In Which She Stands Shyly at the New Post.....

The thing is, well, here is the thing, it's not as if I ever have anything of import to impart so if we take that as a given then I will not disappoint my Reader. 

There are various things that are free-ranging around the inadequately fenced off space that passes (just) as my mind.  One is, I have to say, Crows.

CROWS:      There are many things about Crows that I find of interest.  They are, as is relatively well known, extremely intelligent.  Yes, the Crow is up there with Chimps and Dolphins with regard to brain size ratio - they are uber adaptable - again, up there with the Rat and the Cockroach.

They bear Grudges.  There have been tests by people in California that prove that not only do Crows recognise individual humans - they pass on knowledge down the family and generational line regarding individual humans. 

The more I find out about this member of the corvine species the more I like them.  Which is why.......

when my youngest spawn came back distraught  after running an errand for a friend's mother with the following tale, I was, let's just say, somewhat depressed...

The two boys were shown a cage by the farmer which contained two crows.  The farmer undid the cage and picked out one of the crows.  Stroked it.  Gave it a drink of water..... and then he looked at the two lads and said "I hope you boys aren't squeamish".  He then dashed the creature's brains out on a nearby rock.  The crow took several whacks before it died by which time blood was "everwhere" and the crow left watching the whole thing from the cage was "frantic".

What am I supposed to do with this information?  I know all about the relationship that farmers have with the Crow - I know crows eat the free range eggs that they find - I know that they eat the corn that the farmer grows... historically I understand that this pisses off the farmers. ..... but still and all - even given all that.... why did the guy wait until two young lads were there before he did this?  I have to say I have thought as long and hard as I can about the whole incident and can offer no explanation other than thats "the way they do it here". However, I wish he had waited for the kids to go back down the drive... I am not even going to enter into the debate about the act of culling in the first place, other than to wonder if there would not be a less horrendous way to cull?

What was the purpose of doing this in front of the crow's mate?  Was he trying to "send a message"? 

The whole thing illustrates the uneasy relationship that I have with the "countryside".  They say "When in Rome do as the Romans Do....."  well, what if the Romans are doing shit stuff?  How far does one compromise one's own sense of values and self integrity?  I recall some psychological experiment that was conducted in the 60's (I think) where some actors took people off the street, or from university and posing as scientists instructed the students to administer electric shocks to a person (an actor unbeknown to the student) who was strapped to an electric chair..... almost all of the students did actually administer "lethal" shocks to the chair when instructed to do so by a figure of authority. 

It seems to me extremely important that each and every one of us holds onto our basic humanity.  Just because you are told to do something it doesnt make it right.  Just because that is what everybody else does doesnt make it right either. 

I think it is very tricky trying to steer a path through morality and individual codes of values. It is very hard to know how to impart the "right" values to one's children.  It is hard to even know, sometimes, which are the "right" values.... however, I believe that we must keep trying.  Preaching tolerance is good up to a point but where is that point and what do you do when you reach it......?

There.  I told you I had nothing of any import to impart.   What do you want?  A bloody recipe for crow pie?