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COUNCIL GIVES ANIMALS THEIR DUE, AND IT WAS THE RIGHT VOTE

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY AUG. 18, 2016) — All life is amazingly complex, capable of more awareness and intelligence than people can know. For example, this week, THE PLANET saw three simple yet defining instances.

First, in this Floridian summer, have you noticed an unusual number of ants milling about? THE PLANET doesn’t know what all the antivity is about, but the ants do. Are they aware? They have to be.

In “Communication,” Lewis Thomas talks about the messages that have to be composed, sent, received, and understood in all insect colonies. Insect societies stratify into different functions.

“Some serve as soldiers, for defending the anthill or hive,” Lewis writes. Others build nests, ventilate and clean, gather food, scout, and so on. “Automatons, we call them, tiny genetic machines with no options for behavior … They communicate with each other with chemical signals.”

This description described but devalues insect behavior. True, they have no choice in the human sense, but that is their strength and beauty. They only have to be what they are, which they do to perfection. They have no decisions to make. People, on the other hand, are “condemned to choose,” as the French writer Jean-Paul Sartre observed. A bee doesn’t have to decide on its beedom. Even a catepillar doesn’t “decide” whether or not be become a moth. THE PLANET sees that as infinitely superior to humans, who are born as nothing.

Ah, that word. Philosophical “nothing” isn’t the same as the every-day “nothing.” The joke about Sartre helps here. He goes into a cafe’ and orders coffee with two sugars but without cream. The waiter comes back with the drink and says, “I’m sorry. We are all out of cream. Will you take your coffee without milk instead?”

Humans are “nothing” in the sense that we aren’t destined to “be” anything in particular. Humans must choose to be this instead of that, to go here rather than there, to do one thing as opposed to another. No wonder life slams us so hard.

The second example came from some humble plants that camped on our stone patio. We have been battling them all summer. The plants have learned. Saturday, getting ready to grill, we noticed how the patio itself was free of grass, sorrel, or plantain shoots. Then we discovered why.

The plants figured out if they root on the patio, they’re going to get plucked. Underneath the Weber, however, they’re safe. There we found a few prepossessing stems, each one making a statement about the “will” to live. We let them be.

Our third case came from a simple house fly. Whenever we see a fly trapped inside, we do our best to free him. Nothing is more pathetic than a fly trying to fly through a pane of glass. It can’t figure out what’s happening.

THE PLANET had been tracking a fly in the dining room. It would buzz frantically around and against the screen door that leads to the kitchen patio. Each time it landed on the screen, we tried to grab it with a sideways swoop. Each time the fly, sensing our move, escaped. After a number of times, we gave up and went into the kitchen.

An awe-inspiring thing then happened.

The fly followed us. It landed on the screen of the sliding door. Gently, we opened the slider. The fly found the opening and freedom.

We had communicated, somehow, with the fly. And no jokes about Vincent Price or David Heddison (“Help me! Help me!”). The fly’s survival mechanism conveyed a form of understanding — which leads us to an action of our Right Honorable Good Friends on the city council.

Councilors voted to ban exhibiting animals for entertainment purposes, with that barbaric antiquity called a circus in the center of the bullseye. Critics lamented that the council “wasted” time on a “trivial” issue when so many other pressing problems awaited (finances and crime).

THE PLANET understands the objection. Nonetheless, given the council’s inability to take up serious matters in ernest, we applaud an issue upon which the right action could be, and was, taken.

Here’s our favorite quote on this matter. We’ve lost track of the author:

We need another and wiser and perhaps more mystical concept of animals. Remote from universal nature, and living by complicated artifice, man in civilization surveys the creature through the glass of his knowledge and see thereby the creature magnified and the whole image in distortion. We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having form far below ourselves.

“And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear.

“They are not brethren. They are not underlings. They are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth.”

—————————————————————————————-

“The maple, moss, and phlox / down on Cedar Lane / circled soothing river rocks / to take away her pain.”Dan Valenti, from “Down on Cedar Lane”

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL

The views expressed in the comment section or opinions published within the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not those of PLANET VALENTI or endorsed in any way by PLANET VALENTI; this website reserves the right to remove any comment which violates its Rules of Conduct, and it is not liable for the consequences of any posted comment as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and PLANET VALENTI’s terms of service.

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dusty
dusty
7 years ago

I wish there were a way to prevent all the killing of animals on the roadways. It gives me such a feeling of helpless sadness that hundreds of thousands of innocent animals are killed every year because they have no idea that blacktop can be death. Talk about senseless slaughter. If there is a God I would think this must make him very angry.

Sanitized For Your Protection
Sanitized For Your Protection
Reply to  dusty
7 years ago

if people really loved animals they would drive anywhere….they would walk.

