I detest guns, violence, and war. I have always avoided conflict and prefer flight to fight in uncomfortable situations. War, in my mind, has never been the answer. A pacifist in the strictest sense, I believe peace is always the only answer. Yes, I grew up in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I have remained loyal to my “hippie” ideals. I am passionate about growing flowers so I am a flower child in a very real sense. “Make love, not war” is a motto that many have lived by, and still do. My great, great grandparents were Quakers. Quakers are known for their pacifist beliefs and their refusal to bear arms. They believe, as many Native Americans believe, that we should tread lightly upon and be good stewards of Mother Earth. Apparently, those intrinsic values were passed on to me in my genes. Today; however, I am asking myself if war is the only means by which the human population can be significantly reduced.
It was one of those articles that had been impassively bumped to the back of more “interesting” headlines. The article announced that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service had just declared 21 species extinct. This article should have been at the front and center of the world’s attention. The species, which had been on the endangered species list, had been removed, because they have not been seen for more than a century. They included birds, fish, mussels, and a fruit eating bat. These animals had disappeared because of deforestation, overconsumption, water loss, and the spread of invasive species, including disease organisms. Our continued human infringement on the habitat needed for their survival has gone unchecked. Scientists have warned us for years about the devastation humans have created all over the planet and the effect it has had on other species. In my lifetime alone, more than two thirds of our wildlife populations have been lost. Prior to the arrival of European settlers, at least 30 million (possibly a billion, or more) buffalo roamed the plains of North America. Their numbers were reduced to a mere 541 (possibly less – sources vary) by the late 1800s. Bison once kept the land healthy with their constant movement. Nature’s cycles were kept in balance for centuries. The white man then brought their domestic cattle, their horses, and their non-native grasses, altering the landscape forever and almost completely eliminating the bison.
Fortunately, a few species have been able to recover; and with the help of dedicated individuals, have been brought back from near extinction. If we continue as we have done for the past 100 years, it may be too late for many – if not all species. So, I cannot help wondering if perhaps after all, war is the answer (to reducing human population.)
