24 AUGUST 2023 PREDATORY LAND DEVELOPERS

In the wake of Hawaii’s devastating fires that took place this past week, I heard a news interview in which a woman told reporters that money grabbers are already making offers to buy the land from those who have lost their homes. The newscaster referred to them as predatory land developers, which aptly described the seedy, greedy, investors. I am certain that the now homeless residents are still in a state of shock and unable to think clearly or to make rational decisions. The wealthy moguls know this and they are taking advantage of Hawaii’s victims, causing them further distress from which the bottom of their lives has seemingly fallen out.

We are familiar with the predatory lenders who took advantage of home buyers not so very long ago. If I look at this objectively, I know that in Nature, in every species, predators go after the weak, the young, and the old. They do not attempt to take on the young and strong, knowing that they themselves could be killed. I am currently reading a book about Hymenoptera – wasps, bees, and ants of which there are at least 150,000 known species and about twice that many that have yet to be discovered. Even predatory wasps prey on eggs, larvae, or pupae for their prey. Rarely, do they go after the adult insects. Life eats life – and sometimes it eats them while they are still alive.

I cannot help feeling angry at the wealthy human predators of the world who take advantage of the less fortunate. The truth is, regardless whether we are an insect, a raptor, a cheetah, or a human being, we are each responsible for our own life. Is this suffering that we inflict upon one another a part of our human dilemma? We resist our suffering. We prefer to blame, to seek retribution and revenge, believing that every bad thing that happens to us is unfair. We refuse to acknowledge that life is quite simply, challenging. We differ from other species because we do not know how to let go of the past and move on. Instead of allowing what was, to pass beneath the bridge under our feet, we erect a dam. We seek to gather supporters and accomplices for our cause and ultimately, to wage war, both in our personal lives and that of our country. Human predators gain power by feeding off the emotions they elicit from their victims.

I hope that the Hawaiian people will stand strong in the face of the land developers and real estate tycoons. I hope they can look them in the eyes and tell them calmly, simply, flatly, definitely, no. I pray they will retain their personal power and be made stronger and not weakened by their tragedy.