I had been growing in peaceful darkness in what seemed like eternity. As I became more complete and my brain more developed, I began to wonder what it would be like outside the perfectly contoured, protective walls of my home – which humans call an egg-shell. Suddenly, I felt a piercing ray of light penetrate my delicate eyes through a crack in my temporary dwelling. I immediately felt a strong urge to come out of my shell, to see the outside world. I pushed against the shell walls with my damp wings and beak. Sensing this, my Mom took me under her wing, where it felt safe and warm. I also realised that I wasn’t the only chick. I soon became part of a chorus shrieking for food. “Be patient,” said Dad; ”Learn to share,” said Mom; “Remember, we doves are a sign of peace,” said Grandpa. The worms, nuts and fruits thrust into our eager mouths were refreshing - in fact exotic, especially after the boring diet of yolk and albumen given to us while we were ‘interns’. As we became stronger, we slowly learnt how to fly, jump, flap…and crash! The last was the result of my first solo attempt. But Mom and Dad were always inspiring us, saying, “We know you can do it” and “Keep trying, don’t give up.” And what an exhilarating feeling it was when I mastered the technique and ‘earned my wings’ as a full-fledged flyer. Soon I was allowed to make ‘sorties’ on my own. One day I soared high in the sky and realised that the world wasn’t just our forest. I noticed different kinds of feathered friends and four-legged creatures, big and small. As I flew further South, I observed that the beautiful green trees began to thin-out and so did the sweet, fresh air that I had grown accustomed to. But my curiosity led me on. The smoky, foul air soon made me choke, cough and sneeze, but I maintained my bearings. Soon I saw great, big geometric nests that had over-sized pigeon-holes, with two-legged, feather-less creatures going in and out of them. While none of them could fly, they walked without stumbling. I learnt later from Mom and Dad that they call themselves humans and their nests are made of bricks and concrete. Many humans together moved in contraptions that had four rounded black legs that rolled. I was told that these were automobiles, which run on fuel that is polluting. Many humans also travelled together inside long mechanical centipedes, which moved on tracks. I was told that they are trains. I also saw huge, noisy, mechanical, feather-less birds, which flew humans at high speeds…without flapping their gigantic wings! On the whole, my first view of the human jungle was both exciting and frightening...an awesome experience.
I became eager to learn more about these humans, whose nests were bigger and stronger than ours and who could fly higher and faster than us ‘real’ birds. I started to ask a lot of questions. I was taught that in the process of evolution, humans came last on earth, having evolved from monkeys. I thought that was a good joke; it did not need a dove feather to tickle me! While the Creator chose to make humans physically weaker than many creatures, He also made them much superior in brain power. This brain power was meant to help improve the humans’ quality of life - or ‘civilization’ as they arrogantly call it. I felt insulted when I heard that humans with less intelligence are called ‘Bird Brains’. Sadly, some humans have rendered many birds and animals, and flora and fauna, extinct. They stuff some of us as trophies, to boast about their hunting exploits. Many humans put us in cages to gape at us. What have we done to deserve this? Grandpa also told me that many humans have committed inhuman deeds, by abusing their brain power. They are human but not humane. They have the audacity to call themselves Mankind. They may be ‘man’, but can also be ‘un-kind’. They seem willing to do anything to satisfy their greed for wealth and power. They hurt and manipulate even their own kind for their selfish goals. They legitimise genocide by calling them Holy Wars. Some humans have no qualms in damaging the environment, justifying it in the name of industrial development and progress. Such humans have obviously disregarded the teachings of their wise ones, and have stifled their own consciences. They don’t realise that with their ‘sophisticated’ weapons of mass destruction and polluting practices (monkey business), they have put their own brainy race on the ‘Endangered Species’ list! I wonder how the Creator will deal with them on Judgment Day.
Reflecting on the misdeeds of these humans and after tasting their polluted rivers and breathing - or rather choking - on their concrete urban air, I felt really down. I turned my beak up towards the Creator, asking if there was any hope. A few days later I descended on a beautiful park, which was etched and landscaped between the concrete nests. I got a whiff of the peanuts that were being scattered on the manicured grass by a kind old human along with her grand-chick. At first I hesitantly pecked and munched a few. The human chick called out to me in a friendly tone, “Eat, birdie, eat”; and before long my confidence grew and I was literally eating out of their hands. The two had warmed my little heart. I expressed my thanks through a tuneful whistle and a chuckle, and by donating my most treasured feather to my new friends. Having satisfied my hunger, I performed a few loops and aerobatic tricks to entertain these kind souls, and then flew off to see if there were any more humane humans. After a while I saw a fountain at the other end of the park, and decided to quench my thirst. As I was sipping the cool water I saw that a large group of a mix of humans had gathered nearby. They were holding a huge banner that said (yes, I can read!): ‘Peace For All - Save The Planet - Preserve Wildlife’. They displayed a huge picture of my look-alike carrying an olive branch. These experiences filled my heart with inspiration and joy. With the sun about to descend, to light up another part of the earth, I flew full throttle back to our cozy nest. I gathered the entire family and confidently announced, “Do not despair, there is hope for us all. There are many humane humans who care!”
Read More...