This morning I received a call from a successful business man, "Bob" an old friend who I haven't spoken to in years. He is deeply immersed in the Nanotechnology trade and I thought our worlds were really too different at this point to have much in common. But you know how it goes - dogs are the natural world's Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon - we had more in common that we realized.
Enraptured, I listened as Bob told me his story, "Last year I was a guest speaker at a Nanotechnology conference in Paris. There were protesters all dressed in black with black hoods. They held signs protesting Nanotechnology as if it were something evil. As we walked into the building they were throwing things at us and chanting their rage. It was unbelievable". According to Bob the average person knows little about Nanotechnology but they have read some really good Science Fiction. "Michael Cricthon wrote a book about tiny robots that eat human flesh. That's what the big scare is all about." But it's more than just funny. According to Bob, there is a large "anti-science" movement in the world and it doesn't want scientists fussing around at the molecular level." These are hate based people filled with fear and even though the protesters don't really know the first thing about Nanotechnology - they're against it.
Sound familiar? As Bob talked,I roamed my mind's inner landscape, making notes of familiar land-marks. When was the last time you spoke to an Animal Rights activist that knew a Quarter Horse from a Thoroughbred, an English Toy Spaniel from a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a Seal Point Siamese cat from a Color Point Oriental? How many people do you know that are against Pit Bulls who have actually had experience with this type of dog? Bob continued with his own observations - the problem is these 'anti-science' people start lobbying and gain an audience with a Congressman. Their emotional appeal strikes a chord with the politician and they work to pass laws banning Nanotechnology without ever understanding what it's really all about. You know what Nanotechnology is? It's building very small objects under a high powered microscope. When you ban Nanotechnology, you are really banning the use of high powered microscopes. Now how can you regulate that? It's insane."
Insane. That's the word resonating with me these days and it made me think of my father who would get my sister and me up at 7 AM on the weekends to help him with the yard-work. When we would complain about having to hoe the beans or tie up tomatoes before 9. he would say, "Work is good for you. Don't forget, 'idleness is the Devil's workshop.'" Though I may not have understood my Dad's words then, I surely do now. I really think these protesters need something to keep their bodies and minds active. They should plant a garden, find a horse barn to muck stalls or find some real problems to solve - but these things are not glamorous enough for our idle youth. Being an "activist" seems to be a trend for the children of the upwardly mobile. Children without chores,outside interests or family commitments have too much time on their hands and look for entertainment. What a better game to play as a "young adult" than "Save the world from evil scientists and animal exploiters."
But twenty years later Bob and I have even more in common that a kindred wariness of youthful activism. Bob's business partner wrote the book on Nanotechnology - he has struggled past the anti science brigade - can you guess what he does for a hobby? He breeds and enjoys pit bulls. No, he doesn't use them to fight. He loves the breed for the same reasons thousands of others do - "They're people oriented, faithful, loyal and fun loving" and to his sensibilities, there isn't a more beautiful dog breed on earth. So by day, "Mr. Nano" brushes aside the activist flies that buzz around his work but at night, as he enjoys the company of his beloved dogs - his heart sinks knowing that legislation making it illegal to own his version of canine perfection may be coming to his own town very soon.
What will he do then? What can any of us do? "Become a part of the solution long before it is a problem" said Attorney Mark Cushings who spoke at the NAIA all animal summit two weeks ago. "You have to get to know the political leaders in your own home town. If they know you as a sane, rational animal person - when there is a crisis involving animals, the politicians will look to you for guidance."
The Nano-technologists already know their strategy to keep trade and technology free in the United States maybe now they'll join us in helping to keep breed specific legislation from spreading further. Who knew that building instruments on the molecular level and breeding dogs had so much in common but isn't that life in the 21st Century? Amazing but true.