Reading up on articles for my home exam, due in a week, I came across “Lunch With a Turtle Poacher“, a surprisingly moving article that relates a story of Gordo, a turtle poacher that converted into a key helper in conservation efforts for the same turtles.
It contained for me not only tough insights into the complexity of such problems, but also invaluable lessons in why it is precisely that complexity that needs to be embraced if things are ever going to make real, transformative progress.
“It’s very complex” has become almost like a standard, throwaway catchphrase we use as an excuse to not dive deeper into an issue when it feels beyond our current means or understanding. I’ve noticed myself developing a subtle cringe every time I hear it. Yes, it is complex, now how do we deal with that?
The story of Gordo also provides lessons that extend to what I’m seeing on my facebook feed right now: more and more of my friends sharing their MeToo and IHave statuses.
Consider this quote in that light.
Gordo is on our minds. We don’t see him as the enemy. We see him as one of the people we must find a way to work with. We must let him see a way he can benefit from listening to our view of how the world is changing; but to do that, we need to understand his world and its practical constraints. Where there is adequate law and adequate enforcement, one can afford to fight opponents, to report crimes, to litigate. For all the rest of the world, our shared humanity is our only hope.
We cannot afford to see people as opponents—especially not those who oppose us. The conservation community can’t afford to draw lines in the sand. Seeing people as enemies distorts them into something both bigger and smaller than they really are. We must embrace our enemies, look into their eyes long enough to see ourselves. Then we can begin talking. Some people make this easy; others, difficult. Some of those who make it difficult are on our side. The barriers have to go. In a world of hurt and need, what choice is there? On paper, Gordo is a monster, but when he’s sitting there in front of you, he’s a sad person with a problem to solve and limited options. – “Lunch With a Turtle Poacher“, Nichols & Safina, 2004
I hope this finds you well, and that it stirs some compassion along with hope for the future, even the near months as winter draws near.
