Interview with a Primate:Part 1

This interview took place in 2009. The primates words have not been altered in anyway, however grunts, howls and hisses have been skipped for practical purposes.

Dr. H: Mister Chimp, so thankful for the oppurtunity. I know you are elusive and your time is valuable. 

Mister Chimp: This is true, but a journalist such as yourself deserves such an opportunity. I don't sit down often, but I've read your work and I very much enjoy it. I especially enjoyed the piece you wrote on inter species mating. Had I the chance to vote, my ballot for the Pulitzer would have had your name on it.

Dr. H: Thats very kind of you. You share the same opinion as a lemur i spoke with recently. But enough with the pleasantries, lets peel away the bark and expose your rings.

Mister Chimp: Gladly...

Dr. H: In your experiences with humans, what is the most shocking aspect of their behavior?

Mister Chimp: Well i must say that the human is a particularly mystifying creature. Its ability to create and destroy so easily is simply awesome. To manipulate your environment so handily is truly an achievement of the species. Though amazing, this does not shock me. Human hands are such nifty devices, technically speaking. That said, I'm not shocked by by such abilities as this is the course of nature. Humans are not the best creature, just the first.

             What is truly shocking to me is the capacity humans have of hurting each other. Not only physically but emotionally as well. Sure chimps fight, wrestle, bite, and even kill at times. But its not personal. Its what we must do , part of our species really. Humans inflict pain for different reasons. Jealousy, greed, rage to name some. Their is no congenital predisposition to emotionally attack another human, but you all do it every day. Some degrade, some embarrass, some insult, some ignore. You all do it in your own way. Some more obvious than others. This confuses me. The chimps are detached. Survival is our objective, and part of our survival is working together. Humans work against each other better than they work together. You have the capacity to feed everybody yet war rages on.When chimps kill its over territorial disputes mainly, and the focus of such disputes is control of various plants and insect swarms. Humans have the capacity to control such matters yet you still destroy and kill. 

             I know humans purposely bring each other down. Emotional warfare plagues your species as much as military warfare. Be it romantic, religious, or philosophical. You have found limitless ways to snipe, and argue and belittle. Discrimination and pettiness infect all your territories. Why hurt the person you love? Why abandon your child? Why embarrass a friend? These things all chip away at the social foundation of the humans. Many people tend to complain the foundation is gone and the structure is beginning to crumble. I tend to agree.

            At times I believe this is the biggest flaw of the humans. Your environment no longer necessitates this 'team spirit' per se, so any semblance of 'teamwork' is evaporating. There will come a time when the humans must work together and when that time comes, sadly, you all may have forgotten how.

to be continued...