War is the genesis of kindness. It is also what saved the human race. Not sure about dogs.
It is thought that from about 100,000 years ago to just 10,000 years ago the human race did not grow or flourish at all. It is believed that 70,000 years ago there were only around 2,000 humans, due to dramatic climate changes at that time. Man was on the brink of extinction.
Then something happened: War. Warfare broke out between various human species, and amongst tribes and groups within the same species. Remember the long war between neanderthals and homosapiens, the war that weredogs and werewolves chose sides in, that wiped out the neanderthals and nearly wiped out werewolves? Do you recall that it was homosapiens' (modern man) greater ability for communication and coordination that likely led to the demise of neanderthals? Part of what drove that superior coordination - the greater ability to develop early small unit tactics, to plan raids and ambushes, to invent more effective and devastating weapons - was the development of strong social bonds and community.
Stronger tribes had an advantage over weaker tribes. It is true today for communities and countries. Strong communities have stronger commitments within those communities. They look out for one another, stand up for one another, help one another out. Therefore, altruism is not a weakness or wasted sentiment.
Hunting parties have better chances of success than lone hunters. Hunters in parties look out for each other. If one gets hurt the others help him back to the cave or village. The loss of a hunter is a loss to the tribe.
It is the same in war, even today in war. In combat soldiers are bound to the others in their squad, their platoon, their crew, their tribe. Often soldiers sacrifice themselves to save their comrades. It has always been so throughout all wars. Such bonds are seen everywhere, not just with soldiers. You see them in churches and sports teams and neighborhoods and the list goes on. It all depends on who each of us identifies with, how we define ourselves.
Who each of us thinks of in terms of "us" is very important.
Do you also remember all those mass extinctions that have occurred over the past 500 million years, and how half of all living creatures, then living, were lost in 5 of those mass extinctions? We have no idea what other species we have fought across the eons to stay alive. Climate has wiped out many species. But warfare and hunting have taken their fair share. Is that shocking? Maybe. But fighting and hunting have, until very recently, been essential to keeping mankind off the endangered species list, and dogs too. Can't do either of those activities without killing.
Was out again last night. Warin and I did some snooping around. I got home an hour before dawn. Drank 2 of Jack's beers. He didn't notice this morning. The real danger in that is that he will suspect the boys, which is logical. I would hate that.
I plan to sleep most of the day on my favorite couch. Sherry will know, from my hair, and she will yell at me. I don't care. I need some good rest.
Chester
chester.weredog@gmail.com
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