Earthlings 1

In reading the disclaimer to the film Earthlings, I notice that most of the footage in the film is considered “industry standards” for the treatment and killing of animals that we use as pets, food, and clothes. I reflect back on the images I witnessed in class and can’t believe that some of those images are thought of as standard. What does this ‘standard’ say about the humans who think it normal to throw chickens against a wall then have men stomp on them.



These gruesome images make humans seem repulsive and evil as they enjoy inflicting pain on those around them. In reading the terse description of the footage for the film I can’t help but think that the connection is not truly made by the words to the shocking images in the movie. While adequate interpretation of the footage is relayed, the sadistic acts humans commit can’t be really described they can only be seen by the smirks on their faces as they injure defenseless creatures repeatedly. The translation from script to film allows for the images to truly shine and bring very strong points to the forefront that I see as important parts of the argument that the screen play and film are making. The smallest details are enhanced by the films connection of the narration and footage, unlike in the screen play when they are only written one right after the other.



The voice of vegan Joaquin Phoneix is still clear in my mind as I read the screen play and think of everything being asked and try to come up with answers. “Earthling: one who inhabits the earth” (565). This statement stands out because of its placement at the very beginning of the film as a title card and not as something said by the narrator. The statement is clearly meant to encompass everyone, so why are humans in charge. I think back to the bible and the passage in which God tells Adam that he is to rule over all the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and the animals on land making it obvious why humans believe themselves to be superior to other creatures on earth. “Speiciesm: prejudice or attitude of bias in favor of the interest of members of one’s own species and against those members of other species” (566). While this idea reflects the interpretation of the bible passage by humans it also is a “violation of the principle of equality” (566) that, in particular, humans in the US believe they uphold. This violation has been repeated several times throughout history and finds its roots in differences. It is the subtle differences that are used as excuses to make the treatment of others different from ourselves acceptable.

To avoid cognitive dissonance, the killing and mistreatment animals in done by a selected few and is hidden by architecture that is “opaque, designed in the interest of denial” (579). The “exploitation of the weak by the strong” is nothing new; awful things have always been inflicted on others it is only the victim that appears to be different in each occasion. In one of his books, Singer states that “all men were Nazi The smugness with which man could do with other species as he pleased exemplified the most extreme racist theories, the principle that might is right” (568). When comparing the cruelty inflicted on animals to the acts committed towards Jews during the Holocaust, it is easy to see the different victims affected in the same manner. I think of the aerial image over the concentration camps and over a cow farm and of the crowded cages of pigs ontop of one another headed to slaughter houses and train cars packed with at least 100 Jews heading to their deaths in camps. The similarities are astounding, how we see the tremendous effects these things have had on the past and how we allow them to continue in the future is mind boggling to say the least.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep

Rick Deckard, a policeman and bounty hunter, is assigned to find androids that have come to earth as runaways after his superior was shot by an escapee android. While Deckard’s wife, Iran, seems to be against his job she unknowingly encourages him to maintain this job because of concern with what others think. Owning animals is a sign of status that really concerns Iran and forces Rick to get a fake animal after their real sheep died.



I’ve always thought of owning animals as a sign of status because of the difficulties involved in maintaining them but in this reading it’s thought of as highly important due to the extinction of several animals after a big war that is a vague and distant memory to everyone. It’s a little sad but I believe realistic that people wouldn’t really show concern about taking care of animals until the extinction of most animals. While the fake animal fulfills Iran’s needs and tricks the neighbors about the Deckard’s family status it really doesn’t seem to have a positive effect on Rick. “Owning and maintaining a fraud had a way of gradually demoralizing one. And yet from a social standpoint it had to be done, given the absence of the real article. He had therefore no choice except to continue. Even were he not to care himself, there remained his wife, and Iran did care. Very much” (403). Rick longs to have a real animal but it doesn’t seem to be because he loves animals its mainly that it makes him feel superior to those around him and that he will stop making him feel bad about lying to others and to himself.