School Committee
School Committee
7 years ago

Where can you find a good smart responsible person who would understand a voter who is retired on 23 k a year and taxes have taken another 1000k of that in the last 5 years…Mayor Tyer oversees a school department with 1/2 million square feet of brik and mortar to teach 1600 students.
The savings are in getting rid of buildings.

Really?
Really?
7 years ago

Really?

Connell and Rivers think the animals were put on the planet to entertain children. Morandi thought elephants were from Mexico and were better off in cages than in the wild. You can’t make this stuff up.

We should take the three of them and form a thing ring circus. Let’s make them do tricks using a bull hook. Now that would be entertaining for the kids.

Thomas More
Thomas More
Reply to  Really?
7 years ago

Actually they were put on the planet so people could eat them, or better yet, wear them.

Sanitized For Your Protection
Sanitized For Your Protection
Reply to  Really?
7 years ago

Tyer is sticking a bull hook of a tax up your ass and you worry about this crap

Dilly Dally
Dilly Dally
7 years ago

You should see my Elelphant Hat.

Sanitized For Your Protection
Sanitized For Your Protection
Reply to  Dilly Dally
7 years ago

That comment was irelephant.

Wilson
Wilson
7 years ago

Any human animal who doesn’t “perform” for the tax collector is dragged out of his/her shelter and left to die of exposure and starvation. The stakes are too high for the tax-funded council to put on a clown show. This is like dangling a string in front of your cat instead of feeding it, you’d go to jail, and so should these abusers.

Nota
Nota
7 years ago

Anyone hear Trish at the end of the PCTV debate, she states to Bloomberg to get a job doing something other than State Rep. It was a classic.

outfox
outfox
Reply to  Nota
7 years ago

TFB is a waste of space. Bloomberg has my vote. And whatever happened to the young woman, Brittany, who was running for office a few years ago? To paraphrase a famous movie about a guy named Shane: “Brittany. Come back, Brittany.”

Deb S
Deb S
Reply to  Nota
7 years ago

I did! Couldn’t believe she said to him “Learn more about Pittsfield and get a job (can’t remember what type of job she mentioned) and that being a State Rep. is not level entry job and she has the resume!!! I about felt off my chair!!!

Deb S
Deb S
Reply to  Deb S
7 years ago

fell not felt!

outfox
outfox
7 years ago

Off topic but this is really bugging me. How is it that we are so apathetic that we allow the Board of Health to dictate to our local retailers what items they are allowed to sell, AND the price point of certain items? I am referring to the new tobacco restrictions. I have no problem with the 500 foot setback from schools and daycares, but outlawing some of the most popular items sold in our stores, that adds up. But then, by removing those items from store shelves, it will make room for our shopkeeps to stock the even more popular syringes and overdose kits, so I guess that ‘s actually forward thinking on the part of the BOH, just looking out for the little guy like that. Not. I find it ironic that this is “for the children” and their health, yet nary a peep from the BOH about the school we are building on a toxic waste dump.

Dowager Hat
Dowager Hat
Reply to  outfox
7 years ago

According to the venerable Dr. McCandless, the THS is 80% cleaned and no toxins nor PCB’s were found at the site.
This 80% cleansing only cost $700,000 out of a contingency fund. Does anyone know what this contingency fund was budgeted at ?

City Hall Denizon
City Hall Denizon
Reply to  Dowager Hat
7 years ago

No toxins or PCBs at site? Jake is parsing. The site has big problems but it is literally being buried.

Would you believe there is security now there instructed to to keep out nosy reporters They had the planet in mind.

heh heh
heh heh
Reply to  City Hall Denizon
7 years ago

I don’t think they would hire security to guard your basic garden variety dirt pile do you? So it must be a very “special” dirt pile that they don’t want anyone stealing a sample of. Can these guards talk to reporters or have they had their tongues cut out?

joetaxpayer
joetaxpayer
Reply to  Dowager Hat
7 years ago

Believe they budgeted around 3 million for contingency.

southeast
southeast
Reply to  outfox
7 years ago

State law gives the BOH this power.

Most people don’t smoke, so it’s not that us non-smokers are apathetic, we are pretty much good with it.

outfox
outfox
Reply to  southeast
7 years ago

It’s not the scope or the restructions, and the pitential financial impact on local small business owners that does not sit well with me. Smoker or non-smoker is irrelevant.

southeast
southeast
Reply to  outfox
7 years ago

society has said that since the costs associated with smoking far outweigh the per pack profits to the retailer – that we want the product regulated to the point of making sales nearly impossible. the financial impact on the retailer – large, small, local or chain is that eventually, the product will be more difficult to sell and may not be worth it.

These regs are going through nationally. Pittsfield is just one of thousands of communities regulating tobacco sales. Small towns may not be doing it yet, but that day will come soon as well.

