of killed?
Is it really just a financial decision, leading to a team of killers being dispatched, instead of SPCA/animal control, a zoo, the circus - literally anyone else?!
Is a sentient, feeling, and conscious being, who has a family, can solve puzzles, is capable of love and fear, and doesn't want to die, really worth so little that we'll kill him or her just for interacting with us near an expanding subdivision of our cookie-cutter million-dollar houses?
If this planet's other sentient beings are capable of receiving it, what is the message we're sending them? "Non-humans aren't welcome here, unless you're willing to live in a cage and provide us with ovums, breastmilk, and flesh?"
What makes us so great?!
"Black lives matter? White lives matter? Blue lives matter? Human lives matter?"
Could we possibly be any more ignorant and selfish?
We're literally enslaving and destroying all living things around us, including ourselves and each other, and we're focused on "racism"? We're not just racist, we're SPECIESIST - we degrade, hate, target, discriminate-against, and even kill all other animals. It's not just breeds of humans we abuse, it's everything and everyone.
It's past time for us humans to grow up. If we really are the most intelligent species on Earth, we should begin by stabilizing our existence here, not destroying the ecosystems that we survive in, take our fingers off the nuke launch buttons, and figure out how to sustainably coexist with the natural world we evolved upon.
We say we want peace, but are we willing to stop living violent lives in order to get it?
By the time you read this, that particular bear will be drugged and caged - scared and confused - and probably about to be "euthanized" (by chemicals or a bullet). It's too late for that one, but actions we take every day can reduce violence, suffering, and death. Choices we make, the things we buy and the companies we support, are more important than we realize. What we do really does have an effect - even the little things.
Think about it, because what you do and don't do really matters.
The best time to rise above the greed, violence, fear, and hatred was yesterday. We didn't start yesterday, but we can start today - right now. Let's not put it off any longer.
I believe that we humans are capable of so much more.
DRutter
Brutal! That bear was just trying to give some healing touch because humans are so unhealthy and out of touch with the planet.
Doesn't that bear know to wear a mask when approaching a human in 2020? Bats made us all sick, so we have to kill anything that gets within 6 feet.
Ignorant and selfish indeed! Upvoted and shared
this is so sad. I can barely read anything about what humans are doing to Gaia and her creatures anymore. You know what's funny is that I was recently reading the KJV of the bible and it says in Genesis that God left us vegetation as our meat - not other animals. It is plain as day - I am going to pray for that bear. It's a lovely gesture that that bear was curious towards a human who did not seem disturbed by it - and humans try to touch wild animals all the time with no repercussion. Fuck I hate society.