A Language Older Than Words Ch. 1,2 and 3

From my initial exposure to Derick Jensen's A Language Older Than Words, it seems as if the text is going to make me (and anyone else reading it) really question the blind eye we have turned to things in society. Right off the bat Jenson attacks "schooling and other forms of socialization" for diluting ones perception. The approach he takes bounces from historical references, like Descartes, to personal stories, like his conversations with coyotes, to straightforward discussion of an issue. Since the reading was conveniently divided into three chapters, I will give a brief synopsis of each, and then I will discuss the impact of A Language Older Than Words as a whole.

The first chapter, entitled "Silencing" opens with a discussion of how the world is filled with the lies. The role of these lies is disguise and thus allow deplorable acts. Jensen then continues on to discuss how the world's conversation ( between the trees, animals, and stars) was audible as a child, and yet slowly began to fade away. This talk of silence quickly turns to real world examples: we choose to forget violence or to not acknowledge the pollution around us. Our reasoning behind this is that they are "too horrific to comprehend." When Jensen was a child, he turned to the stars to combat this apparent ignorance. They in turn told him that the world wasn't as it was supposed to be, and that he would survive this. As Jensen grew old and learned more, he came to a bold conclusion that combats the commonly accepted ideals of Rene Descartes. This conclusion was that existence was self proving (I exist therefore I exist). The chapter closes with several more examples of personal and global disillusion. Jensen's only solution to the world's constant erosion: learning how to listen.

The second chapter, entitled "Coyotes, Kittens, and Conversations" starts off with a story about how Jensen had a successful conversation with a group of coyotes, deterring them from massacring his chicken population. The discussion that follows addresses the fact the world is set up in a way that as soon was humans understand something, we exploit it. Jensen finds this horrifying and wrong. The rest of this chapter alternates between examples/anecdotes about humans raping the world and its inhabitants and more about Jensen's ability to talk to animals. The conclusion that he draws is that conversations with nature are feasible and necessary for humans to exist in harmony with the world around them. Unfortunately though, Jensen points out that the state of the world is anything but harmony. Indians are massacred, children are beaten, and the land is devastated all under the lie that it is necessary and right.

The third and final chapter in the assigned reading is called "Taking a Life". Jensen opens this chapter with a question that the readers themselves might have been asking: how is it right that you slaughter the chickens yourself? He goes through a brief encounter where he was forced to kill one of his favorite ducks. He warned the fowl that the next bird to force himself on a hen was going to lose his life. This particular duck did so, and was forced to face the consequence. In respectfully giving this bird time to think about his death, Jensen comes to the realization that just like sex, violence is a very intimate relationship. Both are deeply emotional experiences and thus inspire similar responses: intimacy.

Similarly to articles in the past, this reading from A Language Older Than Words Evoked good and bad emotions. It was definitely interesting and powerful to hear about Jensen's success in talking to nature, but on the contrary it was troubling to hear how the world is just a series of lies that hides atrocities. First I'll focus on the positive response. What I learned from these three chapters is that if one is able to get over the common misconception that "listening to the land is a metaphor" then one can start to uncover some very important truths in the world. These truths are typically disguised by lies that humans have created, but if you can cut through the crap then you can develop an extremely deep solidarity with the world. Now in contrast, I'll highlight the bad emotions it brought out. They are best expressed in rhetorical questions. Have I too been raping the land and its resources? Do I marginalized and condemn entire groups of people? Do I justify my own wrongs with lies? I think it is clear that the reading had positive and yet adverse affects on my life.

These first three chapters of A Language Older Than Words (and probably the entirety of the book) tie in wonderfully with all of the articles we have read on nature. In light of available time and space I'll highlight one. Looking back at "A Blizzard Under the Blue Sky" by Houston in Literature and The Environment, there are some subtle but important similarities. For example, Houston speaks from the point of her dogs on several occasions. This may seem irrelevant to Jenson's message, but on the contrary, it is pivotal. Houston had a connection with her dogs that was so strong that she felt like she could speak as if she were actually them. This definitely implies a form of communication between human and animal that is right in line with what Jensen exhibits. A connection is how nature changed both authors understanding of the world. Houston learned through extreme weather that life was not as bad as it seemed; Jensen learned trhough communications with a chicken that violence, sex, and intimacy are all connected.

Ultimately, Jensen's message in these first three chapters is applicable across the board. It is clear to me now that our society is filled with liars and frauds, all of which are hiding horrific realities. I intend to combat these lies, whether it be in regards to human treatment of animals or equal rights (not just implied, but acted on) for all people. The other important message that I gained, and consequently will apply from this reading, is that there is without a doubt a language that can be spoken between man and nature. The results of such conversations are ultimately positive because they develop a unity between populations that had previously been isolated. Through personal stories, empirical facts, and interesting metaphors, Jensen puts forth many visionary ideals. With hard work and some overhaul of previous conventions, I will apply them to my life.

Questions:

Were the conversations with these animals and trees verbal or implied?

What does the connection between sex and violence really mean?

How do we cut through the lies? Does it matter that the world will probably never be able to do it as a whole?