What separates man from animal? ( Archived) (51)

There may be many things but I think two very important ones might top the list.

1. Man's capacity for compassion; a very powerful and positive trait that helps us work together to achieve mutual good and mutual goals.

2. Man's capacity for self-pity; a very detrimental and destructive trait that can cause people to wallow in the mire of their own failures and set a course for self destruction.

Man's willingness to come to the aid of others is a powerful and noble thing. Man's willingness to wallow in self pity for any perceived injustice or arbitrary assignment of unfairness is a huge handicap. I think that somehow they are linked, but if we could only find a way to enhance the former while eliminating the latter, we'd be so much farther ahead.

Animals can take all manner of "insults, injustice and unfairness" and just move right along and continue to look after themselves, seeking better opportunities and merely learning from their mistakes. If only people could do that, their ability to overcome adversity with a "can do" attitude instead of an "I can't" blockade would empower them to overcome the tramuas that life dishes out.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTT..... Birds are also animals. See the producer backstage on your way out for a year's supply of Spam as a consolation prize.

Read it all before you HOWL!

Actually Elephants have been show to show very human like compassion, and to be not just be fearful of death, but to know when it will happen and to make preparation for it.