From my brother:
I saw an article today about an alligator snapping turtle being found in Oregon. The department of fish and wildlife resources exterminated the turtle because it was not supposed to be in Oregon. The article stated the following:
"Alligator snapping turtles, with their scaly tails, spiked shells, and powerful beaked jaws, do not belong anywhere but their native southeastern United States habitat (where they’re a threatened species). There, in swamps and river and canals, they help balance the ecosystem.
Beyond that territory, though, they’re regarded as pests with the potential to adversely impact native fishes and small amphibian species (they’ll even devour ducklings), and spread disease. Their extremely powerful bite also makes them dangerous to humans."
Apparently man is supposed to whip nature back into shape when it gets out of line. How dare a snapping turtle leave its man-declared native habit! Keep those turtles where they belong! Give a turtle a break. He was just practicing natural selection: after all, his species is endangered in its native habitat. He might just be looking for a less dangerous place to live. Guess he didn't find one.
Apparently another reason to keep the turtles in check is because they can be dangerous to humans. But what about wolves and cougars? Apparently those have been declared native and we are supposed to welcome them back. And as far as global warming is concerned, how dare the earth get warmer than it is supposed to be! Man believes he can regulate the earth's temperature through political mandates. Oh the pride of man!
Brother again:
ReplyDeleteP.S. Just to clarify my comments from yesterday about the turtle article, I am not neccesarily against killing a turtle that may be considered a pest. After all I trap and shoot raccoons that eat my corn and don't want wolves and cougars to return to Missouri. On a certain level man was given dominion over the earth and made a steward of it. However, at times man seems to develop an arrogance that he can completely comprehend, characterize, and control the earth to his liking. The earth does not always cooperate.
Additionally, as Bastiat points out, certain men extend this arrogance to believing their fellow men are also nothing but earth that can and should controled to their own liking and molded according to their own theories and programs for humanity.