Reply To: Language and consciencous

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Gerard Wood wrote:

Hi Belle Rose. I’ve enjoyed your posts also. I admire the way that you could examine your beliefs and change yourself.

Wow. I’m humbled and amazed that you’ve been, ahem, “watching” all this time. I only blushed slightly there for a minute….

I watch a lot of documentaries about animals. The more I learn, the more I become convinced that humans are not as smart as we think we are compared to other species. I’m not even convinced that we could truly be considered the top of the food chain. I really think our infrastructure and the civilizations we have built have sheltered us from really truly seeing how vulnerable we are, not only to the elements, but towards one another. I do not necessarily think we are the smartest or the best in comparison. The attitude of speciesism is rooted in religion I think – the idea that a creator bestowed upon us the responsibility of protecting life on earth. It is just non-sensical.

I am also a student of linguistics. I got my bachelor’s degree in Spanish and was headed towards a Master’s in Spanish at the University of New Mexico before my life fell apart right in front of me. I had the priveledge in my undergrad work to work under a professor who opened my eyes to language in a fascinating way. I have never been the same since.

I’ve recently gotten the urge to start writing in a serious way again. I suddenly realized that the person who I TRULY am, when you peel back the layers of confusion and chaos, I am a writer. I also believe the language is beautiful. But language is not what defines the strength of a species by any means. I do not believe that language is something that only homo sapiens have developed. I also do not believe that it makes us any more or less vulnerable than any other species on earth.

I agree that my view could easily be refuted if taken at face value, but it ultimately depends on what you think is important. If you think that inventions are important, then yes, we are ahead of other species in that regard. But we as a species have lost something that I think is not only very precious, but also vital for our very survival. Our own inventions have torn us away from our interconnectedness with nature, and our vulnerability to it. We now think we are somehow invincible because we live within 4 walls and a roof. All it takes is one or two small things to go awry – like yesterday when our electricity suddenly and without warning went out. Suddenly everyone in my apartment complex became vulnerable. How sheltered and oblivious we are to the true extent of our own weaknesses.