Deer, Schemes, and Life
By Francis Zierer
 Man’s most prized possession, from my humble view, seems to be the ability to assert power over the rest of the natural world. Effective, we, as a species, are at the top of the food chain. We can beat any animal in a fight. Of course, it’s highly improbable that anyone would be able to beat a bear in a fistfight. That’s not what makes us powerful, though. What does is the size of our brains. Because of our brains, we can kill bears with guns, or whatever else it is we manage to think of. If I may say—we are a pretty goddamn powerful species.
   Anyways, the reason we think we are so powerful seems to be because we have large brains. What ever happened to “size doesn’t matter?” Now, I’m no PETA zealot, but isn’t there something wrong with raising ourselves so high above other animals just because something as trivial as the size of a vital organ? We think pretty highly of ourselves, but, reader, I am here to remind you that we are still animals. We’re just snobs. I look at the young deer crossing the street, stuck in my headlights, and all I can think is: “We are not so different, you and I. What are we but two young beings, confused, and in the middle of the road/ our lives?” This deer and I are the same; the only thing that separates us from socializing is the fact that we would instantly become ostracized by our respective societies. And the fact the he is a deer, and does not know how to talk, among many other typical deer-like qualities.
   I ask you to ignore the fact that deer are nothing like humans, and focus on the small-yet-important things that make them so similar to us. First off, deer and humans are both living, breathing citizens of this fine Earth. Are deer second-rate citizens? The NRA might attempt to convince you so, but I claim no affiliation: I say they are as first-rate as we! But on to my second point: Essentially, deer and humans both live for no real purpose but to sustain the balance of nature and eventually reproduce. This may be shocking, but, it is true: you have no purpose in life but to not mess up too much and reproduce before you die.
   My deer metaphor is becoming stale, but it has served its purpose. You are no more important in the grand scheme of things than a deer. In fact, one could live their entire life pretending to be a deer, and as long as they survived, and had a kid or two, their life would be complete. You see, it’s all about the grand scheme.
The grand scheme is the ultimate reality. Do not think on the personal scheme, the family scheme, the school scheme, the town scheme, the country scheme, or even the world scheme. Think on the universal, the grand scheme. That is not to say one should disregard specific parts of one’s life. All I am trying to say is that one who focuses only on these small things is quite literally shallow. Thinking in the grand, universal scheme is quite literally deeper. That is not to say it’s bad to sometimes focus on the small details; it is actually quite essential to do so to maintain a balanced life. But think about these details with consequences in mind. It all eventually goes back to the grand scheme.
   In the grand scheme, you are nothing. You are equal to a deer, or any other animal: a worm, even. But this, reader, is what makes life so beautiful. I can be a deer! I can be a worm! Because all that matters in relation to me is that I survive for a time and reproduce so more people can live and do the same, I can do whatever it is I want while I do survive. So yes, accept it: you mean nothing. But also accept that you can make yourself mean something, you just have to work your way up there.
   It’s funny, really. Humans can never really make themselves matter too much in the grand scheme of things, because they are just one small group of beings in a potentially limitless sea. And yet they thing, they are, we think we are so important. We are important because our fast cars, our flashy diamonds. Do these mean anything to the deer? To the potential aliens? In all probability: no. No matter what way you put it, human society is a ridiculous concept. All it is is a way for us to amuse ourselves before we die. A kind of limbo between birth and death. In this game, we do not choose our starting pieces, but we can choose how far we go. But I’ve kind of discredited my entire sermon here, as I have revealed myself to be just another meaningless talking head. Reader, it is up to you if you want to take anything from what I have to say: I’m just another kid who thinks too much.
Filed Under: Opinion
Legend has it that the Pepperbox originated in the 1930s, when Arcata High had just moved to the current campus. There was a box in the library called the "Pep box," where students put in suggestions for teachers and administration. This box also happened to be a used pepper (the spice) box. When the Arcata High Student newspaper was founded, it was appropriately given its current name, "the Pepperbox".
