I cannot believe there are still allegedly intelligent hominids who cling to the belief that something, or some person, or some tribe, or some nation or some species is exceptional, is unique, is “the only one.” True some things are more one way than most things, one species may be slightly faster or heavier or have a few more teeth…but everything in the real world occurs on a scale or in a complex pattern.
Just now there is research indicating some Neanderthal burials may have included flowers.
Just in my life time we have seen evidence that has put to rest the old myths that only Home sapiens made tools, or had language, or made symbols. I am afraid there is nothing positive that we can claim uniquely for our species, or any of our nations, or smaller groups like tribe or religion or political party. Yes, we do have nuclear weapons that could destroy most life. And we are testing the limits of heating the planet to great risk for all concerned, and those oblivious as well.
We are part of nature and nature has been experimenting randomly for billions of years and will go on until the universe implodes, explodes, reboots or reverts or does all that and more. Nothing, nobody, no thing, no animal, no group is completely and truly exceptional. One might be slightly more red or musical or tall or long-lived than others but it is clearer every decade that much of life, much of the universe, much of whatever gathering you choose, that much of anything shares much of its nature with much else. That much is clear. We can now honestly abandon that BS about “humans are the only animal that…”
We are just another species that needs THIS earth to survive and if we destroy this planet’s life-sustaining nature, we will be just another failed species. Trilobite. Stegosaurus. Dodo. Neanderthal, flowers and all. Atlantis. Sumeria. Scythia. Pompeii. Roman Empire. Inca Empire. Austro-Hungarian Empire. USSR.
Lake Merced, 1868:
San Francisco, 1890:
1897 map:
San Francisco before earthquake:
Cutting through sand hill to make Second Street near Rincon Point, before 1900.
Living with sand after earthquake:
Theodore Wores’ painting of dunes looking across to Lake Merced in early 1900s, lupine in bloom where houses now stand:1914
Lake Merced Boulevard construction:
Richmond District today, note the small pockets of private open space between houses:
Lake Merced today:
ecowise 