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    Cat and Deer; You and Me


    by: Betsy L. Angert

    Sat Dec 26, 2009 at 00:00:00 AM EST



    Cat and Deer

    copyright © 2009 Betsy L. Angert.  BeThink.org

    He was a Nigerian man, a foreign-born nationalist, a terrorist, or one who at least attempted to threatened the tranquility of a plane.  Most people see this individual as someone unlike "me." The word is we must do all we can to protect ourselves.  Surely, this incident reminds us that we must require stronger security measures.  Today, with the news of another "menace" in our midst people, once again, presume society as we know it is not a safe place.  

    Americans, Afghanis, Anglos, African Americans, Armenians, Asians, [name the archetype of your choice] proclaim the other is an opponent.  Millions muse; is us against them.  Enemies are everywhere.   Forever humans find reason to call our brethren brutal, a bully, and, or a bad person.  In a world where we typically think of the alien, those different than us, as a potential antagonist, it is important to realize that aggression is not instinctual.  Hatred and hostility are born out of fear.

    Mankind kills in order not to be killed.  He, or she, massacres the masses in hope that one person, a foe will be found.  Rarely do humans reflect on the kitten and the deer.  Nor do we dare take the time to learn of the authentic you and me.  We race 'round.  Few stop to smell the essence of friendship. Less let themselves feel what their fellowman feels.  Empathy is barely evident in our culture.  Compassion is not as common as cruelty.  

    Perchance, people might ponder; a bit of curiosity did not kill the kitty who sniffed the deer.  A fawn becomes a friend, a cat a compassionate companion.  Oh, what a wonderful world it would be if you, and me, were as those beings, that humans are quick to define as beasts.

    Please ponder possibilities.  If you wish to, you might see the world beyond conventional wisdoms or the apprehensions we share.

    Betsy L. Angert :: Cat and Deer; You and Me
    Tags: , , , (All Tags)
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    Please ponder the program . . . (11.00 / 1)

    Who is the enemy?

    Sam Keen on Life's Filters



    It is only the giving that makes us what [who] we are. ~ Ian Anderson. Jethro Tull

    Betsy L. Angert

    BeThink


    The cat and the deer video is wonderful. (11.00 / 1)
    I love it.

    I don't believe that it's in human being's nature to be full of hatred and hostility. I think after a child is born he/she would learn to hate and to want to kill others who are different, if he/she is so unfortunate as to have parents and other significant authority figures in his/her life who themselves have us againat them attitudes against people based on color, religion, culture, sexual orientation, or what-have you. In other words, as a song I vaguely recall from the movie "South Pacific" goes, you have to be taught to hate.


    You have to learn how to hate. Sigh. (11.00 / 1)
    Dearest Louisiana . .

    I love your thought and what I discovered when you words prompted my travel.  As an educator, I was excited to learn of a lesson . .
    Voice of Hope and Seeds of Peace. By Joanne Dufour, Seattle, Washington. Public Broadcasting Services.
    I also found what I hoped to share.  May you enjoy.  I love South Pacific and that you too are familiar with the performance.




    I thank you Louisiana.  I am thankful that you are amongst the few who do not think hatred is natural.  A comment I received from others elsewhere. . . I share my response . .
    I greatly appreciate the expansion.  I think Sam Keen is phenomenal. I am glad that you too thought the video great.

    For me, there is not a disconnect.  I believe we are each part of a whole.  If one man hates and is willing to kill many, this reflects a societal belief.  There are enemies everywhere, be they Americans, Afghanis, Anglos, African Americans, Armenians, Asians, [name the archetype of your choice] .  If my neighbor or the persons who live afar and not as my brethren, then we can allow ourselves to act aggressively.  Hatred gives us permission for righteous rage.  