If you build your business on a product that kills folks, the business model may not be sustainable.

outfox
outfox
Reply to  southeast
7 years ago

Southeast, thanks for a clear explanation. That shifted my thinking on this matter. I was being a bit myopic and provincial.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  outfox
7 years ago

Sell handguns in liquor stores.

southeast
southeast
Reply to  Shakes His Head
7 years ago

well, maybe not in the liberal commonwealth – but I’m sure it happens.

I wonder if liquor stores will be selling weed when the recreational use question passes?

knows the truth
knows the truth
7 years ago

Yeah sure, get rid of the board of health and leave the health of Pittsfield up to Connell and Mazzeo. You think you have problems now? Remember when there was no BOH? Blight was rampant and nothing was being done for 20 years and ignored. Look at us now.

Nota
Nota
7 years ago

Let me get this straight? (debris)is found in the ground dug up, and the Ity is responsible to remove it?

heh heh
heh heh
Reply to  Nota
7 years ago

I would still like to know where this “debris” came from. Who dumped it there? Who owned the land at the time and gave them permission to dump it? Somebody knows the answer and is keeping a lid on it. More Pittsfield secrets.

Chris Cross
Chris Cross
7 years ago

BoH doesn’t have the resources to combat blight – nor does the Mayor – is a systemic poverty issue – TFB bested Bloomberg this AM –

Lodal Yokel
Lodal Yokel
7 years ago

I thought Bloomberg trounced her. Agree to disagree, maybe it was her hairdo….or his.

Two Cents
Two Cents
7 years ago

How can the city promote an Adam Hinds fundraiser Friday night on its official website city event calendar? This seems to be clear violation of campaign finance laws. But I’m sure some city hall apologist will explain how the law doesn’t apply this time either.

Ichabod Mudd
Ichabod Mudd
Reply to  Two Cents
7 years ago

Chris Connell for State Rep.
Chris Canning for Senate.
Everyone, vote.
Everyone, vote that way.

non pareil
non pareil
Reply to  Ichabod Mudd
7 years ago

I don’t like Connell’s plan to be both a Pittsfield city councilor and a MA state representative. If the city council job isn’t challenging enough for him maybe he’s not doing it right.

Bill Q
Bill Q
Reply to  Two Cents
7 years ago

Yeah

Bill Q
Bill Q
Reply to  Two Cents
7 years ago

terry for mayor!

RobEM
RobEM
7 years ago

One of the speakers in favor of the ban now has Spectrum moving next door to their business. Let’s see if they have the same compassion for their fellow human beings.

outfox
outfox
Reply to  RobEM
7 years ago

I hope she does show that compassion. If ger business isn’t open at 6 a.m. it shouldn’t affect her too much. The September isdue of Esquire has a hell of an article about why heroin is now all over the U.S., and the future of fentanyl. Scary reading.

Shelly Liver
Shelly Liver
7 years ago

Tyer campaigned on a few programs that have not come to pass. One is daycare at the schools, the other Blight. She had to know the BOH had no resources. Charlie Baker is cutting back funding to Cities and Trish is on board with a bunch of communities to get their fare share, it doesn’t make sense, here she is saying we should build the school, otherwise some other community will get it. hen that payment comes up will see how the Mayor deals with it.

Hinds had a moment the other night during his PCTV advertisement, call Franklin County instead of Pittsfield in a priority sentence, a faux pas? Pittsfield should vote Pittsfield, not Franklin County.

School Committee
School Committee
7 years ago

Bloomberg was excellent…Bouvier getting run out of town

Nota
Nota
7 years ago

Bloomberg won the debate. Trish was flat.

southeast
southeast
7 years ago

did you get the point that the surtax was good because it would tax the 8 remaining millionaires out of Pittsfield?

Trish really needs to go.

southeast
southeast
7 years ago

18, sorry

Bill Q
Bill Q
7 years ago

Zero Energy for T- Rish. Dump this Burto clone.

Ichabod Mudd
Ichabod Mudd
Reply to  Bill Q
7 years ago

Trish looked tired and worn out. No spark. Bloom had energy and zip. His ideas were better and he communicated them more effectively.

H
H
7 years ago

Fiddler on the Roof.

School Committee
School Committee
7 years ago

Pat Bouvier believes like Tyer that saying yes to spending is the way to public office. If Bouvier wins just quit voting.PCBS has affected everyone in town and no point in pursuing getting them out.
Pittsfield at this point is not about winning it’s about participation .No one keeps score anymore.Like Trump Pittsfield is good no great.Love Pittsfield every one gets a chance.Trump is to Pittsfield as Pittsfield is toTrump….Trump could do well here.

ShirleyKnutz
ShirleyKnutz
7 years ago

Will the wrestling match scheduled for wahconah park have to be canceled? There will be a bunch of clowns in the ring and aren’t those clowns considered “beasts”?

AlaskanBushClowns
AlaskanBushClowns
7 years ago

Shirley, one of them has a tattoo on his face, for real. he looks like a mean sob….
have there been any house party fund raisers yet? never mind City Hall