Fish Out Of Water

We measure our world by the limits of our knowledge and experience. If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to treat everything like nails. Bigotry, bias, and prejudice are all words that describe this limited view (hammer) each of us tends to embrace and apply.

A dog does not comprehend poetry, nor does an infant calculus. The worlds of the dog and of the child are extremely limited in scope. For the dog it is predominantly genetically determined. Even if a dog would like to understand poetry, it couldn't and will never grow into it either. On the other hand, a child's view of the world can expand continually throughout life. Unfortunately, as we get into our teenage years and become certain that our knowledge encompasses just about all that could be known - certainly more than both parents combined - we become increasingly arrogant, and with this arrogance, closed minded. Intellectual growth can actually stop by about the age of 13, with vocabulary serving as an index of this growth and not increasing significantly for most people after this age.

With that as a preface, let me say that it is easy for us to believe that the world we were born into is the only real world. Fluorescent lights, conditioned air, automobiles, pop, French fries, television, and polyester may seem like the only real and natural world for humans. Without the perspective of history, there would be no way of knowing any differently.

But we do have history. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, which occurred about 200 years ago, we were by and large in an entirely different setting. We spent the majority of our time outside and without any of the modern conveniences and technologies we have come to believe to be as natural and automatic as a tree or the wind.

Our genes, however, are not equally convinced. They remain encoded for the natural world. They are, in fact, an inward definition of the external natural, pre-Industrial, more pristine world.

In this new modern synthetic world we are increasingly alienating our basic biological make up. We are like fish taken out of water.

The accompanying charts demonstrate the dramatic change occurring just in the last 100 years.

(see http://www.wysong.net/images/graph1.jpg)

(see http://www.wysong.net/images/graph2.jpg)

(see http://www.wysong.net/images/graph3.jpg)

(see http://www.wysong.net/images/graph4.jpg)

(see http://www.wysong.net/images/graph5.jpg)

This is only a small representation of the dramatic changes our modern world has produced related just to food. On a broader environmental scale, human activity rivals the natural processes that have built the biosphere. About 40% of the earth's photosynthetic capacity (plant growth) is now appropriated for human use. The biologically available nitrogen and phosphorus used by humans for fertilizer and chemicals about equals the amount produced by nature. We apparently can alter our atmosphere on a global scale (ozone, Chernobyl, greenhouse gases). Huge numbers of species stand on the curling tip of a wave of extinction - and the list goes on.

Though it seems presumptuous to suggest that we, here, now in this generation are unique in all of history, the evidence supports that we are. We are a pivotal generation that can either turn things around or continue to fuel a degrading environmental/health spiral that soon, if unaltered by us, will continue in spite of any efforts we make later to change things.

Scary? Yes, indeed. But we need to get scared if that's what it takes to wake up. We are, without a doubt, a very special generation with the weight of the world's future literally on our shoulders.

Don't despair. You, yes little ole puny you, can do much. Everything ever done always began with one. Act on the things you know to be right, healthy, socially responsible, and environmentally sensitive.

Yes, you. Yes, now. Yes, there is no downside in doing so.

*Further Reading:

The Wysong Optimal Health Program?
What Does Our Genetic Program Say We Should Eat?
The Archetypal Diet
Genetic Context - The Fundamental Key to Health
Look at the Big Picture
Be a Thinking Person
Do Not Let Technology Think for You
Stay Open to Learning - Every Day
Man - The Apex Predator
Humans Are Not Too Puny to Remodel the Whole Planet
Ozone Marks Environmental Threats
Using Intelligence in Food Choices
Are We Healthier?
Scale of Change
We Can Make a Difference
Saving the Environment
Time Compression
Lamenting the Foods of Old
The Wysong Directory of Alternative Resources
Prevention/Therapy Guide

