ANIMAL HOUSE
I had just hit my shot to the fourteenth green when I noticed two beautiful fawns watching me. It was as if they were appraising my shot. Soon, as if they approved and could move on to their next task, they slowly made their way to the green and beyond, crossed a small bridge over the creek which doubtless brought them and disappeared from my sight. Even though I am a serious player and wanted to make the coming putt, I paused to think about the fawns, their lives and our relation to nature.
So far as we know, animals don't think in the way we do yet they have brains and we often anthropomorphize their behavior. When we do this, baby animals become our own babies. We cherish them and look upon them with something approaching love. Fawns are amazing in their appearance: graceful, lithe, energetic, athletic. We "fawn" over them. Yet we do little for them. We don't feed them or quench their thirst, except accidentally. We have driven them away from much of their natural habitat. When they're only slightly older we allow hunters to shoot them.
Fawns lead difficult lives. Without much schooling or nurturing, they are left to fend for themselves at an early age. Humans are a crafty enemy or at best a benign neglecter. Yet they don't fear us. The two fawns had no fear of me: They didn't shrink with alarm or bolt at my movements. Somehow, they knew that at least in the environment of a golf course they were safe. Similarly, even though I know that even baby deer could hurt me with their hooves or their sheer strength and agility, I had no fear. We were at peace in a beautiful spot which we could all enjoy.
We humans believe we are the centers of the universe and that all species must bow to our supremacy. And, I believe, all other species act in the same way to create safe housing for themselves and their young, to feed, to enjoy their existence. Is this nature? Survival of the fittest, dog eat dog, may the best man win? Or is nature the peaceful coexistence I experienced at the golf course?
I've concluded that nature is the imperative of preserving the species. Consciously or unconsciously, all species, including humans, do what they do in an effort to procreate and dominate. We seek wealth to attract a mate. Deer lock horns to attract a mate. Whatever doesn't threaten preservation of the species is acceptable to all species. One day the deer can eat and drink next to me, the next day I may drive them away from my garden or my road or my house.
Still, it is worth some thought whether we're making the world worse for our offspring by reducing the opportunities for other species to exist and prosper. Will our offspring have the chance to enjoy my beautiful moment or indeed to stand upon a beautiful grassy expanse at all? If we don't think about the issue they won't.
11-6-00
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