Animals

Homo sapiens is an animal species. Yes, we are animals. We have a wider range of brain function than many other animals, but we are animals. We have instincts, impulses and resulting behaviors which are not controlled by thought or intention. Our bodies exist and survive by means of purely unconscious and unintentional neuro-muscular contractions. We breathe without intent. Our hearts beat without intentional control, if we are fortunate.

 

We are now acutely aware of behavioral anomalies and behavioral norms due to electronic media. Even taboos about sexually explicit information are being shattered by the Web and video. Unfortunately, we are also being exposed to the ruthless violence of which all people are capable when the frontal lobe becomes polluted, diseased or deranged by life's circumstances.

 

Those in power would be wise to look closely at human animal behavior under stress. The social bulwark which contains human stress against impulsive violence is falling with routine environmental stress caused by overpopulation and resultant climate change. Religion will not succeed to raise the bar of nonviolence. It is religion, after all, which has enabled violence in the name of "God's chosen" of various stripes. Civil government, even in pacifist and generous Sweden, is unable to counteract the irritability that comes with constant environmental deterioration. The riots of the past few days are evidence.

 

In Oklahoma, after a most deadly tornado took its toll on a badly constructed and overpopulated area (given the known natural environment there), the city manager stated for media, when questioned about the value of prevention, that lives could not be valued in dollars but construction costs could. Therefore, he would not push for higher, tornado-proofing building codes in his city. He also indicated he was a religious person.

 

Animals in a deteriorating environment will react to survive. If obstructed or repressed, they will become violent. If they become violent in sufficient numbers, many lives will be lost and the environment will be further deteriorated. This is all biology. It has nothing to do with an all-powerful entity. It is measurable by science. It is treatable by scientific application of sex education, environmentalism and appropriate government intervention. Homo sapiens is an animal species, and we are the only scientific animals. This increases our responsibility for our planet and to each other.