In this futuristic world earth is thought of as a place of outsiders by those who have moved to colonies and though androids are thought at the same level they are still not wanted on earth and thought of as lower by those on earth. The androids are discovered because of their lack of empathy which seems to be the main difference between humans and androids. Androids had “evolved beyond a major – but inferior- segment of mankind” (413) but the Voigt Empathy Test developed by the Pavlov institute measured “capillary dilation in the facial area” (420) that showed a “‘shame’ or ‘blushing’ reaction to a morally shocking stimulus” (420) the distinguished the two.




The lack of empathy in androids has put an ease in Rick’s mind. “Empathy, he once decided, must be limited to herbivores or anyhow omnivores who could depart from a meat diet. Because, ultimately, the empathic gift blurred the boundaries between hunter and victim, between the successful and the defeated” (413). The use of empathy as an excuse for why it is ok to kill androids is ironic since to empathize is to understand your own feelings and those of others.
However, the recent findings on schizophrenics having low empathy have caused several questions to arise about the tests effectiveness. Rick and other bounty hunters feel that they have adequate training to be able to distinguish the differences. It is this that causes Rick to go through a test in which he must determine if Ms. Rosen, is an android. When he ‘fails,’ the Rosen organization offers him what he believes to be a real owl. The temptation of owning this beautiful extinct bird pushes him towards accepting the offer, however he finds out that he really hasn’t failed the test and is allowed to continue on his hunt for the androids. After fulfilling half of his assignment he buys an animal and shares with Iran that he feels bad about retiring the androids. After meeting a bounty hunter who killed androids for fun he began to empathize with the human robots. He saw that what he did was really only a benefit to himself and began to explore his feelings on the subject. He soon realized that “feelings are typically indispensible for rational decisions; they point us in the proper direction” (456) and decided that maybe he should listen to Iran and transfer to another job even if it meant not being able to afford the animal he had just bought. It’s sad to see that it isn’t until the end that he realizes that while different, androids still have the right to live.

The Ever So Ready Squirrel

Having rarely encountered animals outside of zoos made finding my totem animal an intricate task. However, I was determined to find my spirit animal and the reasoning behind our connection. I did the exercise presented in the course packet, the musical exercise in class; I searched my past, the internet, and my surroundings for clues, and did multiple quizzes online only to be left perplexed about what animal represented me as each exercise resulted in a different response. Throughout my life I have been a colt, an eagle, a grizzly bear, a turtle, a butterfly, a longhorn, and a panther, but none seem to describe who I believe I truly am. These animals were outside influences and not inspiration from within as so much of my research indicated would be the case when discovering one’s totem animal. I refused to settle for what others saw as a representation of me and continued my search. As the due date approached, I laid in shavasana pose deeply breathing in and out with my eyes shut and in complete relaxation, optimistic that a response to my questions would materialize. Who am I? What animal am I linked to? These questions finally seemed clear- a squirrel. The squirrel entered my mind because I saw several similarities between my personality and that of a squirrel.
As far back as I can remember, I have thought of squirrels simply as rodents with bushy tails with little relevance to my life except for appearing in one of my all-time favorite cartoons, Rocky and Bullwinkle.



Figure 1: The tremendous duo, Rocky and Bullwinkle, have a special place in my childhood memories.

Upon entering college, I acknowledged squirrels as a part of my experience here at UT, constantly crossing my path and scaring me half to death as they creep around in the shrubbery. With time and understanding I have come to admire squirrels for the little things that make them unique and intelligent creatures. These small mammals encompass 365 different species and seven families with the three biggest families being the ground, flying, and tree squirrels. Just like squirrels, my family is considerably large. I am the oldest of nine in my immediate family and have over fifty first cousins. With so many members in the squirrel family and in my own, you can find several differences within the two when it comes to our diets, color, height and weight, and the place called home to each member apart of the family. When squirrels reach adulthood, they prefer to live alone and mark and defend their territory meticulously. I, like squirrels, have elected to live alone as an adult and dislike intrusion by others in my area as well. Logically, I believe this is due to our immensely large families and not having breathing room in our youth. With age, my animal spirit and I have chosen to live on our own away from the constant noise once called home.
In general, squirrels are considered the cleanest rodents, specifically with their teeth which they maintain at a healthy length by chewing on branches. Borderline obsessive compulsiveness when it comes to my teeth and cleanliness over all, I appreciate that squirrels understand the importance of this trait. Having frustrated several people with my constant hygiene obsession, I have finally found a creature I can relate to. To maintain healthy activity, squirrels need about a pound of food per week of acorns and other nuts as well as anything that humans offer to them.



