Photo: I.Rimanoczy
What an animal! is a common expression of disgust used to describe the unacceptable behavior of a person.
At least, it's so where I grew up. Drivers surprised by a dangerous maneuver of another motorist would rapidly roll down the window and leaning halfway outside, extend their left arm in protest all the while shouting, "Animal!" Donkey, monkey, snake, cow, rat, horse, worm, fly and flea were some of the animals that became selective insults.
This was normal for me, I must confess. It certainly looks weird as I write it now, but in those days that's what people did. Nothing better than stepping out of your own culture and language to revisit what is "normal." Today I ask myself -- what does it mean when we use the word "animal" to insult someone? What lies behind it is the belief that in the hierarchy of living creatures, animals constitute more primitive creatures than humans. Following Darwin, we find a scientific explanation for how evolution has taken place over millions of years, transforming, shaping, and "perfecting" animals, particularly those two-legged ancestors, humanoids, to "finally" get to these civilized, intelligent beings that dominate the planet. Because, as author Gary Zukav puts it, in the linear trajectory of history, our narrative is, "that evolution is a process of ever-increasing ability to dominate the environment and each other." A large part of our civilization has come to believe that we need to have power to be in control. To Zukav, "We believe in external power," and go after it in a variety of ways. Power may take the form of a badge, boots, rank, uniforms, or guns, and while they seem to represent external power, those who wear them are actually fearful, Zukav observes: They fear to operate in the world without defenses.
There are other symbols of power taking diverse shapes. These include degrees, money, information, cars, hierarchy, size or location of our homes, age, physical shape or size, gender, ethnicity, lineage, knowledge, and even people we know or hang out with. Marketers of goods and services have cleverly applied economic and psychological triggers, providing us with the "solutions" to our challenges so we can feel better. When we see power as something external that we can "get," wear, or have -- we become motivated to defend the symbols of our identity and stimulate the economy. From there, it is a small step to feel threatened, to find our identity at risk in the deepest sense. As we collectively share this belief, we help each other to protect ourselves from theft, property loss, reputation loss, because what is at stake is our sense of who we are. But is who we are actually determined by what we have, or what we do?
During an exercise with students at Fordham, I invited them to make a list of what makes you "you." Then I invited them to cross out those things that while valuable, nevertheless could be lost without losing their sense of identity. Then a second round: Take out even more things. The protest in the room was deafening. "If I take out my career, the house, my girlfriend -- then I don't have anything left!" Really! Really?
We humans, the self-styled summit of evolution, the civilization that exercises ultimate control and domination of the planet and each other -- how are we performing the self-assigned task? Open the newspaper to find the answer.
Perhaps the best gift arising in these times of turmoil is the opportunity to learn something from beings on this planet that: are more able to live in harmony with each other; that don't destroy their sources of food and safety; that don't threaten their own health with behaviors that contaminate the air, the water of the soil; or that poison the land for the next one hundred thousand years. Perhaps we can tune a bit more into our intuition, that archaic wisdom we carry. Perhaps our identity is to be found inside us.
Perhaps, we could evolve and become a bit more -- animal?
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.