After dedicating years observing chimpanzee actions, Jane Goodall became an expert on the aggressive tendencies of alpha males. In a recently released interview recorded shortly before her passing, the famous primatologist shared her unique solution for addressing specific people she viewed as exhibiting similar qualities: launching them on a non-return journey into space.
This notable perspective into Goodall's thinking emerges from the Netflix film "Famous Last Words", which was recorded in March and maintained secret until after her recently announced death at nine decades of life.
"I've encountered persons I don't like, and I would like to send them on a spacecraft and dispatch them to the planet he's certain he'll find," stated Goodall during her interview with her interlocutor.
When inquired whether the SpaceX founder, famous for his disputed actions and political alliances, would be part of this group, Goodall answered with certainty.
"Certainly, without doubt. He could serve as the organizer. Picture whom I would include on that spacecraft. Along with Musk would be Donald Trump and several of Trump's dedicated followers," she declared.
"And then I would put the Russian president on board, and I would include China's President Xi. I'd certainly put Israel's prime minister on that journey and his far-right government. Put them all on that spacecraft and dispatch them."
This wasn't the earlier occasion that Goodall, a supporter of environmental causes, had shared negative views about Donald Trump especially.
In a previous discussion, she had observed that he exhibited "comparable kind of behavior as an alpha chimp will show when he's competing for leadership with another. They posture, they swagger, they present themselves as really more large and combative than they truly are in order to daunt their rivals."
During her final interview, Goodall further explained her comprehension of leadership types.
"We observe, notably, two kinds of alpha. One type succeeds all by aggression, and due to their strength and they battle, they don't last very long. The second type succeeds by employing intelligence, like an aspiring leader will merely oppose a higher ranking one if his ally, typically a relative, is alongside him. And research shows, they endure much, much longer," she detailed.
The renowned scientist also analyzed the "political aspect" of behavior, and what her extensive studies had shown her about combative conduct displayed by groups of humans and chimpanzees when faced with something they perceived as hostile, although no threat actually existed.
"Chimps observe an outsider from a neighboring community, and they grow highly agitated, and their hair erect, and they extend and touch another, and they show visages of anger and fear, and it spreads, and the remaining members absorb that sentiment that a single individual has had, and everyone turns combative," she detailed.
"It spreads rapidly," she noted. "Some of these demonstrations that turn aggressive, it permeates the group. They all want to get involved and become aggressive. They're defending their domain or battling for dominance."
When questioned if she believed the same dynamics applied to people, Goodall answered: "Likely, sometimes yes. But I truly believe that the majority of individuals are decent."
"My primary aspiration is educating this new generation of empathetic people, roots and shoots. But are we allowing enough time? It's unclear. We face challenging circumstances."
Goodall, born in London shortly before the commencement of the Second World War, likened the fight against the darkness of present day politics to Britain standing up Nazi Germany, and the "determined resistance" shown by Winston Churchill.
"That doesn't mean you avoid having periods of sadness, but eventually you emerge and declare, 'Well, I refuse to allow their success'," she stated.
"It resembles Churchill in the war, his iconic words, we shall combat them at the coastlines, we'll fight them through the avenues and metropolitan centers, then he turned aside to a companion and reportedly stated, 'and we'll fight them using the fragments of broken bottles as that's the only thing we truly have'."
In her final address, Goodall shared inspiring thoughts for those fighting against political oppression and the climate emergency.
"Even today, when the world is dark, there remains possibility. Don't lose hope. Should optimism fade, you become unresponsive and take no action," she recommended.
"Whenever you want to protect the existing splendor across the globe – if you want to protect our world for subsequent eras, future family, later generations – then contemplate the choices you take each day. Since, multiplied a million, innumerable instances, minor decisions will generate substantial improvement."
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