Figure 2: Squirrels enjoying a slice of pizza, not normally apart of their diet.

Constantly snacking on anything that will help me stay energized for my daily routine, I enjoy food as much as squirrels choosing fruits and nuts over pieces of meat. Squirrels communicate through a series of chirps and tail movements. The use of nonverbal communication has also been extremely influential in my life helping me connect with people I have a hard time approaching and using these cues to get my message across clearly. Interestingly, squirrels and I have similar reactions to danger and especially when dealing with automobiles. In situations where squirrels sense danger, they freeze up and then frantically run to the closest object they can climb. In times of danger, I tense up and have no clue what to do but head towards a close object which might shield me. When it comes to cars, squirrels and I both view them as enemies. Having a life span of six years, squirrels lives are constantly stunted by vehicles that run them over. While luckily, my life has not been cut short by an automobile I have had several close calls after being involved in a car accident every year for the past six years. My connection to squirrels was meant to be and is not just an accident; our characteristics are so similar it is a little frightening.
I am different yet oddly similar to the characteristics of squirrels and after researching the medicine they hold as totem animals I have come to find a deeper connection.



Figure 3: A wooden planter of three squirrels represents the qualities of this amazing creature.

As a totem animal, squirrels embody three traits that can be seen as both positive and negative. As the picture above shows, even when in wooden form squirrels appear to be constantly active. As they scurry throughout the day, they give the impression of having an endless supply of energy that I can only dream of obtaining after two energy drinks. It is in a squirrel’s nature to maintain lively and productive. This trait is one I have as well; I unintentionally keep busy even when I am tired something inside me just yells for me to toil away on whatever project I can get my hands on. When I reflect on the pitfalls of this quality I realize that at times my actions and that of a squirrel’s are rushed and at times even wrong. Squirrels are a reminder that one must slow down, relax, and just enjoy whatever it is they might be doing. Learning this from my squirrel friend, has led me to believe that time off is necessary not just for rest, but to feel refreshed every time a new task is started and avoid any confusion. Relaxing allows one to enjoy life and see it as more than just a task. Always preparing for the future, squirrels consistently gather resources. They scamper around looking for food which they hide in the ground and save for a later date. After a childhood in which some of my most basic needs were not always met, I have learned to be constantly prepared- just in case. Squirrels are extraverted creatures; they love interaction and constantly want to play. However, their chatter can be considered the cause of disruption for the peacefulness in the world. This interruption symbolizes the chaos of life. In trying to keep busy I find myself surrounded by clutter and noise and rarely appreciating the simplicity and beauty of the world. While squirrels do stand for something negative, they are also a reminder that at times we need to stop, slow down, and speak clearly to get the message across within all the mess. I have slowly learned to focus in on what is important and avoid the clutter in order to relate my message and clearly understand the messages in life. Squirrels embody what it means to trust others; this is portrayed by their ability to accept food from humans without fear.



Figure 4: A squirrel reaching up to get food from a man's mouth.