Dr. Wysong is a former veterinary clinician and surgeon, college instructor in human anatomy, physiology and the origin of life, inventor of numerous medical, surgical, nutritional, athletic and fitness products and devices, research director for the present company by his name and founder of the philanthropic Wysong Institute. He is author of The Creation-Evolution Controversy now in its eleventh printing, a new two volume set on philosophy for living, several books on nutrition, prevention and health for people and animals and over 15 years of monthly health newsletters. He may be contacted at Wysong@Wysong.net and a free subscription to his e-Health Letter is available at http://www.wysong.net

Latest News


WELT ONLINE

Europe Looks to Alternative Sources for Energy
Wall Street Journal - 7 hours ago
By GUY CHAZAN As Europe counts the cost of Russia's latest gas shut-off, there are signs it could give a boost to alternative sources of gas that currently ...
Video: Ukraine leaves Europe without gas Gazprom RussiaToday
Europe late with alternative to Russian gas TREND Information
Gas war may boost alternative routes to Europe guardian.co.uk
Canada.com - Los Angeles Times
all 6,035 news articles

CNET News

Linksys offers full wireless alternative to Sonos
CNET News, CA - 11 hours ago
After hinting at a "digital stereo" product in The New York Times last week, Cisco unveiled the details of its Wireless Home Audio System today, ...

Destructoid

The Wand: Nyko announces a high-tech Wii remote alternative
CNET News, CA - 9 hours ago
In an effort to trump the existing Nintendo Wii remote controller, Nyko is introducing what the company is calling the most advanced Wii remote yet. ...
Nyko brings Wand Wii remote, Charge Station EX and Kama Charge kit ... engadget
all 6 news articles

The Market Oracle

Treasury Bond Alternative
Boston Globe, United States - 21 hours ago
"Where should I put my money right now? I don't feel comfortable investing in stocks, and I've heard that Treasury bonds are paying next to nothing. ...
Bonds may be a shield, but they're still risky Gail MarksJarvis Chicago Tribune
Get Out Now! Barron's
Corporate debt's allure Boston Globe
all 381 news articles

Boston Globe

Airlines Search for Alternatives to Oil as Fuel
New York Times, United States - Jan 6, 2009
Pratt, which has tested alternate fuels in its engines, and others in the aviation industry assert that they will pursue alternatives even in a period of ...
Aviation industry strives to find alternative fuels SmartBrief
Air Algae: US Biofuel Flight Relies on Weeds and Pond Scum Scientific American
Algae-Powered Jet Proves Biofuel in Continental Test Bloomberg
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com - Atlanta Journal Constitution
all 227 news articles

Sunrise Solar tapped for alternative energy project in Brazil
Bizjournals.com, NC - 20 hours ago
The project is part of a multimillion-dollar alternative energy development initiative by Brazil which is making a big push to become energy self-sufficient ...
Sunrise Solar to Provide Solar to Brazilian Hospitals istockAnalyst.com (press release)
all 18 news articles

Fuel Systems Solutions to Launch US Automotive Alternative Fuel ...
MSNBC - 16 hours ago
Since the 1960s, Fuel System Solutions' transportation subsidiary, BRC, based in Cherasco, Italy, has been a major provider of alternative fuel systems ...

Alternative fitness routines for the new year
Newsday, NY - Jan 7, 2009
BY JOHN HANC | Special to Newsday What drives the fitness industry? "It's always about 'what's next?'" says Jill Oppenheimer of Hewlett, a former group ...

MTA to consider alternatives for Eastisde Transit Corridor
Los Angeles Wave Newspapers, CA - 8 hours ago
LOS ANGELES — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will consider the adoption of the Eastside Transit Corridor Phase Two Alternatives Analysis study ...

HispanicBusiness.com

Hybrids, alternative fuel cars showcased
Detroit Free Press, United States - Jan 7, 2009
The EcoXperience exhibit will feature about a dozen hybrid vehicles and other vehicles powered by alternative fuels. It will be supported by General Motors ...
Michigan Economic Development Corporation and North American ... PR Newswire (press release)
Try hybrid vehicles at auto show exhibit Detroit Free Press
all 82 news articles

Resources