================================================ Subject: Odp: RE: NCR: Climatic turning points.. Wonderment From: "Jackson Crawford" To: Date: Thu 24 May 2001 14:39:52 -0500 ================================================ Actually, I do see us as the strongest species on Earth. To quote Kevin Siembieda, "...the human animal is the deadliest of predators...[animals] are hunters. Yes. But they hunt and eat to survive. It is the rare animal that preys on its own kind. When a dog fights its own, it fights for a position within its social group, and these skirmishes are seldom battles to the death. Or else they fight to protect their territory, family, a favorite toy or possession, their life, or in fear. If their opponent backs down and leaves, they consider it a victory. Even the great monsters of the sea are driven by motives based on survival. Man on the other hand, kills with gay abandon. We, as the ultimate predators, don't need a simple motive like survival. We kill to eat, we kill to protect our possessions, but we also kill in anger and hatred, kill in envy, kill for revenge, kill for pleasure...Humans love conflict. That's what makes humankind so adaptive. We thrive on conflict and change. We are exhilirated by it like a dog in the hunt, only we don't stop and turn tail when the opponent proves to be more powerful. Our cunning, predatory minds work all the harder in finding a way to win! And winning is a far cry different than mere survival. It is humankind's burning desire to be the dominant force that makes us this way. We'll send armies of thousands against an enemy and watch those thousands die, yet if victory is finally won, we feel triumphant and the loss of life is justified...most any animal would retreat under such circumstance. They would not sacrifice the entire pack unless literally backed into a corner with no other way out. What we humans do isn't survival. It's conquest! It's complete domination of all life forms. And when there are no others to dominate, we turn against each other, killing in anger and on whim." Well, that was a long quote and might even have been a little ways off topic, but I think that it illustrates pray well why man and not some physically stronger species dominates the planet. Excellent quote at the bottom of your message, too, Jim. Jackson Wade Crawford - the Raven of Texas/ Corvvs Texanis/ Kruk Teksasu/ der Rabe von Texas International Director, Corvist Association for the Preservation and Perpetuation of Free Will To unsubscribe or change your preferences for the Creed-Discuss list, visit: http://www.winduplist.com/ls/discuss/form.asp