UNNATURAL NARCISSISM

FOR THE YOUNG ARCTIC FOX, LIFE AS FAR AS HE CAN 'COMPREHEND' IT, IS GREAT. YET THERE IS ONLY A SINGLE SEASON OF YOUTH. ALL A PUP NEEDS TO KNOW MUST BE GATHERED IN HIS FIRST YEAR OF LIFE BECAUSE THE SURVIVAL RATE FOR WINTERING OVER IN ALASKA IS 50%. THE PLAYWRIGHT WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE WROTE IN HIS PLAY 'CORIOLANUS,' THAT "NATURE TEACHES BEASTS TO KNOW THEIR FRIENDS." RIGHTLY SO, BECAUSE DEATH AWAITS A CREATURE CAUGHT UNAWARES. WITH DNA SUPERIOR TO FOXES WHY CANNOT MAN FROM HIS PERCH HIGHER UP ON THE EVOLUTIONARY LADDER MAKE BETTER USE OF HIS LIFE? WE ARE GENERALLY TOO BUSY TO STOP AND APPRECIATE NATURE, TOO FLUSTERED TRYING TO NAVIGATE VACATIONS AND PAPERWORK, TOO BUSY MAKING AND SPENDING MONEY, TOO WORRIED ABOUT WHEN THE RECORD-BREAKING BASEBALL HIT BY BARRY BONDS AND CAUGHT BY A FAN WILL BE TAXED, TOO LAZY TOO LEARN PROPER PARENTING PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF KITS, TOO IRRESPONSIBLE, IN FACT, TO EVEN CONDUCT TWO-PARENT HOME.

THE ARCTIC FOX MAY NEED TO LIVE AND LEARN FAST, BUT HUMANS ARE SLOW LEARNERS, LIVING AS IF THEY ARE GREAT NO MATTER WHAT CHOICES THEY MAKE.