Swan Sanctuary

I have come to the conclusion that we need to do away with political parties. We must stop trying to fit people into boxes of red versus blue, conservative versus liberal, and pitting one against the other in a hopeless duality. This old paradigm no longer works. People are no longer willing to attach themselves to a particular set of beliefs, so just like with organized religion, organized political views are also falling into disfavor.

The people need to have more say in their government. They need a larger voice and more power to make a difference. This can only be accomplished through voting. The current system leaves no room for real choice. Since most people do not, and are not even encouraged to vote in the primaries, they feel that their vote is meaningless. They are left to choose between the lesser of two evils. Far too many do not vote at all because they believe the system is rigged and that their vote will not count.

I listened to a Ted Talk the other day: “U.S. politics isn’t broken. It’s fixed.” Katherine M. Gehl refers to herself as being “politically homeless.” She proposed a way of voting that would allow the people greater choice. They would first vote in the primaries, choosing a total of 8 candidates, regardless of their democratic or republican affiliation. Then, they would vote in the final election, choosing their first, second, third, fourth, and fifth choice. The final outcome of this type of voting would better reflect the real wishes of the people. They would be basing their decisions on the candidates themselves, rather than based on loyalty to a particular party. 

Our current system creates a divide which no one wants to cross. It is like two neighbors who will only talk to each other over the fence where they can cling to their own view. They refuse to take the fence down entirely, in order to find common ground. 

I believe that most of the world’s population is tired of fighting. We are tired of war and conflict and the endless ruin and suffering that it causes. The system must change. The people should be allowed to vote on important issues, such as abortion and gun violence, rather than allowing the Supreme Court to make these decisions. The old politicians must relinquish their grip and allow a new generation with fresh ideas, to solve the world’s problems, and to usher in a time of peace.

Tigers in India, like our American buffalo and many keystone species, have endured mass slaughtering by humans. During the mid-1900s there were nearly 40,000 tigers in India; but as the human population grew and deforestation, loss of habitat, and poaching caused tiger populations to dwindle, there were less than two thousand remaining, a mere 25 years later. Fortunately, Indira Gandhi created a wildlife protection act in 1972 providing almost 30 tiger reserves. Unfortunately; however, many of the reserves are butted up next to human populations and a few humans have fallen victim to the tigers.

One male, T24, had been blamed for four deaths. He was removed from the reserve, leaving his mate and two offspring to survive without him. The female, unable to find her partner, grieved for a long period of time. In the end, another male moved into his territory and the female had no choice but to give in to the new dominant male. T24 was placed in a small enclosure, which was nothing more than a large cage. He began to suffer from intestinal problems, from the lack of exercise and having to accept whatever meat was provided for him. They operated to remove the blockage in his intestines, but the problem kept recurring, obviously, because they did nothing to eliminate the cause. Many of the citizens have protested, pleading for the animal to be freed and returned to the reserve; but he remains a prisoner.

A very wise man said, in the documentary in which I had learned about T24, that we should let Nature take its course. This is the same advice I give to those who call me about injured swans and other birds. He believed that what had turned T24 into a killer was when he had been captured and treated for a splinter in his paw. The anesthesia had worn off before they were finished and the tiger had run away. The tiger’s foot may have become infected and he might have died; but that was for Nature to decide. The man believed it was this human interference  that turned the tiger into a “killer.” Based on the cruel and sadistic ways in which humans have treated other animals, it is no wonder that more of them do not hate us. 

I will never understand this compulsion that so many people have, to control others, be it other species, or our own. We place animals in cages, in zoos, tie them to stakes, and lead them around by the neck on leashes. The wings of birds are often clipped to prevent them from flying away. When animals do not obey the humans’ wishes, they are often beaten. They are neglected and treated as though they were inanimate objects. More often than not, caged animals and pets become ill as they are prevented from living in the company of their own species and they are denied the ability to hunt or forage for their own food. In the case of those acquired through the illegal pet trade, most will die. 

It is unnatural for any species to be confined. We even confine our prisoners, who also suffer from illnesses. The lack of exercise and sunshine, combined with poor quality food, leaves many of them in an unhealthy condition. There was a time when prisoners were made to do hard labor. Perhaps, they were better off than the prisoners of today, who often do not see the light of day. They are “pampered” with television and sedated with pharmaceutical drugs to keep them subdued. 

The Bengal tiger of India is one of the most beautiful animals on the planet; but like so many other species, we have brought them to near extinction. Human life is valued above all other life. After the killings in India, large groups of men descended on the reserve to retrieve the bodies of the victims so that they could be buried. Personally, I would gladly give up my own life for such an animal. Let it consume me and do not waste precious ground to bury me, or have me wastefully cremated. On those rare occasions when a bear, or a lion, or a tiger attacks a human being, revenge is foremost on peoples’ minds. Those who hate these animals refuse to see that they have the same intelligence, feelings, and emotions that we have. Often, our compassion for an animal is misplaced. We believe that we must intervene, interfere, and “save” the animal; but this is not Nature’s way. I hope the day will come when we will learn collectively, to accept, to allow, and to stop interfering with the balance that Nature had already created before we arrived.

In reality, every day is the day after – after the previous day. The day after a big event; however, can be especially peaceful and contemplative. It reminds me of the feeling you can get after finishing a really good novel. Or, the relief and satisfaction you feel when you have finally finished a particularly momentous task. My several days of preparation for yesterday’s Thanksgiving meal were well rewarded. Most of my family members had to make a three hour road trip and we were all nervous about the pending snowstorm. Many of them had to be at work early this morning, so becoming snowbound was not in their plans. I simply declared that it would all work out as it was meant to.

I sometimes like to observe my life from a slight distance and marvel at the synchronicities and harmony with which events unfold, when I do not try to control outcomes. It seems to make no difference if it is small, inconsequential things, or large, looming challenges. When I simply let go of expectations and allow my higher self to guide me, life flows smoothly and tiny miracles are an everyday occurrence. Yesterday was a day like that and while many might consider it just plain luck, I know better. 

The day began with what could have turned into a horrifying disaster. I was just stepping out of the shower when I heard my daughter scream. She was lying in her bed and her German Shepherd was crawling under it, where she likes to sleep. My daughter suddenly saw flames coming from the outlet where her phone charger was plugged in. Fortunately, she got the fire out and there was no issue with the outlet. Apparently, cheap phone chargers from the dollar store are notorious for bursting into flames. I told her our guardian angels were watching over us.

The turkey and pies and stuffing and gravy and all the food was done to perfection, all at the right time, and the family all arrived on time as well. We had a wonderful meal and the snow held off. They had to leave shortly after, which made me sad; but they all arrived safely back at their own homes before the snow got bad. Today, all is back to peace and quiet and the outdoors is blanketed in snow. It is the day after and a day to be thankful once again.