A squirrel’s ability to trust others fascinates me. The ability for such tiny creatures to be able to approach giants and accept food without any suspicion of possible danger is truly admirable. The optimistic perspective that squirrels take towards life and those in it inspires me to do the same. In a world where so many horrible things happen daily it is hard to see the good in people, but when looking at squirrels it gives me hope that maybe there are more good people out there than I expect. Squirrels are simple creatures relating perfectly to the straightforward traits that they portray as totem animals and to me as well.
After several days of searching for my totem animal, my journey is now complete and I am satisfied with my answer. The information I have gathered about the characteristics of squirrels has made me realize how amazing these creatures truly are and I could not ask for a better totem animal or one that represents me more accurately. Having first seen no connection to this creature, I have now come to appreciate all the greatness the squirrel portrays. My association to a creature this amazing is one of pure luck, I can only hope to truly embody what the totem represents in the future, but for now I will do my best to use my connections to the animal to make good decisions in life.

Word Count: 1,461


Bibliography
"Cycle of Power Animal Totems." Sayahda. http://www.sayahda.com/cyc4.html (accessed February 6, 2010).
"History." Squirrel Place. http://www.squirrels.org/history.html (accessed February 6, 2010).
"Squirrel." Animal Totem. http://linsdomain.com/totems/pages/squirrel.htm (accessed February 6, 2010).
Figure 1: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/books/blog/rocky%20and%20bullwinkle.jpg

Figure 2: http://gadgetsteria.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/pizza-squirrels.jpg

Figure 3: http://www.onlinediscountmart.com/bk-24367.html

Figure 4: http://www.fadingad.com/blog/manhattan/squirrel_washington_sq_pk.jpg

Sadism

In the article Animal Cruelty Law Tests Free Speech a decision must reached on whether internet videos depicting animal cruelty are protected under the First Amendment. In the videos you can hear a women’s voice “talking to the animals in a kind of dominatrix pattern” and the “cries and squeals of the animals, obviously in great pain” (692). With Congress and the Supreme Court on opposite ends of the case it is hard to understand what the fighting is all about. While the consideration of a person’s rights to commit these acts is being acknowledged, the rights of the animals are being overlooked. And for what, to give those watching defenseless animals being crushed them a perverse sense of happiness. The solution would appear be a lot clearer if humans were to think of animals as equals and not as lower beings. Humans, over time have grown to develop an “insuperable line… dividing beings that count from those that do not” (169). However, this decision was reached in a bias sense almost forgetting all together the theories of Charles Darwin. If Charles Darwin is right, we, humans and animals, are tied together by one ancestor. Why is it, then, that humans’ tend to believe that they are the better of the two? Is it based on ‘speciesism’ an “irrational prejudice that […] is the basis of our different treatment of animals and humans” (169). Several excuses are given for the mistreatment of animals by humans. Humans automatically assume that they hold power over animals but it is possible that people have “felt the need perpetually to reassert human dominance over, and separation from, the animal kingdom” (172) As the ‘dominant’ figure it is unacceptable to seem intimidated by the weaker ranks therefore any sign of threat might cause humans to act aggressively towards animals. This is why humans are rapid to put animals in cages and zoos or to strike them when they are worried that they might lose power. In laboratories where animals are treated at times like rag dolls “researchers insulate themselves from moral qualms by rejecting as ‘inappropriate’ the descriptive language more usually used for human behavior” (170). By avoiding the use of words usually used for humans, researches avoid feeling bad about the dreadful acts performed on small animals. Instead a number is assigned to the animals because it is “more dehumanizing than a name” (170). Completely separating the treatment of animals and humans prohibits any compassion or sympathy from taking place. Treating animals humanely or with any compassion would mean that humans would have to understand the suffering of animals on a personal level. However, the separation in place does not allow for these action or ideas to cross the minds of humans who cannot consider that animals suffer. This goes back to personally understanding what the animals feel in order to exhibit and emotional connection to the animal; however humans have “ little sympathy for distresses which they have never felt” (191). This appears to be true even between humans, as it tends to be hard to understand racial profiling if you yourself have not encountered it. An example is the continuous infliction of pain by participants in the Millgram Studies. Another example of not being able to empathize with others is the Stanford Prison Study, the students in charge became sadistic to the prisoners, “they adapted to their roles, stepping beyond the boundaries of what had been predicted” (202). This displays the “implications about the danger which lurks in the darker side of human nature” (203). Animals on the other hand tend to understand the suffering of those around them with domesticated animals effectively reflecting their owner’s emotions. Another example of animals understanding of others is in the study done with macaque monkeys. Unlike humans, upon realizing that the other was being harmed, the monkeys reacted freely choosing not to allow for further injury to take place. The ideas presented in the readings are interesting because while humans have two different perspectives on how to react when a creature of another species is being harmed, animals automatically choose to react in the most positive way risking themselves before harming others.

