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Guest column Ecovangelism: Is Animal Planet the next PTL?
November 27, 2003 A common complaint of both Creation Science and Christian television is that these epistemological modalities seek to propagate a particular viewpoint. Secular documentarian programming, on the other hand it is argued, is neutral in regards to the presentation of the facts without the imposition of any bias upon them. However, viewers need to do nothing more than turn on their televisions to see this assertion has to rank among the greatest sitcom gags of all time. On Animal Planet's "King Of The Jungle," contestants culled from a number of animal care occupations compete for the prize of hosting their own program on this popular network. In pursuit of this goal, aspirants must navigate "Survivoresque" obstacles to prove how these Marlin-Perkins-wannabes will fair in actual wildness situations. The skills of participants are critiqued by famed wildlife cinematographers such as Jeff Corwin and Nigel Marvin. As renowned chroniclers of the natural world, one would assume those claiming to adhere to the rigors of science would endeavor to base their assessments on impartial criteria. But in the final analysis, these naturalists are as opinionated as the most rapid Fundamentalist firebrand, regularly veering from knowledge to ideology without a moment's hesitation. In response to one contestant who quipped in improvisation about elephants how these pachyderms often destroy their own habitats, Nigel intoned with an authority reminiscent of Moses descending Sinai that one was never to blame the animal since man is perpetually at fault for encroaching upon the natural world. One wonders where human beings are suppose to live. While the rest of us are suppose to subsist beneath a pile of leaves, I some how doubt these celebrities abide by the same hunter-gather standards their environmentalist ilk endeavor to impose upon the rest of us. Such ecological posturing extends beyond the realm of idle opinion to craft a comprehensive religious outlook. Marven later spoke of how the animals ought to be "reverenced." Maybe he can prostrate himself before these critters and sing hymns to them, offer prayers in their honor, and petition them for healing when he is feeling ill (he already seems sick in the head to me). While certain animals can be respected or even admired, shouldn't the reverence these creatures evoke be directed to God alone rather than the animal itself? The problem with such warped thinking is that it eventually comes to impact not only the metaphysical aspects of existence but the practical realities as well. In a special where the contestants were introduced following the premiere episode, one participant insipidly blurted like the airheaded blonde that she was that she did not consider herself superior to any animal. Funny, even the animals don't recognize this lack of hierarchy — ever hear of the food chain? One would think those wanting to continue in the tradition of "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom" would have seen an episode or two. Most environmentalists lack the fortitude to live by their convictions even though they expect you to do as they tell you. This message is propounded so often as dogma that eventually some malnourished eco-knave is going to take it to heart. And unless the less-committed among the movements ranks step forward to refute their own irrational principles, they will have no right to mourn the eventual outcome. In early October, two wilderness enthusiasts devoted to propagating fallacious conceptions of interspecies egalitarianism abruptly realized the natural world is not quite as broadminded when they themselves became the main course for a hungry or startled grizzly bear. Since the duo headed a nonprofit outfit known as "Grizzly People," it's going to be a doozie to explain this grizzly tragedy in the annual fundraising letter. But that said, if human beings really are no better than all the other animals, what then is so sad about the fate of these naive naturalists? One might argue from an evolutionary standpoint that this bear did the gene pool a big favor. While such an incident is unfortunate from a humanitarian standpoint, in a sense these environmentalists got what they deserved since they failed to use the one advantage God gave them or even evolution for that matter if we are compelled to go that route — namely their intelligence and common sense. However, the bigger problem is that these misbegotten souls aren't content ruining their own lives; they won't be satisfied until they have inflicted their insanity upon all the peoples of the earth. Usually, liberals consider savages from less sophisticated cultures as being socially superior to the civilized inhabitants of the West. However, when it comes to actually considering what these groups have learned having to endure such abysmal habitats these self-professed prophets of tolerance and relativism become as condescending as a caricatured missionary when it comes to the catechism of radical environmentalism. For while environmental policy elites jet across the sea consuming fossil fuels and spewing toxins into the atmosphere to attend conferences at exotic resorts where the effete gorge themselves on gourmet delicacies, at these very same convocations these very snobs postulate why the impoverished should be denied the ostentatious luxuries of running water and flush toilets as chronicled at the 2002 U.N. development conference in South Africa. Often as the frontline evangelists of the new eco-faith the hosts of these programs blatantly chastise natives for daring to squash the creepy crawlies that slither into the squalid structures that pass for habitable dwellings in these forsaken areas. One wonders if Nigel or Mr. Corwin would feel so at one with nature if such creatures were hidden under their little ones' beds and poised ready to strike or so eager to block development if one of their wives became a crocodile snack for simply doing the laundry. Wily liberals have had no problem marrying two of their favorite worries in life into the notion of "environmental racism" meaning that ethically precarious corporations and individuals have no problem despoiling areas inhabited by minorities. Why, then, doesn't this concept apply when the ecological vision being imposed prevents the underdogs liberals usually look upon as favored pets from enjoying what we take for granted? These programs serve a purpose beyond chronicling the efforts to convert the eco-heathen to the new envirospirituality. These propaganda films also serve the function of reinforcing the indoctrination underway on the policy and educational levels of American culture. Those controlling the likes of Nigel Marvin and his kindred among the zoologically naive not only want to keep primitives from enjoying advances in technology but would ultimately like to see the standard of living enjoyed by those on the lower to moderate levels of Western society to regress to Third World levels. If we are not careful, "The King Of The Jungle" will end up being more than Animal Planet's entertaining foray into the world of so-called reality television. A moral jungle under the rule of a lawless king is exactly what citizens will end up with if the American people fail to employ a considerable degree of discernment against this pending brave new world. Frederick Meekins is an Internet columnist. His commentaries regularly appear on webpages such as OpinioNet.com, Ether Zone, and AmericanDaily.com. He has also had commentaries published by the Free Congress Foundation and CNSNews.com. Frederick holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and History from the University of Maryland University College and is nearing completition of an MA in Apologetics and Philosophy through the distance education program of Trinity Theological Seminary. In the future, Frederick plans to continue publishing his commentaries and hopefully compile them into a self-published book. His webpage, The American WorldView Dispatch, contains links to news of interest around the Internet. © Copyright 2003 by Frederick Meekins http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/meekins/031127 Recent guest columns by Frederick Meekins:
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