Bad Party Guests on Earth Day

Long ago, a distant neighbor was holding a ranch party and, for extra seating, borrowed the folding chairs that went with our card tables. When we went to pick them up the next day, someone had taken a knife to the cushions of every chair, slashing to the underlying metal. No one offered to compensate us, and we didn’t ask. We had taken the risk and learned the hard way not everyone is to be trusted. Some guests are destructive—especially when drunk.

As we learn how intelligent the animal life around us is, some of us wonder what they think of us. Generally, they trust us to make sense as they must, using the Earth as home. Whales may come to fishers for help removing life-threatening nets. Gorillas or elephants may seek out people they trust. Octopuses may reach out to commune with scientists who take the time to become friends. They don’t know with whom they’re dealing. Humans do things like slash chairs just for fun. We’re often yet more destructive when profit is on the line. In fact, humans don’t mind endangering other humans, not to mention wildlife, if there’s money in it. We create products for beauty, easy eating, etc., that are actually harmful and we don’t care unless we’re held to account. Finally, when profiteers are held to account, they scrape the bottom of the barrel for loopholes that permit them to do what they want, regardless. Frequently, it’s only a matter of time and politics until they win. Poisonous water, cities destroyed by hurricanes or floods—they’re important only if those locations made money for the rich and power-hungry. With good enough public relations, even villains can be made to look like heroes.

Interestingly, people have also lost most of their reverence for sacred places. National parks and monuments are littered with refuse. So-called modern citizens scoff at the sacred places of indigenous peoples, trying every legal trick to despoil those areas if there are resources lying there—and sometimes just because they can (as they slaughtered buffalo and nearly exterminated Appaloosa horses). They feel little or no kinship with the Earth. They ignore research that establishes the benefits animals contribute and kill them to make more room for developments. As many have lost the meaning of their faith, they’ve also lost the ability to feel ancient connections or obligations. Some steal or hire someone to steal sacred artifacts—because they can. Even major religions may play a deadly game of one-upmanship in a sacred place, each religion building an edifice larger and grander than those previous. “Love your neighbor as yourself” becomes an empty phrase.

Happily, these comments don’t apply to every human. But are there enough exceptions to preserve the best of our planet? Imagine if we were invaded from outer space and the aliens destroyed as much as we destroy for ourselves. Terrifying. We make WAR OF THE WORLDS and tales of aliens who want to harvest humans for food sound benign. We use humans as mere tools every day—not doing something as utilitarian as eating them, but simply beating them down until we feel safe and superior. As guests on Earth, we leave a lot to be desired. We have options, of course. A good guest helps clean up after a party. One day enough of us may choose to make the planet a healthier, more inclusive place for us all. Or the minions of the powerful Users will convince the masses that killing ourselves is an act of freedom.