Report of Museum Visit

To everyone back home,
I am writing to share what information I have gathered thus far, my curiosity would not let time go to waste, I must make the most of my short visit. Upon arriving on earth, I wasted no time learning about the planet and the creatures that inhabit it. I found myself in front of a large stone structure named the Texas Natural Science Museum. Inside was a collection of what I perceive to be the ideas and creatures that inhabit earth.
There were four different levels with separate titles each sharing something new. I visited the highest level first entitled Hall of Biodiversity. Humans believe that all creatures are interconnected. One of the first humans to hold this belief was Charles Darwin, he went to the Galapagos Islands researching plants and animals. He focused on several different birds that he later came to find were related which led him to the conclusion that at one point all creatures shared a common ancestor. Humans believe that they are closely related to monkeys and that their differences developed over several thousands of years through a process called evolution. Evolution is the process by which living beings change over time producing distinct features and species. There are four forces that determine evolution: variation (differences between species), inheritance (what traits are passed to offspring), selection (which traits are better than others), and time (process of selection causes change in order to survive). All creatures are thought to be made up of a series of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts forming what is called DNA that determine what traits a creature has. Any difference in the order of these letters distinguishes separate humans and other creatures.
The level underneath entitled Hall of Texas Wildlife contained several different creatures stuffed, in jars, or pinned to boards. These animals were posed in what I assume to be a natural stance and with background that portray their natural habitat. Some animals were in packs like the bison while others were alone, surrounded by several different creatures. Some had wings; others belonged in water, some on dry land, and others in forest. The times of day in which these characters are active also appeared to be different as some preferred night time over day time. The diversity of animals was amazing however I wasn’t able to witness any creatures that appeared to be alive. They were all behind glass panel prohibiting any contact.
The second level up (ground floor) called the Great Hall had the skeleton of a huge bird hanging from the ceiling with the help of wires called a pterosaur. There were also tons of skulls next to a tag that gave clues for humans to decipher what creature it was. Mounted on a wall were several pictures of birds in flight. On the other walls a dispersed around the room there were tons of rocks that had been cut open or chopped up only to find beautifully bright colored stones named gems. On one side of all these fascinating artifacts was a store that was full of toys, books, puzzles, etc., on animals and their natural environments. People continuously entered this store and purchased items as if they yearned to learn about the creatures and wish to surround themselves with their presence.
The basemen level called the Hall of Geology and Paleontology was my last stop on my first exploration of earth and the creatures that inhabit it. In this hall the lives of several different animals are divided into different time periods throughout the history of earth. Displayed are different bits and pieces of bones belonging to several different animals that were dug up. There are also tons of fully constructed skeletons held up together with string and poles. These animals are different from those on other levels of the museum. Detailed imprints of shells and plants in rocks are also displayed. Some of these things are said to have been found close to museum which would mean that at one point this part of the world was underwater. This is interesting because it shows that the world like the creatures on earth changes over the course of time. In the corner of the room is a table built from a trunk of tree, it is one of the few signs of plant life on earth. There is also a little area called the Paleontologist Lab, this is where scientist teach the humans about their findings regarding the life of previous earth creatures based on fossils like the ones presented throughout the museum.
While in the museum I found an infatuation with Texas: their animals, their discoveries, and the formation of the land itself but it doesn’t seem to be a fascination with the things of today instead it is with the things of the past. If I just take into account what I have witnessed today, I would say that while humans do live on this planet I don’t believe that other creature exists anymore. They did exist several years ago and there were several of them probably outnumbering humans. But as changes over time occurred to the land and to the DNA make up of creatures they started dying out decreasing their numbers severely. It might also be the case that the evolution of man has led to the decay of other creatures.

