Eat Me! My Thoughts About Cannibalism

Right now I’m watching the making of Rammstein's Mein Teil music video in YouTube. Great video, awesome song. Which brings me to reflect on cannibalism.

Cannibalism is a topic that is very sick and grotesque which makes it equally interesting. If we look beyond the gore and carnage, it’s intriguing to think of what compels a person to butcher and consume another human being. Of course there is the wide known practice of some tribes in Papua New Guinea, there is also this story about a rugby team whose plane crashed in the Andes but my favorite one is the incident in Jamestown back in the old days where “A man, his mind unhinged by slow hunger, killed his wife, salted and powdered her and has eaten a part of her before it was known for which he was hanged.” It kept me thinking and imagining for like an hour after reading that quote.

In my opinion, cannibalism is deeply rooted to our survival instinct. (See my previous post for further discussion) That and insanity. I find it really interesting; the event when a person is consumed by insanity but still has the most basic impulse of surviving. And minus the morality and rational thinking that comes together with sanity, everything goes.

Another thing that I (and others, I’m sure) connect with cannibalism is the fictional concept of zombies. Zombies for me are very fascinating creature. Besides the fact that they rise from the dead, I’m amazed by the fact that they still have the instinct to subsist thus bringing in the munchies.

But the main reason why I’m captivated by the idea of cannibalism is the fact that it reflects the extremes that humanity in general is capable of doing in order to survive. In my previous post I babbled about how humanity will do whatever it takes to keep living even if it will bring suffering to others. Cannibalism, my friends, for me is the best example. It’s survival in its most primal form. When everything, every minor bullshit that we hold sacred and consider important is lost in the face of starvation, all bets are off. I will fucking kill you, eat your meat, drink your blood and pick my teeth with bits of your bones when I’m done.

Violence is Life's Nature

Conflict, war, fighting, human strife. Can’t humanity just get along and live in harmony? Is there no end to war and suffering? Will we ever achieve world peace?

The answer my friends is no, no and NO. Violence, in the purest sense of the word is natural. Life (I mean everything alive) is programmed to seek solutions to its needs. This ability is better known as the SURVIVAL INSTINCT. Living things, regardless of intelligence, seek food, shelter, territory, dominance etc, to keep living. This is hardwired to all creatures the ever evolved, from the smallest speck of bacteria to the tallest of trees. And if the need that a creature well, needs is limited, he is compelled to take aggressive actions to have it for himself.

Grade School Science: there are four types of relationships in nature:

1. Mutualism – one benefits as much as the other.

2. Commensalism – one benefits while the other is not bothered.

3. Parasitism – one benefits while the other is bugged.

4. Competition – Creatures slug it out to survive.

Now the fourth can be down right violent. Dogs kill for a tasty slab of bone. Walrus bulls shed blood and blubber for control over the harem. Hyena packs go to war for hunting territory.

Are we so different? Are we, the most intelligent creatures alive exemptions to the rule? What do you think?

Isn’t the Korean War simply the struggle between two groups over territory? Isn’t the Cold War the same as two hostile lion prides? Isn’t the Nazi occupation of Europe the same as termites expanding their hill?

Minus the technology, war and conflict is simply another form of competition in nature. Although the level of intelligence that is unique to us enables us to find non-violent solutions, if all else fails, we will pick up guns and shoot the other bastards.

To achieve peace (in a personal level at least), we should accept and live with the fact that it is as fragile as silence. We should anticipate violence rather than despise it. Only then will we be able to cherish the few moments of serenity that we stumble upon.

Si vis pacem, para bellum

"If you wish for peace, prepare for war"