    Were to teach reciprocal reverence in our homes and in our classrooms, on the streets, and within society at-large, the planet would be a very different place.  As one who, until well into my adult years, did not know that people holler at friends and family constantly I have faith.   Humans would not kill merely because they can.  The Christmas Truce would not be buried in history.  Conversations with strangers, getting to know one another as people would not be but an anomaly.  Seek, enemies, or what you have learned to believe are illustrations of innate brutally and you shall find . . . or so is my experience.

    Mankind, I believe would not sacrifice species so that we can better serve the Gods of Consumption.  Oh, what a wonderful world it would be.

    I thank you for the thoughts on Sam Keen.  I share a few other source you may enjoy.  I invite your reflections.






    It is only the giving that makes us what [who] we are. ~ Ian Anderson. Jethro Tull

    Betsy L. Angert

    BeThink


    [ Parent ]
    Thanks! Enjoyed the South Pacific video and found the biodiversity (11.00 / 1)
    lecture video most compelling. True--we are all in this together. It's mindboggling how many different species there are. The film the speaker showed around the middle of the lecture with the microscopic germs, etc. was really neat. (Bear with me for not recalling his name offhand--I sometimes have trouble remembering names.) But he was a good speaker--I couldn't help thinking that had he been my instructor in school, I'd have been more than just a mediocre biology student.


    [ Parent ]
    E.O. Wilson and The Human Virus (11.00 / 1)
    Dearest Louisiana . . .

    I am soooo glad you enjoyed the biodiversity lecture.  I too wish E.O. Wilson had been my instructor.  While I am terrible with names, his I recall for I think him my mentor.

    When I enrolled in the mandatory Biology course, I had no expectations.  I did not think I would love it or loathe it.  Quickly, it became obvious to me I would be happy to accept a D and not the one that stands for dissection.  I was gratified that my less than scholarly lab partner was willing to do the experiments.  There were few lectures, which I might have learned from.  The idea that I might kill an animal is as awful to me as silently slaughtering a species, two, or half oh them.  I spent most of my time in the bathroom ill with the idea of what humans do in the name of science.

    You may enjoy or just wish to explore Mother Earth; The Human Virus.  I could never have imagined how many thought I was the devil incarnate for suggesting just a thought.  Sigh!

    It is only the giving that makes us what [who] we are. ~ Ian Anderson. Jethro Tull

    Betsy L. Angert

    BeThink


    [ Parent ]
    Thanks for the link to "Mother Earth: The Human Virus" (10.50 / 2)
    It was very interesting and I enjoyed the animation that came with it. I don't agree with the people who treated you as "the devil incarnate" because of what you said  in the essay.

    Rather, I agree with you that if we don't clean up our act, and soon, our days on Earth will be numbered--and as signs said in Copenhagen, "there is no Planet B."


    [ Parent ]
    Comments on comments (0.00 / 0)
    Dearest Louisiana . . .

    I apologized for the delayed response.  At times, life away from cyberspace distracts me.

    Phew!  I am thankful for your thought.

    I searched so that I might entertain you.  I share what for me was some of what I thought truly fascinating . .  comments from those who might be fine with what occurred in Copenhagen . . Mother Earth: The Human Virus

    It is only the giving that makes us what [who] we are. ~ Ian Anderson. Jethro Tull

    Betsy L. Angert

    BeThink


    [ Parent ]
    On the 2 new videos, I found both great (11.00 / 1)
    and find interesting the way they tie into each other. My favorite is the Sam Keen video where he talks about how we can be conditioned to have certain attitudes like a computer being programmed, by anybody and anything from our parents to our schools to advertising.

    However, unlike the computer, we can change our "programming" by eliminating "software" that's usleless or bad. This is the most upbeat point of all.  


    Amen! (11.00 / 1)
    Dearest Louisiana . . .

    If only the full or parts beyond what I found of Faces of the Enemy existed as an embed.  I will search and search.

    I agree with you.  Sam Keen, the concept, and the extrapolation . .  all glorious!

    It is only the giving that makes us what [who] we are. ~ Ian Anderson. Jethro Tull

    Betsy L. Angert

    BeThink


    [ Parent ]
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