Perspective
Some sordid statistics to digest. In 2010, there were 12,996 murders in the United States. About 9000 were by firearms. In 2008, 1897 Americans stabbed someone to death. That same year, there were 949 strangulations, 614 incidents of death administered with a blunt object, and 86 cases of one human setting fire to another—all in the US. Every year about 250,000 American humans bite (and not for fun) another human, hard enough to require hospitalization. We kill each other at massive rates with our cars. Globally, 1.2 million people die because someone was needlessly reckless, usually with the help of alcohol.
I began this post intending to write about some of the ways we might reduce the threat that hunters pose to animals. Then I looked up these statistics. And now I wonder: if humans kill and maim and disrespect each other with such alacrity, is there any point, really, in pursuing the idea that we’ll in any way moderate our killing and maiming of animals in our current cultural climate? Should the focus be elsewhere? Somewhere deeper and more fundamental? It’s hard not to be alienated from all of it in days of drones. I feel a year of reading fiction tugging at me, trying to figure it all out in the world of fiction.
So if violence is so natural for human animals then aren’t attempts to prevent violence cruel to humans?
Read Cormac McCarthy for your answer.
Throughout the 70s and 80s mother was a social justice and peace activist, working on things like nuclear disarmament and child sexual assault prevention. Over the years that on-the-ground activism got diverted by the call of a much larger question: Why ARE human beings the way they are — where does our violence and destructiveness come from? My mother answered that question through voracious reading, in world history and spirituality primarily. Now she’s a psychotherapist who brings a deeply spiritual perspective to her work.
I used to scoff at this turn of hers, thinking she just got tired and took the easier (and kinda “out there”) path, but now I’m hitting the same place she did — at the same time of life, oddly. Even if I continue my own on-the-ground (vegan) activism, I find myself increasingly driven to understand the “why” of human darkness — darkness we take out on our fellow humans, animals and (equally often, it seems) ourselves. My reading is taking me to poetry, of all places, as well as creative nonfiction and fiction. Anything, ANYTHING to feel like I’m working towards some understanding of the larger picture rather than hacking away at a problem the size, depth, and source of which remains an enigma to me.
In a recent issue of The Sun magazine, Parker J. Palmer is quoted as saying, “Violence is what happens when we don’t know what to do with our suffering. That applies on every level of life.” Palmer is talking about his new book, _Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit_. I haven’t read that book, but The Sun interview I recommend.
I’d be interested in reading recommendations from others here . . .
Melissa,
That’s really helpful to hear. Thank you.
James
“Violence is what happens when we don’t know what to do with our suffering.” This reminds me very much of a line from Richard Rohr that goes about like this, “Pain that isn’t transformed is transmitted.” If there is anything that is true about humans it is precisely that to the extent that we are unable to transform our pain we will simply transmit it. The transformation of pain is something that takes a considerable effort and there is no simple answer but it starts, I believe, by recognizing the pain in our lives.
The “why” is interesting but I’m not sure it’s the most useful part of violence to get caught on. The fact is, most humans have choices. We can choose a new world. Until that stops being reality, I will keep fighting.
To Carolyn (and others): But isn’t understanding the “why” the first step in solving any problem? A baby cries, and we don’t know how to soothe her — with food, with a diaper change, with holding — until we discern the cause of her distress. Back pain, marital discord, global warming, on and on . . . I can’t think of any wound that gets healed without our having at least some sense of the source.
As for the statement “most humans have choices,” I definitely hear what you’re saying and appreciate the point, but consider those communities all over the US and around the world where basic access to food, period, is at issue . . . forget about vegan food . . . Even when it comes privileged people, the notion of “choice” seems complicated in so many ways.
Finally — and this may be a whole different topic — I’ve been thinking more and more about language use in the vegan / AR movements these days. I feel as strongly about humanity’s treatment of animals as the next person, and yet I wonder what we contribute when we talk about “fighting” or (not your words) “winning the war” etc. Isn’t fighting what we want less of in the world? Again, I’m right with you in some ways, but I wonder whether these violent expressions are without deeper resonance and impact . . .
Thank you for the chance to exchange ideas tonight. I don’t always have time to respond to James’ posts, but I read and am grateful for this venue.
Yes. Your point about communities– that’s why I said “most”. I work with those communities for a living; in fact, my entire life has revolved around it.
