Gary Dickson”s article “Being Human” Jan. 22 was most interesting. However I cannot say I agree with some things from author Chip Walter.
Of the six differences, toes, thumbs, larynx and ability to laugh, cry and kiss, I only agree with the first three.
They may do the latter three in their own way.
Everyone knows animals experience emotions. We”ve seen the drawn, sad faces of our dogs. Courtship of love, the wide-eyed fear of wildlife and slaughterhouse animals, aggression of anger or fear, the cry and quivering of pain, the mourning of loved ones and the smile and tail wag of uncontrollable happiness.
If a dog is smiling but we hear no noise association does that mean they aren”t laughing? Also, I”ve seen elephants in mourning crying real tears.
What about kissing? Because animals don”t French kiss, does that mean they don”t kiss at all? Have you seen two courting birds pecking each others beaks? Could that be kissing?
And communication, agreeably, not sophisticated (at least between animals and humans) but how complex might it be between the animals themselves?
I just thought of the “dumb” animal remarks. I think people say that because animals don”t speak English and those people don”t understand animals.
I”ve read of deer smart enough not to inhabit an area in hunting season, crows and monkeys figuring something out and dogs that count. Most likely they are picking up on the humans thoughts/pictures.
If you think of how words form pictures in our minds it”s easy to understand how animals can read our minds. How does an animal in another part of the house know you”re in trouble and afraid and come to your aid?
Or dolphins appearing to fend off sharks? There”s more to animals (and intelligence) than we realize. The Bible verse Job 12:7-8 says “Ask the beasts and they shall teach thee…”
Another thing to ponder and not posed in Dickson”s column is: Considering God created animals also, do the animals pray?
For creationists, all created life would be capable of communicating with him somehow. If animals do pray, it would be in their own different way.
I believe there is more to animals than we know ? or can know.
We can only guess at some animal mentality functions and if humans fail to understand animal to human communication we are far from understanding the animal mind.
Danielle Holliday
Kelseyville
