DennisS wrote:
I find it depressing to think we live in a world where this is necessary.
You shouldn't. Perhaps waxing a little philosophical, but every critter on the planet, except people, comes equipped with built in weaponry and/or defenses - teeth, claws, poisons, horns, hooves, camo, armor, speed, prolific reproduction, etc., and they all "carry hot". The only thing people have going for us is our brain, which we have used for a couple million years to invent what we need to survive but aren't born with.
All of these things, in one way or another, contribute to the survival of the individual, the herd, the school (fish), the flock (birds) the tribe, the culture, and so forth.
Quote:
‘So careful of the type?’ but no.
From scarped cliff and quarried stone
She cries, ‘A thousand types are gone:
I care for nothing, all shall go.
‘Thou makest thine appeal to me:
I bring to life, I bring to death:
The spirit does but mean the breath:
I know no more.’ And he, shall he,
Man, her last work, who seem’d so fair,
Such splendid purpose in his eyes,
Who roll’d the psalm to wintry skies,
Who built him fanes of fruitless prayer,
Who trusted God was love indeed
And love Creation’s final law–
Tho’ Nature, red in tooth and claw
With ravine, shriek’d against his creed– In Memorium, Tennyson