We are not so far out of the trees.

Cultures and civilizations have come and gone, each has progressed a bit along the way. But we are not so far out of the trees.

Expecting and extracting a pound of flesh is a time worn standard and not one which will easily disappear. The crimes may change for each of us, but we are all still susceptible to those feelings that call for us to strike back, to retaliate, to take something for our anger and our grief. We are not so far out of the trees.

We still find it difficult to admit we are wrong on many issues because the methods that worked in the past are time honored and play to our instincts. We have grown and prospered, we have continued to evolve. Yet, rights are still only granted if we fight for them daily. Otherwise the rights still go only to the strongest. We are not so far out of the trees.

I want to live to see a time that children are granted the same basic rights to which they are granted as adults. Rights to life, to freedom, to pursuing the joys of life and carrying the responsibility for giving others the same, should be attainable. Freedom from bigotry and hatred will continue to be a goal for our children, possibly theirs. Freedom is still a vision, for it is now only illusory at best. But we can shake the illusion of freedom and go on to enjoy instead its truth and its reality. That time will come if we continue to challenge our beliefs instead of accepting them as law. But the fight will be ours to make and it must continue.

We are not so far out of the trees.

Spaw