The every so ready Squirrel

FIGURE 1: Squirrels can always be caught with food in their hands.
Having rarely encountered animals outside of zoos, I found it difficult and exhausting to find my totem animal. However, I was determined to find the animal that most represented me and that I could share a spirit with. I did the exercise presented in the course packet, the exercise with music in class, searched my past, the internet, and my surroundings for clues, and did multiple quizzes online but it only led me to become even more confused as I came up with several responses to what my answer should be. Over the course of my life I’ve gone from being a colt to an eagle to a grizzly bear to a turtle to a butterfly to a longhorn to a panther but still none of them seemed describe who I believe I truly am. These animals have been part of my life for several different reasons but they always seem to have been forced upon me by some outside source. However, my research indicates that to find your totem animal you must let it come to you and not the other way around. Finally, as due date approached and I laid in shavasana pose breathing in and out with my eyes shut in complete relaxation the answer came to me- a squirrel. It entered my mind not because I see them everywhere on campus but because if I really think about the characteristics of a squirrel as well as my own I realize that there are several similarities.
From the time I started my college education here at UT, I’ve thought of squirrels simply as rodents with bushy tails who constantly cross my path and scare me as they creep around in the shrubbery. However, after researching their way of life I have come to admire them for the little things that make them unique and intelligent creatures. These small mammals make up 365 species and seven families with the three biggest families are the ground, flying, and tree squirrels[1] Because there are so many different types of squirrels it only makes sense that they would have some differences, some squirrels hibernate during winter, the size of different species varies, and natural habitats span worldwide. However, squirrels have plenty of similarities with one another. In general, they are considered the cleanest rodents. Squirrels, upon reaching adulthood, prefer to live alone marking their territory with the sweat glands on their feet. Squirrels teeth continuously grow throughout the year and are kept sharp and clean by chewing on branches. To maintain healthy activity, squirrels need about a pound of food per week. Squirrels communicate with each other through chirps and tail movements as well as other almost ritualistic movements during mating season. A squirrels’ automatic reaction to danger is to freeze in place then climb the closest object. The lifespan of squirrels is about six years though this is frequently cut short by automobiles. I’m mentioning a few facts that make squirrels unique because I can relate to squirrels through these things.



FIGURE 2: Squirrels immediately freeze upon hearing a sudden noise.
While most of the things mentioned above might seem inapplicable to humans, I have found that these things can describe me. My family is huge just like those of squirrels and though we vary widely in several factors, we still seem to share so much more than just our genetic makeup. Like squirrels, I’d prefer to be alone and have my boundary set so that others do not trespass. I’m very clean, I borderline OCD when it comes to my hygiene; for example, like squirrels I’m very conscious about my dental care almost to the point of being an obsession. Sadly, I cannot eat the way squirrels can but I truly love food as much as they do, constantly snacking on anything to help me stay energized for my daily routine. The use of nonverbal communication helps me communicate effectively with those around me especially considering that I am shy and though squirrels are not I have acquired there extensive use of cues to relay messages. One of the final things I found to have in common with squirrels is that I have continuously found automobiles trying to cut my life short and therefore have developed a dislike of them. While I’m different yet oddly similar to squirrels characteristic traits, I find even more connection to the powers squirrels provide as a totem.
As a totem animal, squirrels embody several traits. These traits can be seen as both positive and negative. Sitting anywhere on campus, it’s easy to see that squirrels always active. As squirrels scurry around fulfilling their daily tasks, they seem to have an endless supply of energy that I can only dream of obtaining after two energy drinks. It is in squirrels’ nature to maintain a naturally active state and be productive. This however might be a downfall because their actions might be rushed or done wrong. Squirrels remind people that sometimes one must slow down, relax, and just enjoy whatever it is they might be doing. Squirrels are consistent gatherers and are always prepared for the future, reflecting the ideas of conserving energy and other important resources for the future.[2] Squirrels are extraverted creatures; they love interaction, they enjoy the company of their peers and people as well. They constantly want to play and communicate with those around them; however their chatter a causes a disruption of the peacefulness in the world. This interruption symbolizes the chaos of life and represents the necessity to clearly speak and get messages across to others through all the clutter that the world has.[3] Squirrels embody what it means to trust others; this is portrayed by their ability to accept food from human hands without fear. Squirrels are simple creatures relating perfectly to the straightforward traits that they portray as totem animals and I, too, find that same connection.



