posted December 12, 2005 12:21 PM         

Ever wonder if perhaps we're many times more amazing as human beings than the cheapening experience of living in our so-called "civilized society" has led us to believe we are?

I wonder, sometimes, if at that earliest step from primal to human awareness...the earliest moments of our common history as a race...I wonder if we actually valued our human qualities more? If perhaps, surrounded by only the animals in nature, our humanity (that which DISTINGUISHES us from animals) was more easily recognized? Perhaps even more cherished once recognized?

I wonder if, at that earliest time, people held their humanity most dear because the animals all around served to remind them that their human qualities represented nature's IMPROVEMENTS over animal life? I mean, isn't that what our finest traits really are? Indicators of our common evolutionary direction?

We've gone from being all-consuming sludge to...to what? How'd we lose sight of our direction? WHEN did we lose our way?

I wonder if being surrounded by other human beings in such abundance has made that which is progressive, rare and precious in nature..seem cheap? Perhaps being surrounded by animals had its benefits?

Guess the good new is: we're almost there again. This time, the animals are us. Yea..it sure makes me wonder..will we recognize our finest through our conditioning anymore? Or are we forever jaded? Will evolution's promptings be found just a bit too campy, sugary and nice for most of us? Let's find out.

Bring on the hedonism, greed, materialism and indifference. Let the beasts among us fall to their knees and bray that we might see what we aren't...to know what we are.

posted December 12, 2005 12:47 PM         

If lust and hate is the candy, if blood and love tastes so sweet, then we give 'em what they want.
Hey, hey, give 'em what they want.

So their eyes are growing hazy 'cos they wanna turn it on, so their minds are soft and lazy.
Well, hey, give 'em what they want.

If lust and hate is the candy, if blood and love tastes so sweet, then we give 'em what they want. So their eyes are growing hazy 'cos they wanna turn it on, so their minds are soft and lazy.
Well... who do you want to blame?

Hey, hey, give 'em what they want. If lust and hate is the candy, if blood and love tastes so sweet, then we give 'em what they want. So their eyes are growing hazy 'cos they wanna turn it on, so their minds are soft and lazy.

Well... who do you want to blame?

10,000 Maniacs

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We used to worship God as a mother
Now look at what we're doing to each other

posted December 12, 2005 05:02 PM         

quote:

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Ostriches are the only birds to dance at times other than at mating. Holtzhausen and Kotze from South Africa say: "Especially in the early morning, a few birds in a group will suddenly receive a mystic, inaudible cue and begin to dance in circles on tip-toes, with outspread wings. Very soon the whole group will join spontaneously in the twirling dance. This may be a primeval urge or simply an expression of the joy of being alive." In farms, these mighty birds have no reason to dance. They can become so depressed that they stop eating and starve themselves to death.
http://www.viva.org.uk/campaigns/exoticmeat/waitrose_doa.htm

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posted December 16, 2005 03:24 PM         

It's difficult to answer your question, partly because how do you distinguish between the acts which are purely animal, and those which are human, filtered through an animal brain?

The great philosophies down through the ages have provided us with clues:

Reduce consumption
Put thoughts of others foremost in your heart
Forgive
Move, do and give, rather than sitting, wanting and taking.

My dog is my example. He is a pitbull. He is also my archetypal beast. His actions and behaviors are, in many ways, the epitomy of beastly behavior. He cannot resist his urges, his appetites drive him and the consequences mean nothing to him. Rather, his is in the moment consumed by his desires and nothing else matters. He is the dragon and he swallows his own tail daily. Does he have good qualities? Of course. Is the state of being animal one of pure materialism? Yes. Is that evil? Well no...but it's not conducive to evolutionary advancement either.

Anyhow, running out of time right now. Perhaps we'll revisit this as time allows. Perhaps not. You decide.

posted December 17, 2005 03:58 PM         

We come from the;

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Family Hominidae
Genus Homo
Species Homo sapiens

Yes, indeedy

posted December 20, 2005 08:01 PM         

love,