So some time during last week.. or two weeks ago, I came across one of the resident peacocks in the Arts building as I was strolling towards my Psyc lecture. 

The sight of them have become little less than an everyday affair... but their presence and grace never fail to catch me breath. Everytime I get the chance to see them, I stop everything I'm doing (unless I'm late for a lect/tute) and just observe them. 

This poor one over here, just so happens to be in my path and was subjected to 10 minutes of potential threat with a strange weapon that is my phone. I can just imagine the thoughts that were running through his mind. 

Or not. Because he looked pretty relaxed.. just basking in the sunlight, lost in his own thoughts. Didn't really mind me circling him, trying out different angles. He was probably thinking..

Anyway... I just had a fleeting thought. 

How does the peacock know who and what is a threat? Has its life been so normalised, growing up and interacting with humans that it no longer see humans as threat? As a group of people that may potentially hunt them for their gorgeous turquoise feathers, for food (a bit extreme.. but yeah)? Doesn't it feel unjustly treated that humans have assumed unoccupied land as theirs and just build whatever flippin' hell they want at the expense of another's home?

Just like how we are living in a globalised world that's constantly being bombarded by products, information, culture of another. Well, mainly the western world... How do developing countries feel about being used for their cheap labour and relatively abundant (yet rapidly depleting) raw materials and land? Do they feel glad because they've been given a piece of the 'global market pie' or do they feel threatened because their culture might possibly be diluted and lost... They do profit, yes. But more often than not, they are just earning on the terms of the 'powerhouse', and it's obviously a marginalised income. 

Or do they simply not know any better? Because they've grown up in that environment when it has always been this way... Being unjustly treated and marginalised.. They just grow up thinking it's normal.. and this way of life isn't much of a problem to them. They don't know any better because they don't know. 

Or is it that they don't have the agency and power to defend themselves? A people without face and voice to rise up the negotiation platform just because they are doing the more menial work and getting paid less. 

For the humble peacock (or not so humble.. because everyone knows.. as proud as a peacock. heh), things might not be so detrimental. For obvious reasons... they can't be compared to people who are being discriminated or rejecting their culture for survival's sake. Life's good for UWA's peacocks. 

But if they know any better and have the power to peck humans to death.. They'd realise that people are invading their habitat for the sake of their own development.. and just letting a select group of peacocks to live out of obligation. Just so they can say that they've done their part in helping others and assimilating them into the new world. 

I think we all need to find a balance. How far are we going to allow our identity to be washed-out before we lose it completely? How are we going to preserve it? In some cases, even to the point of fighting the invading forces to resist change, in order to prevent the introduction of a whole host of social and economic issues. 

I suppose we could all sit on the fence. 

For us, (disgustingly) privileged people living in places where freedom is a personal right, it is easy to do. But is that really how we want to live out our lives? As selfish capitalists, scrambling after the cheapest resources just so we can produce and cater to the rich (who might possibly be ourselves!)? Subjecting the voiceless and powerless to 'OUR' way of life.. just because we think it is the best way? Just because our narrow minds can only imagine one civilised way to live?

Is homogeneity the only way to go?

I say give the peacocks the right to choose. Only then, can we say we genuinely want what is best for them. 

On a lighter note.. 

Good news abounds! So many lives that are about to be blessed so infinitely!! I just love it when people share good news. Their happiness just burst out of them like a ray of hope and infect you for days. Especially the creation of new life and relationships!! 

Sigh.. happy happy... so happy for you guys.