Endangered Species
I wish I had stronger feelings about those endangered species and their
preservation at any cost. I wish I could get worked up about even giving
up my own rights and privileges, as a member of a free society. But really
folks, I really don’t feel deprived that I have never seen a real
dinosaur. For that matter, I don’t even care about the extinction of the
dodo bird, saber toothed tigers, or the woolly mammoths.
Now lest you believe I am not a caring person, let me assure you I do
care about my own species. And, I do care about God’s other creatures -
big and small. I just won’t go crazy about doing anything and everything
possible to save one of them from extinction. . The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service says there are 39 animals on their ‘endangered species’ list
as well as 54 species of ‘endangered plants.’ By the way, some of the
animals on the ‘endangered species’ list include five genre of mice, a
couple of snakes, a bat, and a rat or two. Oh yes, there are some skinks,
a vole and a snail-darter fish. But since I don’t even know what they
are, I guess I really could care less about them.
Right here in Pompano Beach, commissioner Kay McGinn was instrumental
in getting a law passed – yes, I said a law passed -- regulating street
and condominium lights to protect newly hatched sea turtles. Once again,
Pompano Beach is on the cutting edge and is the first municipality in
Broward County to promulgate such a law.
Now, I say, wait for evolution to play out its hand. Eventually, the
survival of the fittest will prevail and only the strong sea turtles will
learn not to be mesmerized by bright lights, thus extending their life to
grow up and be caught and served in some trendy restaurant as some gourmet
delicacy like turtle soup or turtle stew. Mmmm good.
Sure, I know many of you will disagree with me and find my dissertation
a tad brash and distasteful (pardon the pun) but I ask, who among you hasn’t
dined on chicken, steak, veal (baby cows), pork (remember Babe), dolphin
(mahi-mahi), and many other of God’s delicious creatures of the sea or
who roam the prairie?
Again, the balance of nature evens it all out. On one hand you have
people like me who have very little empathy for the turtles, snakes, rats
or mice. Then on the other end of the spectrum, there are those
environmentalists who, at all costs, will stop construction, turn off
lights, and do everything to save an endangered blade of grass or some
cockamamy animal. Here’s where the balance of nature takes place and
life goes on with level-headed individuals who don’t go crazy.
Got to go. I am expecting A-One Bug Busters to exterminate and rid my
house of unwanted vermin – ants (all colors), palmettos, fleas, ticks,
mice, lice, and whatever creepy crawlers that I wish were endangered
species. But alas, the survival of the fittest prevails. To all of your
environmentalists - I hope you freeze to death in the dark. Question of
the week: Know what most endangered species have in common? Answer:
They all taste good.
You really are bold and/or brave to put into
print the thoughts you maintain on the aforementioned topic of your
article, of which I just read in The Ledger. Your ignorance of what's
going on in the world astounds me. I feel your article disclosed that
you are a very selfish person, and it's because of persons such as
yourself that not only threatens the existence of all species --
endangered or not, but the existence of our very selves, which in itself
leaves us endangered. Man will be the means to his own end - which I do
believe. However, to blatantly disregard our environment -from trees to
turtles - is truly sad and disheartening. I think the balance of nature
could even things out if nature were allowed to do so, but because of
man's involvement, the balance is not there - never has been, never will
be.
So, in closing, I do not really expect the
above to affect you in the slightest, but your offer to receive comments
- I could not pass up. I am sure you will receive many comments On
your article, and it would be interesting to know how many
reflect the same views as me, and equally those that echo those views
stated in your article