|
 I was reminded of a uniquely
contemporary this form of hysteria last week. I was told that a bat flew into a
room where a group of college students were sleeping. The bat did not exhibit
signs of illness. The bat did not bite anyone. It did not land on anyone. It
did defecate on anyone. But the mere proximity of their sons and daughters to a
‘wild’ critter sent the parents into paroxysms of panic. This fly-by proximity
was considered threatening enough to warrant rabies shots! It gave me a new appreciation for the word "batty" which means, afflicted with irrationality and mental unsoundness!
As a population, it is the outposts of human accomplishment
that are as comfortable and comforting as home. Sophisticated technologies, constructed
landscapes, contrived substances, virtualized realities, nano operations, genetic
manipulations, and cosmic explorations confirm the wondrous expansion of human
capabilities. These indicators of human ingenuity are more likely to elicit “Ho
hum” than “Wow!”. They are quickly
absorbed into the cozy routines of daily experience.
Meanwhile, the archaic and elemental
components of life on Earth have assumed the towering dimensions of alien
unknowns. Water, sunshine, microbial
activity, wildlife, soil, fire are either confined or concealed. While these elements were once worshipped as sacred,
today they are often reviled as fearsome. Bottled water, sun-block lotions,
anti-bacterial soaps are three examples of the arsenals of products designed to
quell such fear and loathing.
In examining the life decisions and
emotional traumas of people I know, it is clear that they are more terrorized
by the life-sustaining components of Earth’s ecosystems than they are by the
threat of terrorist attacks. They still
fly in airplanes. They still travel on subways. But they do not run barefoot in
a field, swim in a pond, welcome snakes into the garden, feed dead matter to an
ailing tree, or burn soil to refresh it.
There is an alternative to defensive
fortifications and offensive strategies of suppression. Familiarity is a
reliable means to expand our arena of homey comfort to include the bounty of
non-human and non-living opportunities for delight and strategies for survival on
Earth.
 Add as favourites (97) |  Quote this article on your site | Views: 480
Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved |
