Why
do wild animals run away from us? A deer, fox, raccoon, coyote. It surely can’t
be any threatening vibes they sense from me. I wouldn’t hurt them. Perhaps it is
because I am not one of them. I’m different... foreign to them. I suppose I
would react in similar fashion if an alien from another planet appeared in my
circle. I’d be wary. Having no reference points of understanding, it would be
careless to assume they meant me no harm. I don’t want to be hurt... and of
course I want to live... so I’d keep my distance.
I used to build a campfire in the woods and meditate at night sometimes. One
night, 3 baby raccoons stumbled into the clearing where I was sitting. Without
fear they approached me. One particularly adventurous cub even wrestled with my
foot... much like a pet dog or cat might do. When I spoke softly and kindly to
them, they froze with unblinking gazes, trying to process the unfamiliar sound.
The adventurous one attempted a growl at the sound of my voice just to let me
know he wasn’t afraid of me... and then continued chewing on my boot.
Mama raccoon, alerted by my voice, ran to the outskirts of the clearing and
commanded them to get the hell away from the enemy-human... and they all
hurriedly trotted to her side in the brush.
Those baby raccoons were not born to fear me... but their mama used that
opportunity to instill human-phobia in them.
Another time, while walking in the woods, I heard all this squawking commotion
behind me. I turned to find 5 baby turkeys marching single-file behind me. When
I stopped, they stopped. When I took 3 steps forward, they waddled 3 steps
forward. Mother turkey disbanded our fine-feathered marching parade by scolding
her naive chicks. Upon her shrieking command, they broke rank and fled in her
direction.
Ah well... the younger they are, the easier they trust.
I once had a neighbor who adopted 2 orphaned baby raccoons and raised them as
pets. They were as approachable and affectionate with people as any other
domestic animal you might find in the neighborhood. When they grew into young
adulthood, my neighbor released them back into the wild. Within days, the “wild”
returned to them as well. They actually became more dangerous than animals never
knowing human contact. They still felt comfortable enough, because of their
upbringing, to come into close proximity with people. But their
newly-assimilated wild instincts would cause them to bite anyone who tried to
touch them. Just a couple of nights back in the wild and a true regression of
social skills with the human world had occurred.
I have a cat who was housebound the first 3 years of his life. He escaped into
the woods a couple of times... and changed. It’s hard to explain. He displayed a
subtle return-to-the-wild instability in his eyes. After that, there was no way
to deny him access to the outside world. It got “into his blood” somehow. He
still has human social skills, of course, but I saw him undergo a mysterious
metamorphosis after exposure to the wild outdoors.
Succumbing to the spirit of nature isn’t limited to only animals. It can happen
to people too. I visited a small multi-generational community of “mountain folk”
during one of my last writing expeditions in West Virginia. They are as
root-bound to the mountain wilderness and their unique culture as the mighty
trees which tower the landscape. They have lived forever fearfully isolated from
the world at large. They perceive the world beyond their borders as a bad place
which, through sheer exposure, could swallow up and annihilate the only way of
life they have ever known.
Many different worlds exist here on planet earth... and they often do not mesh
together easily... if at all. Basically, it’s human nature (much like the nature
of wild animals) to mistrust people outside the circle we call our own.
Sometimes for good reasons. Sometimes not.
What kind of “foreign influences” is the invader bringing into our borders? Does
he have the power and/or intent to hurt any vulnerabilities or weaknesses we
might have?
As a member of the dominant race, I have the ability and resources to really
fuck up a rabbit’s world. There’s not a whole lot he can do to harm me. Face to
face, he’s afraid of me. I’m not afraid of him. If I sit on the ground in a
non-threatening manner and sing soft love songs to the rabbit, he’s still going
to flee like a bat out of hell at the opportune moment. Come to think of it,
running from a lunatic who croons love ballads to a rabbit probably is a wise
move! Anyway, you get my drift. Perhaps he can sense, if push came to shove,
underneath my sweet dulcet tones, I’d eat him in a heartbeat if I was starving
and had no other alternative. I can understand why he chooses to run away from
me rather than taking the risk of trusting me. I would feel just as uneasy in
the presence of a wolf. As calm and friendly as he may appear at any given
moment, I know he has the power to turn on me and rip me to shreds.
I have met some very nice people whom I have run from too. My guard went up...
my defenses went into a state of high alert... and I exited from the
conversation as fast as I could. Something unexplainable made me feel
threatened. It was only later that I discovered their religious faith or some
other trait of intolerance would have given me living hell for my gay
orientation if given the opportunity.
I guess whether we are talking about animals or people, we all share an
instinctual drive to protect ourselves from anything or anyone with the
perceived power to harm our interests.
Can a wild wolf and a man live side by side in peace? Certainly not in the same
house! But if each respects the personal space of the other, sure! It happens
all the time.
Can all the different nations of the world peacefully coexist? Not as long as
there are radical religious extremist leaders who believe specific other nations
or people-groups are “evil” and should either submit or be destroyed. Not as
long as economic greed takes precedence over the health and well-being of a
neighbor. How many times has America, for example, taken to the woods with
rifles and/or injurious policies blazing... hunting purely for the sport of
financial gain (under the guise of something sounding much more palatable)...
and then stood there bewildered months and years later when the hunted nation
reacted with hatred? If anyone thinks this whole “war on terror” fiasco is based
completely upon evil, insane “foreigners” with opposing ideologies, they should
reread the history books wearing the shoes of other nations. In so many ways, we
have brought much (not all) of our troubles on ourselves by the way we have
mishandled international tensions in the past. The only way to get a true
picture of ourselves is to listen to the input of the other people around us. If
you look in the mirror and say you look good... but 10 other people around you
say you look bad... perhaps it’s time to take a closer look.
I wish America would spend just as much money hiring hard-working, creative,
determined, committed ambassadors of PEACE and promulgators of generosity,
never-ending dialog, and acts of good will toward our “enemies” as they do on
the military! It would go a long way toward improving our deplorable relations
in the world!
Knowing full well our 2 countries are sparring with the initial rumblings of
war, I, the American, and Amir, the Iranian, stood face to face at the airport
last night. Peering into each other’s eyes and attitude for any hint of
nationalistic prejudice, neither of us found any. As our conversation
progressed... and relaxed... a wonderful appreciation and affection for one
another swiftly developed. How beautiful he was inside and out! What a smile!
What a sweetheart! As we parted, we hugged. All borders between us had
dissolved. Our worlds as good, decent members of the human race came together in
a warmth I still feel today.
In this day of disharmony, I am impacted with profound positivity when I meet
American gay boys with Asian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, or any other
international boyfriends. Sex and love erase boundaries. When they stand naked
before each other... and lose themselves in each other... when they surrender
their cum life-force to each other... wow... it’s a microcosmic solution for
world peace.
When I see news footage of Iraqi people... Iranian people... Russians, Chinese,
Vietnamese, Cubans, and all other nationalities on the face of this planet... I
feel drawn to them. I love them all. I want to know them and love them. God, I
pray for PEACE! How can it be that the elected and non-elected leaders of the
world have so FUCKED UP this basic desire for the rest of us? Bad non-elected
leadership took their seats of power by bloodshed and force. Bad elected leaders
got there because so many people of peace are too complacent to vote and/or get
involved in the political arena. And so, the more radical extremist populace
(very prone to be involved in the political process) held the deciding votes. In
so many cases, the leaders of nations in no way reflect the millions and
millions of peace-loving people they represent.
Christians tell me these are all signs that the end of the world is near... the
second coming of Jesus could happen any minute. They view this as something that
cannot be stopped. Well, I’m just crazy enough to believe Jesus doesn’t WANT to
return to the earth until he absolutely has no other choice. There are still far
too many people who can be reached and changed by love before... the end. I
think he would be totally ECSTATIC in his place in heaven... maybe even do a
joyous back-flip or two... if we could find a way to prolong the prophecied day
of mass killing and destruction by bringing PEACE to this world of ours while we
are living here. If the whole “Battle of Armageddon”/doomsday thing is an
inevitable part of mankind’s history, then let it happen to some other future
generation. There are far too many peace-loving people in every nation... common
folk as we may be... who can reverse the out-of-control trends we see today!
The only tool I have that can extend my voice beyond the borders of my little
everyday existence is the internet. I have been absolutely blown away when I
study the stats of my website. Gay men from countries all around the world visit
the site every day... even from places in the world where internet access is
quite restrictive. And sometimes they find a way to email me. This is the arena
where I can promote love, peace, respect, and acceptance to other fellow gay
brothers in the international community. They touch me... I touch them... and in
some warm way a new understanding and appreciation is born, melting away all
borders. It may not be a huge contribution to the world crisis, but it’s all
I’ve got. One gay man at a time.
Before he crossed the globe to live with me, my partner Bouy discovered my
website in his homeland of Thailand. One thing led to another, and here we
are... together. International intercourse in every which way going on in my
home now, if you know what I mean.
Throughout the Gospels of the Christian Holy Book, Jesus taught that becoming as
trusting, loving, and forgiving as a little child was the key to true greatness.
Become a baby raccoon... or a naive turkey chick... and follow the path of love.
Trust it. Different worlds can be brought together in harmony under this
philosophy. Walk cautiously and with wisdom. Know what dangers lie ahead and
premeditate peaceful circumventions. The path will not always be smooth and not
every step will be met with instant success... but in the end... if we keep
walking... ultimately, love conquers all.
-
"When a man’s ways please the Lord,- He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him"
- (Proverbs 16:7)
