"These are the kind of things which traditionally have been thought of as human prerogatives. But this teaches us a new respect, and it's a new respect not only for the chimpanzees, I suggest, but some of the other amazing animals with whom we share this planet. Once we're prepared to admit that after all we're not the only beings with personalities, minds, and above all feelings, we'll then start to think about ways we use and abuse so many other sentient, sapient creatures on this planet. It really gives cause for deep shame; at least for me."
This part of her speech is one of my favorites. It's true that in some ways we are more advanced than other beings, but that doesn't give us the right to treat them as we do now. For ages there have been disputes about respect among humans, but why can't we respect nature and its inhabitants? They aren't inferior; like Jane pointed out, the line that separates humans from animals is very thin. It's a huge disaster when the place you live in is your enemy; without humans, Earth would be one big, peaceful community. When Takers appeared, we were more like intruders that disrupted the planet's natural system and balance rather than the saviors and rulers that we believe we are.
The next thing she talks about really angers me. Hunters used to kill just enough to support himself and his family, but now with technology, weaponry and roads, they are killing more than they need for profits, thus destroying their culture and "the wonderful way of living for hundreds of years". This is exactly what we're talking about in Ishmael. The Takers' roots started when agriculture began, when we grew more than what was needed. It's a real pity, and we should stop our own expansion over the Leavers before it's too late and these amazing people with incredible knowledge disappear altogether.
Jane tells us that mostly in the developed areas people are being stupid because of their advancements. We are contaminating our world, and knowing that this will also affect ourselves in a negative way (i.e health), we still continue to do it. This ties in to something she said earlier that we are abusing our power and privileges that come from our knowledge. I remember I said something similar in my second podcast on the summary of Ishmael and it was one of the major points of our "captivity". Is it Mother Culture's fault that we're like this? But then again, even she was born from man's mind. Do we blame our ancestors then? But the fault is also on us because we have chosen continue to live on the principles of Mother Culture. However, this mindset and tradition has been practiced for ages and it's not easy to change.
What humans have that is distinctively ours is the ability to communicate with sophisticated language, and that is what has brought us so far. We should use that gift wisely and not abuse it at the expense of our planet and everything living in it. Hopefully, like Jane Goodall said at the end of her speech, we can put together our great minds and start making the right decisions.
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