Reading recent letters to the editor reminds me of taking 50 severely emotionally disturbed and behavior disordered children to the zoo which I did quite a number of times during my 25 years of teaching in public schools. Of course, other adults were along, so I had, really, only my class to deal with: about eight children, ages 5-9. 1. The gorilla exhibit has only one male on display at a time, but a number of females and juveniles. This cuts down on the brachiating and reduces the fights.
2. Some pair of animals will be copulating. This is normally not a subject to discuss with young students, but they ask questions, make observations, and, unfortunately have more information about the various human approaches to this activity than one would hope. One of my students got locked out on the front porch when his mother was “entertaining,” but he watched through the window and regaled my male assistant with the excruciating details. Only professional helpers and disordered persons have any interest in other humans’ sexual behavior unless it 1) personally affects them or 2) creates a panic in the streets.
3. Animals do not seem to be particularly interested in the other species of animals unless the other animal is a natural predator. This is not true of humans (not naturally, anyway). We have God and Mother Nature to thank for this. Humans like to make a big deal out of each other’s sexual orientation, race, culture, etc., but we are actually one species.
4. Animals do not have a general pecking order among themselves. An individual group of, say, chickens, might have some “pecking order.” That’s where the term comes from. This is also distinctive behavior as many humans seem to think they have the right answers for ALL humans. Not so.
5. The zoo relies on donations, taxes, admissions, and sales to fund its programs. The zoo is dedicated to preserving animal species, to caring for them appropriately, and to preserving wild habitat so that animals do not go extinct. Human Presbyterians do not seem to be interested in preventing Presbyterians from going extinct. They squabble, call names, insist on their own way (specifically what St. Paul advises against in 1 Corinthians 13). They do not appear to be consulting the “boss” on this job or listening to the “teacher.”
The Presbyterian Silverbacks are brachiating, trying to control others’ sexuality and, actual being as they try to put into place their own reproduction plans (and they aren’t nearly as good as the zookeepers in that department!). They attempt to control others and power is what it’s all about. Please open your mind, your heart, and your spirit to God. See what God really wants. You might be surprised at how liberal God is. Linde Grace White Cincinnati, Ohio
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