Of course the “why” is important, but it’s not the only thing that’s important. And I think some people use a search for “why” to escape action, even as the earth itself and all its creatures are set to die. There’s more to reality than just “why”, especially when someone or the earth is in acute crisis. At some point we’ve got to act with what we have. We’re never going to have all the answers and we can’t let that stop us from doing our best. That’s all I’m really saying.
Important point: the earth itself and all its creatures are NOT set to die. Not even close. Unless you mean something like “everyone and everything that is alive today will one day die,” in which case, that’s been the case since life began.
I believe in thinking that leads to action. I’m taking action everyday to improve the world. But that action shouldn’t be a panicked response to apocalyptic thinking.
As for “fighting”, I recommend the Tibetan Buddhist master Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s texts on the sacred path of the peaceful warrior.
Sometimes in triage mode, there is no room for why. We take the baby out of the fire and ask questions later. The space and safety to ask why is often itself a privilege. I’m being a bit of a devil’s advocate here, but I think it’s important to not get too romantic and heady in our search for meaning, to admit our fundamental flaw as humans, which is that we want to know everything but never will. This search often leaves us like a bunch of Shakespearean Hamlets, thinking and thinking, caught in our ego and intellect with no action, which itself can itself lead to catastrophe. We’ve got to find a middle ground.
ouch
As long as we allow ourselves to exploit and destroy animals, we shall suffer the same from our fellow man’s hands.
I am convinced that to murder helpless animals requires a certain mindset. If you silence one part of your heart to make it possible to treat other creatures like we do, then the rest of your heart will be choking, too.
We are living in dissonance with our natural compassion, with our true selves, and this makes us inherently unhappy and angry. The result are the numbers you cited above.
To Carolyn (and others, again): Yes to the middle ground! And I like this line of yours very much — “We’re never going to have all the answers and we can’t let that stop us from doing our best.” Both / and.
Susanne: Your comments makes me think of Will Tuttle’s _The World Peace Diet_. Possibly one for the reading list as well.
Hi Melissa – I’m with you on Will Tuttle’s work. In regards to violence, the causes and cures – The World Peace Diet is the source that examines and explains it all. It’s a remarkable achievement. I agree it’s a must read for those who haven’t yet done so!
Hi Melissa, Thanks for the tip. Will make sure to read asap.
Animals have no voice, no choice. They require someone to be in their corner and help in some way….any way.
Unfortunately, the kililng of animals is not looked upon as a criminal crazy act performed by mentally deranged individuals. The killing of animals for food is a way of life that will never change. The killing of human beings tragically won’t change either.
Back to choices…….human beings are capable of making choices whereas animals cannot. If only one person chooses to stop eating the meat of animals due to your fight/quest to help the animals, then it is worth the effort to continue to be the voice of the animals. It will make a difference, though perhaps in small numbers. If the effort of being the voice for animals makes a person even begin to think about what they are eating as they put that bite of beef into their mouths then all those efforts on behalf of animals have made a difference.
I’m an example. I’m at the thinking stage of what I eat and it’s now bothering me enough to make other choices in the lineup of what’s on the menu or in my refrigerator.
So, weary as you might be at the overwhelming statistics of mayhem in the world, do continue being the voice of the beautiful innocent creatures that have no choice.
Don’t burden yourlself with the enormous task of trying to change the mindset of others in mass numbers but instead take pride in being someone who is doing all they can to take steps in the right direction……you are being heard…..and making a difference.
Now go read some fiction and enjoy.
I was thinking about this post last night while reading David Foster Wallace’s essay “Deciderization 2007- A Special Report” (his introduction to Best American Essays 2007.) He says that in the context of our Total Noise (the “tsunami of available fact, context and perspective), “to really try to be informed and literate today is to feel stupid nearly all the time, and to need help.” This statement underscores Carolyn Z’s remark that “we want to know everything, but never will.” That said, the journey of literacy allows us to overcome reflexive dogma and other pitfalls associated with the “massive, high-entropy amounts of info and ambiguity and conflict and flux” we deal with on a daily basis. And the ability to see the world from myriad perspectives gives us the humility and compassion to face realities like Palmer Parker’s “violence is what happens when we don’t know what to do with our suffering.” Most people who commit acts of cruelty to animals are in bad shape themselves, and their suffering must be addressed as part of our mission. How, exactly, we go about doing that I can’t answer, but reading fiction certainly helps lessen the alienation James’ refers to in this post.