WITH THE DEATH OF MAN, THE GORILLA WILL HAVE SOME HOPE? To reflect (sometimes we want) .. excerpts from the wonderful book by Daniel Quinn's "Ishmael" in 1992, which I recommend everyone to read.
(This conversation took place between a gorilla and a man, teacher and student, respectively, on the theme of "Captivity")
- I'll repeat a hundred times a day. Turn on the radio or television, and I will confirm once per hour. The man wins the deserts, the man wins the oceans, the man wins the atom, the man wins the elements, man conquers space ...
Ishmael smiled. - I had thought when I said that this story is the environment in your culture. Now you've realized. Your cultural mythology constantly whispers in our ears so that no one pays attention. It is logical that the man conquer space, the atom, deserts, oceans and the elements. In your mythology, was born for this.
"This is the current situation: we have to keep winning. And continue it will lead to the destruction of the world or to its transformation into a paradise ... in the paradise that was to be under human rule.
"And if we succeed in this business, if eventually become the absolute rulers of the world, then nothing can stop us. It will be the era of Star Trek. The man forward into space to conquer and rule the rest of the universe. Here's what could be the final destiny of man: to conquer and rule the entire universe. A truly wonderful creature, man. "
- Why? Because being human forces you to mess it up?
- Why is there something fundamentally wrong in humans. Something that works against heaven. Something that makes people stupid and destructive, greedy and short-sighted.
- Sure. In your culture, everybody knows that man is created to transform the world into a paradise, but unfortunately it was born defective. And, therefore, his Paradise has always been devastated by the stupidity, greed, destructiveness and the dall'imprevidenza.
- "Step up production to feed a larger population leads to further population growth." Said Peter Farb in human book.
- Given a growing availability of food, any population expands. Holds for any species, including human life.
- Why produce more food?
- To feed a million people starving.
- And when you give them something to eat you promise that you will not reproduce anymore?
- Be '... no, this is not expected.
- So what happens when you give food to all those millions of people dying of hunger?
- It will play, and the population increase.
- Without a doubt. In your culture, this experiment has been tried and tried for ten thousand years, one year after another, with an entirely predictable result: producing more food to feed more people has lead to a further increase in the population. It is so obvious and inevitable to expect something different means to surrender dreams, both from a biological point of view both from a mathematical point of view.
- But ... - I stopped and pondered some more '. - Mother Culture says that, at the right time, the problem will be solved by the birth control.
- Have you ever seen advertisements for groups that send food aid to starving people?
-
Yes - And have you ever seen advertisements for them to send groups of contraception?
- No.
- Never. Mother Culture speaks with forked tongue on this subject: How about when the world population explosion birth control responds, but when you say hunger responds to increased production. But unfortunately the increase in production occurs every year, while the world of birth control does not occur.
- Hunger is not exclusive to men. The suffering of each species throughout the world. When a species is multiplied beyond its agricultural resources, population decreases until it restores a balance. Mother Culture says that humanity is exempt from this process, and then when you multiply a people beyond its food supply from outside food is flowing, thereby ensuring that the next generation there will be more people to starve. Since then people will not be allowed to diminish to the point of keeping with its own resources, he will become a hunger chronic condition.
- Yeah. A few years ago I read in the newspaper that an ecologist at a conference supported the same point of view. He had never done! In practice they have accused of being a murderess.
- Yes, I suppose. His colleagues around the world will understand perfectly what he meant, but had the good sense not to challenge Mother Culture in the prime of his generosity. If forty thousand people live in an area that can sustain only thirty thousand, is not an act of generosity to send food from the outside to keep them all and forty: only serves to ensure that hunger will continue.
- It's true, but even so it is not easy to stand and watch while they die.
Ishmael gave a roar that resembled a volcano. - Who said anything about staying to watch him die? If you can not bring in food, you can always bring them out, no?
- Yes, I think so.
- then moved to the ten thousand too many in some areas of the world where there is plenty of food ... Italy, Hawaii, Switzerland, Nebraska, Oregon, Wales.
- I do not think such an idea would be very popular.
- So you prefer to exercise your philanthropy while forty thousand people in a state of chronic starvation.
- I'm afraid so.
- Bella generosity.
MEDITATE People ... MEDITATE .....
[AUTHOR'S NOTE
the first edition of Ishmael, include a note that began: "Ishmael has always been much more than a book to me. It is my hope that it will be much of a book for many of those who read it. If you're a part of this group, I hope you will make me the courtesy to get in touch. "
I would like to renew this call right now, adding only that, but I look forward to receiving your letters (each of them will read it!), You should please try to understand that I can not answer them all.
Postal address: PO Box 66627, Houston TX 77266-6627
E-mail: danielquinn@ishmael.org
You can also contact other readers of my books at the following URL: http://www.ishmael.org
For more information:
www.saggiatore.it]