FIGURE 3: Rocky J. Squirrel is one of few famous squirrels.
The basic qualities of squirrels’ as totems accurately portray who I am. Like squirrels, I constantly keep busy. It’s never intentional; it just seems to occur as I rush to finish assignments or as I start on a future homework assignment early because there’s simply nothing else for me to do. When I look back, it hasn’t always been to my advantage for me to remain busy; at times it’s been the cause of extremely negative situations. I’ve done assignments wrong and forgotten important aspects of my projects leading me to the conclusion that time off is necessary not just to rest and be able to feel refreshed every time a new task is started but also to avoid confusing the two. Relaxing also allows one to enjoy life and see it as more than a just a task, life is much more than that as my new found squirrel friend has taught me. Another thing I have in common with squirrels is that I’m constantly preparing for the future by gathering what I see as essentials in life. With graduation right around the corner, it’s become almost a daily habit of mine to think of the future. With these thoughts continuously running across my mind I can’t help but work hard and make sure that things that I had planned for when I began college are now falling into place for my future. College and growing up are not the only reasons that I have chosen to prepare for my future and gather all my essentials. As a child I was not always blessed with the basic necessities of life, it’s made me learn to store extras around the house so that nothing is missing now or in the future. I am always prepared when anything runs out and though it drives some people crazy it makes me happy to be prepared. Unlike squirrels, I’m introverted most of the time but when I come out of my shell I love interaction with others. The chaos of the world is constantly on my mind and with the help of my squirrel totem (and yoga) I’ve learned to tune it out and just focus on what I need to say. I’ very curious about everything and nothing, not even being shy, ever stops me from asking questions. The clutter that so much noise has caused in the world does distract me but soon I get back on track and get my message across. Squirrels’ trusting of others fascinates me immensely. The ability for such tiny creatures to be able to approach giants and accept food without any suspicion of possible danger is truly admirable. The optimistic perspective that squirrels take towards life and those in it inspires me to do the same. In a world where so many horrible things happen daily it’s hard to see the good in people but when looking at squirrels it gives me hope that maybe there are more good people out there than I expect. The basic traits that are contributed to squirrels are all so extensively connected to me that I’m so glad I was able to find my totem animal.
My appreciation of squirrels has not always been the case. It wasn’t until recently that I realized how special these creatures were. My association to a creature this amazing is one of pure luck, I can only hope to truly embody what the totem represents in the future but for now I will do my best to use my connections to the animal to make good decisions in life.



FIGURE 4: Squirrels are loving animals





Word Count: 1566

1. "History ." Squirrel Place . http://www.squirrels.org/history.html (accessed February 6, 2010).

2. "Squirrel ." Animal Totems . http://linsdomain.com/totems/pages/squirrel.htm (accessed February 6, 2010).

3. "Cycle of Power Animal Totems ." Sayahda. http://www.sayahda.com/cyc4.html (accessed February 6, 2010).

