Weaponized Part II
To think the thought of weaponized Nature is to entertain dissonance of heretofore contradictory ideas. Nature is conceived as the totality of a life supporting, living context that common sense tells us that we are a part. A weapon is a human artifact created for the purpose of taking life. For humans life is precarious on many accounts, and sometimes survival can only be achieved by the use of a weapon. That being said we easily forget that weapons are a sad necessity. We collectively celebrate our war-making prowess, showing appreciation for our weapons. Such public rituals are frequent and are labeled as patriotism.
Certainly the fusion of Nature and lethal purpose is a disturbing idea. The thunder of last nights storm reminded me of a visit to Gettysburg many years ago. I walked the Confederate line of battle in the quiet morning sunlight without distraction of other visitors. I viewed the battery of 12 pounder Napoleons, General Longstreet’s guns that shelled the Union infantry prior to Pickets charge. The Union soldier could only lay flat on his stomach, face into the earth, as the air above him filled with shrapnel (iron splinters), hoping to be untouched at the end of the cannonade.
A weaponized Nature is going to be like that. Individual survival is going to be a matter of luck. Our engineering prowess, our water management systems, our heating and cooling systems will be no match for weather extremes of flood, drought, heat, and cold.
