Sitting at the bus stop, I stared at two pigeons near my feet, fiercely struggling to hog a small piece of waffle. It was obvious that the larger one was claiming the high ground; every time the small one tried to peck the opposite, the large stroke its wings so that the small one forgoes the attack and takes a step backward, staggering. As the large one started to devour the waffle, the small turned away to find another food. Feeling compassion for the defeated, I threw bread crumbs to its side. And the very next moment, even before the small one put the crumbs to its beak, the large pigeon, which just finished up his waffle, flew this side and attacked the small again. The small, already beaten once, meekly gave up the crumbs and moved aside again. I tried several times more, but the result was the same.
Gazing the pigeons' world where the law of the jungle prevails, a question aroused in my mind; whether the pigeons know about love and companionship? Pigeons are usually observed in a group, two or three, wandering the street together. But this group seems to be formed by chance—not a sign of intimacy at all—considering the vigorous violence these members have for the food.
Considering the pigeons are vagabonds on the street, and the only way to survive on the street is to be swifter and stronger than others, it seems quite natural that pigeons do not form any relationship. Partner is just a hindrance in the wanderer’s living. When Mr. Pigeon was alone, he could eat a whole bag of cracker, but with Mrs. Pigeon along his side, he has to restrain his glut. When Mr. Pigeon was alone, he could just fly away when confronted a wild cat, but with Mrs. Pigeon along his side, he must stay near the nest and protect her. Mr. Pigeon’s everyday life goes much more complicated and onerous, with Mrs. Pigeon.
One day, Mrs. Pigeon died. Mr. Pigeon is now free from his duty to look after her. Mr. Pigeon, now, no more overlaps Mrs. Pigeon with a weaker creature he fights with for food. Instead of sympathizing to weak dueler, and yielding food to him, Mr. Pigeon can just trample on him and win the meal. Mr. Pigeon is no more warm-hearted sympathizer, but just a bloodless fellow, attacking the feeble opponent recklessly.
Not only this. When Mrs. Pigeon was alive, Mr. Pigeon did not attempt to do something risky or adventurous—for example, approaching the trash can where a wild cat residue—thinking of Mrs. Pigeon who will be waiting for him at their nest. Now, Mrs. Pigeon gone, Mr. Pigeon miss someone who would cry for his absence, thus will hesitate less to carry on dangerous acts. Without Mrs. Pigeon, the weak partner, Mr. Pigeon’s limits are gone – not only his ability to empathize with weak creatures, but also ability to value himself, is gone.
I don’t want to see large pigeon beating the small one and dominating the food any more. What I want to see is the large pigeon, overlapping the opponent to his weak partner and sympathizing him, thereby offering some food to the small one. This is why I hope all the pigeons to form a pair, take a partner, so that they can turned into warm-blooded creatures, learning how to care about weaker others, and also how to respect their own life.
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