Figure 1: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://beaconwm.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/squirrel-eating.jpg&imgrefurl=http://beaconwm.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/what-squirrels-can-teach-usaboutinvesting/&usg=__tE6IM6NjK4tGMFNobOZTNttHpzw=&h=768&w=1024&sz=230&h
l=en&start=64&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=0yE0ASU1mkVdM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsquirrels%2Beating%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_en___US344%26sa%3DN%26start%3D54%26um%3D1

Figure 2: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/8377/cutesquirrels32eh9.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.zuzafun.com/cute-squirrels&usg=__NILubyldXUVbqbpeZOh7MKYfiA0=&h=654&w=500&sz=48&hl=en&start=2&itbs=1&tbnid=YkuT0siOHuom_M:&tbnh=138&tbnw=106&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcute%2Bsquirrel%2Bpictures%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

Figure3:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://addictedtovinyl.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/450_rocky1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://addictedtovinyl.com/blog/tag/stereo-dictator/&usg=___LYOoB-mDOHKnSb4bOa4_wKgoMw=&h=340&w=450&sz=46&hl=en&start=10&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=hVRSSoMVqT_8NM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drocky%2Bj%2Bsquirrel%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_en___US344%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

Figure 4: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/8377/cutesquirrels32eh9.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.zuzafun.com/cute-squirrels&usg=__NILubyldXUVbqbpeZOh7MKYfiA0=&h=654&w=500&sz=48&hl=en&start=2&itbs=1&tbnid=YkuT0siOHuom_M:&tbnh=138&tbnw=106&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcute%2Bsquirrel%2Bpictures%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

Dobie and Hemingway

“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.”
–Pastor Martin Niemöller

It is easy to not act for the sake of another’s well being. We see the actions performed as never possibly affecting us unless we interfere and make it a problem for ourselves. We create several different excuses for why the hideous actions being done are allowed. In the article, Spilling the Blood of Bulls to Preserve Zulu Tradition, the “[…] killing the bull was an important Zulu tradition […]” and therefore “[…] culture is used as an excuse for outrages […]” (710). Several times we have been witness to some event that should be prevented but something inside of all of us allows for it to continue and for us to validate its occurrence. In J. Frank Dobie’s, The Longhorn, he describes how easy it is to help when Kerr finds a bull calf next to a dead cow. “Kerr pitched his rope over its head, drew it up across the saddle in front of him, carried it home, and turned it over to Maria” (259). These simplest acts led to the survival of an animal whom came to be a beloved member of the family. In Hemingway’s, Death in the Afternoon, however, the “[…] stupid brutal business […]” (701) that constitutes bullfighting is overlooked because of the picturesque actions that are seen as tragic and comedic performance. What seems to be overlooked is that these actions end the life of one animal and overlook injuries imposed on another animal for the entertainment of human beings. Whether these people are morally and ethically correct is not of any importance as they are entranced by the surreal experience they encounter upon watching a bullfight. The indifference that Hemingway displays towards the death of the horse is mind boggling to say the least but his experiences during war times and in trying to write about pure death is the reasoning behind his unusual reaction. The disciplined and ritualistic presentation of bullfighting makes the actions performed seem part of a greater whole and not as separate events. The performance is compared to that of symphony with a bad double bass player being listened to by a music aficionado. “He does not think of the double bass as separated from the whole of the orchestra or as being played by a human being” (707). Though, the series of actions are individually horrible, the whole production would be harmed by the loss of that aspect. The thought of the events as a whole gives validity to the argument being made to continue inflicting harm on the horse and bull for future shows. Dobie’s, The Mustang, discusses the decay of the wild horse population. No one around them seems to help as most humans only hope to capture a mustang for all the beauty they embody. The mustang’s don’t think of survival for themselves either, they focus on freedom. “He relied upon motion, not covert, for the maintenance of liberty” (315). The mustangs’ continuous movements throughout the planes allowed for some to remain free. They acted to remain free but the actions were not enough ot save them since others chose to not help and act for them as well. I personally feel that the more you try to avoid involving yourself in an event that is affecting a particular group, the more vulnerable you become to also being affected by that event because you are blinded to any of the warning signs that might help you prevent the events from reoccurring.The survival of every single being on earth depends on our acknowledgment that our action is required even when an event doesn’t personally affect us.