Of all cultures, we, in the U.S., anthropomorphise (ascribe human form or attributes to things) the most.
Today, my son was home from BYU. We discussed Utah's wild horse population, which is devastating the desert because it has no natural predators.
We also discussed how science is showing that the connections of life are not far off from the animist beliefs depicted in The Avatar.
Science is discovering amazing intelligences and connections in many animals, and even in plants. Plants actually sense, see, plan, and have relationships.
Everything must live in balance. Without balance, every living thing within the sphere of that dissonance suffers.
The Patowami or Objibway language does not refer to the flora and fauna as "it," but embraces life in a language that elevates it as our kin. The Native American woman who explained this said it causes you to be more connected to our world.
However, this connection to life does not mean one of naivety, or holding a simplistic or unrealistic view of the circle of life.
What does this have to do with horses? They were not native. They have no natural predators here. At their and other animals’ expense, they are overpopulating the land. They are not playing a part in Xanadu, but are creating the opposite and are losing their connection to life, because they are out of balance.
Yes, I think they are majestic beings. I felt this magical connection the first time I encountered a wild horse. However, all life is precious. We should not elevate one species of life over others just because we have found a way to domesticate her/him for our own purposes. Antelope, desert sheep, deer, etc. are as intelligent and as valuable as horses.
It's time to have a rational discussion about how balance must be established in our deserts. Perhaps we need to anthropomorphise less, view all life as our brothers and sisters, and realize Xanadu comes at the price of balance.
Loren M. Lambert © May 12, 2014
Today, my son was home from BYU. We discussed Utah's wild horse population, which is devastating the desert because it has no natural predators.
We also discussed how science is showing that the connections of life are not far off from the animist beliefs depicted in The Avatar.
Science is discovering amazing intelligences and connections in many animals, and even in plants. Plants actually sense, see, plan, and have relationships.
Everything must live in balance. Without balance, every living thing within the sphere of that dissonance suffers.
The Patowami or Objibway language does not refer to the flora and fauna as "it," but embraces life in a language that elevates it as our kin. The Native American woman who explained this said it causes you to be more connected to our world.
However, this connection to life does not mean one of naivety, or holding a simplistic or unrealistic view of the circle of life.
What does this have to do with horses? They were not native. They have no natural predators here. At their and other animals’ expense, they are overpopulating the land. They are not playing a part in Xanadu, but are creating the opposite and are losing their connection to life, because they are out of balance.
Yes, I think they are majestic beings. I felt this magical connection the first time I encountered a wild horse. However, all life is precious. We should not elevate one species of life over others just because we have found a way to domesticate her/him for our own purposes. Antelope, desert sheep, deer, etc. are as intelligent and as valuable as horses.
It's time to have a rational discussion about how balance must be established in our deserts. Perhaps we need to anthropomorphise less, view all life as our brothers and sisters, and realize Xanadu comes at the price of balance.
Loren M. Lambert © May 12, 2014
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