I overheard an interesting response lately when someone I know mentioned the the plight of the polar bears because of the ongoing global warming crisis. Another persons response was that polar bears need to adapt, that's how natural selection works. Needless to say this is not really the reaction the other person was looking for but I think it is an interesting point nonetheless.
This brought the following question to mind: What would Darwin think about various species not being able to adapt to global warming? Or any man-made situations for that matter? Is it really our fault if the spotted owl can't learn to shop in a strip mall? Isn't "survival of the fittest" really the cornerstone of the natural selection theory? From what I understand, natural selection ensures betterment of the worldwide species gene pool by making sure those more likely to suceed will survive. Just nature's way of making us all stronger and more efficient. Does the world really need a bunch of pansy polar bears that can't conform? I think Darwin would probably say, "Put up or shut up." Or something like that. Or maybe not.
Although, in the end, I imagine humans will probably end up finding themselves on the same endangered species list if they are not more careful. And they will probably have no one but themselves to blame with their reckless practices. But hey, that's natural selection, right? Isn't this behavior what got Charleton Heston into such a predicament in all those "damn, dirty ape" movies in the first place? Personally, my money's riding on the cockroaches to ultimately end up winning this whole survival of the fittest game. Except if that's the case I probably won't be able to enjoy the payoff since the cockroaches will be the only ones left.
Well, maybe also the dolphins, who will probably have nothing to say except:
"So long, and thanks for all the fish."
from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
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