Immoral Exceptionalism | Teen Ink

Immoral Exceptionalism

March 7, 2010
By kadyladystone SILVER, St. Petersburg, Florida
kadyladystone SILVER, St. Petersburg, Florida
7 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
Only in the presence of nature may one find Heaven on Earth.


Sometimes I wish I weren’t part of the human species, for I am ashamed of what it’s done to the earth, to home. We forget that it is not just for our use, we forget that other innocent animals call this their home as well, and because of this, we forget to share. One of the first things a child learns, whether in home or at school, is how to share. We share with each other, despite differences in skin color, ethnicity, gender, religious belief, age, political affiliation, educational background and more. Why don’t we apply a similar logic to sharing the earth with all of nature’s creatures? Many people would argue that humans don’t have to, that we are here to govern over how the world works. They would also defend the idea that we are exceptional compared to all other species because of our ability to have morals.
I beg to differ. We pollute, and know it’s bad because we can see the effects, yet we continue to do it. We cut trees, whole forests, down selfishly, and most of us never think twice about recycling when throwing any form of paper or cardboard into the garbage. We litter our oceans with our waste, where the fish we eat are the same ones that eat our trash, mistaking it for food, which puts a whole new meaning to not s****** where you eat. We steal from, murder, and gamble with nature. We may have some sense of morality, but claiming the title “exceptional” would be lying to ourselves, and furthermore, immoral. I will not deny that there have been many exceptional thoughts and actions from the human species, but looking at the damage we’ve done and continue to do, I’d say that we’re not so exceptional after all. The blood on our hands is there as evidence, and although it can’t be washed clean, it can show us where we went wrong.



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This article has 5 comments.


on Apr. 25 2010 at 5:28 pm
kadyladystone SILVER, St. Petersburg, Florida
7 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
Only in the presence of nature may one find Heaven on Earth.

Of course there may be more trees now than in 1900, because in 1900, we had just finished the era of deforestation for timber.  But no one knows exactly for sure how many trees there were before deforestation. Sure, we've replanted trees since then, but how do we know if there's been any net gain?  

And as far as what I wrote in "Immoral Exceptionalism" dealing with deforestation, I'm not just talking about the U.S.  Worldwide, we have less trees than we used to at any point in history.  Scientists are now predicting that the Amazon could become like the Sahara if we (globally) continue in this fashion.  

The fact that the U.S. may have more trees now than in 1900 doesn't say much.  So what, we've been planting more trees and giving back every so often to national parks or other areas that were originally in abundance of trees before we arrived here?  Like I said, most people don't think twice when they throw something away, nonetheless think to recycle it instead, especially when it comes to paper/cardboard.  That was my point. 


on Apr. 25 2010 at 9:21 am
dragonbiscuits SILVER, Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7 articles 1 photo 53 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You cannot acheive peace with violence" -several people

Of course trees are a renewable resource; if our rate of consumption is greater than that of the rate of growth, there will be a horrific decline of trees.

Also, even thought I don't have the exact numbers, there is a significantly less amount of forests today then there was a hundred years ago.  Where, exactly, are these trees you speak of? Are they very young and in greenhouses and nurseries, instead of in forests? 


on Apr. 25 2010 at 4:56 am
Treefiddy BRONZE, Tarzana, California
1 article 0 photos 158 comments

There are more trees now than over 100 years ago. It is a renewable resource.

I have to say this whenever somebody brings up that we are depleting our supply of lumber.


on Mar. 11 2010 at 1:55 am
kadyladystone SILVER, St. Petersburg, Florida
7 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
Only in the presence of nature may one find Heaven on Earth.

Thanks so much! :)

on Mar. 10 2010 at 5:50 pm
dragonbiscuits SILVER, Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7 articles 1 photo 53 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You cannot acheive peace with violence" -several people

*claps* This was fantastic! You said a lot in just a small amount of text! I wish there were more people like you, the world would be a much better place!