Jerry said:
"Get a life. People and the environment are dying.
Bottom line:
Can/will (US in particular and the world in general) society offer legislative(actual) morality and/or a totally just/comprehensive way to protect orchid plant/habitat? If one agrees 'No,' then what are we morally compelled to do? Dare I suggest --- Stop philosophical and moralistic crap --- do something."
First of all, don't get me wrong, doing stuff rocks. All hail doing stuff! But let's not forget why we're here, which is to talk about stuff. You are engaged in talking about stuff right now. And talking about stuff is an intregral part of doing stuff. Talking about stuff can change how we think about stuff, which affects how we see the world and affects what we do.
Laws do not exist in order to tell us what we can or cannot do, they are a reflection of what we believe we should or should not do. They are a compromise of what we believe and are inherently moralistic. I'm glad murder is illegal. I think it is a bad thing. I think it is in our best interest that it is considered wrong, and I'm really glad that most other people feel that way too.
Similarly, I think preserving wild orchid populations and their habitat is a good thing. Unlike murder, I'm not sure I know why I think it is a good thing. To me, an orchid in wild is just an abstract concept, and I'm not likely to go and see it. It's probably because thinking about that imaginary orchid in the wilderness makes me feel good, and I sure do like feeling good. Maybe I have simply developed sympathy for these living things in my home which I have chosen to be responsible to, and by extention its kin. I don't know. Other people obviously think the same thing, maybe for a reason, and maybe for a different reason. CITES is a reflection of that belief. And this is the place to talk about how effectively it does that. This is a matter that concerns us. This digest, CITES and the Law are means by which how what we think and feel are manifested in the world. They will always fall short, so let's discuss how we can try to make them better, and by extention make us and our lives better.
Like the the orchid species in the wild and those in our livingrooms, thinking, talking and doing stuff are situated on a spectrum and not divisible from each other. They are simultaneously not the same thing and the same thing. Several people right now are writing letters to the Miami port authority, some people are protesting war, some are protesting against the protestors. We are here to talk about orchids and relating issues. So let's talk:
My Dendrobium Stephen Batchelor is very slowy opening up, and my Gongora grabatulunda is getting ready. I can't wait to smell it for the first time.
Michael
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