This is something I did mainly to organize my thoughts for a painting Im struggling with. Just thought I would post it for some irrational reason.
What came first our ability to organize, or our ability to kill? Or are do they co-exist?
It was ages ago, when our primate ancestors, not yet human, began to explore the dangers of the world down from the canopy.
Wandering, ever watching, through the mazes of grass blades and trees, a lonely wanderer comes across a natural predator, growling on its hind legs, fangs and claws at the ready. If the wanderer could not make it to the safety of the trees he would be torn to pieces. He stood a better chance holding a large stick, or throwing a rock, but even then he has million years of evolution against him, and smaller then us, the weapons at his disposal are not adequate. But... with four or five of his friends and family, boulders and sticks might just be enough. Monkeys can defend themselves from lions in such ways, but not by themselves.
This creates something interesting. Defense needs numbers. Everyone, from the most powerful to most powerless is needed to defend the species. Mammalian families become groups of mammalian families.
The world was still a dangerous place, but we mastered it. We were the smart ones.
And as the ice melted the larger predators began to disappear. By then we had become the homo sapiens and far smarter then the lonely wanderer. Evolution had rewarded our braininess.
Years in the past our ancestors figured by using the boulders to sharpen our sticks we could pierce the skin of our former predators. We had become predators ourselves.
With out fears conquered we took what we learned and developed ever bigger and more complex societies, pushing the limits or our intelligent monkey brain, but our primate fears never abandoned us.
Still if one man was stranded, or hunting they stood little chance alone. That is until our technology developed at a ever deadly rate. Twisting wood we could pelt small spears with fierce velocity, with melted materials we could develop weapons and armour of copper. One man with a bow, sword and shield stood a chance against natures largest predators.
And as we mastered and abolished the dark terrors new ones always sprung up
Something amazing happened. Conflicts with social groups happen in nature all the time... but with our ever powerful weapons we could inflict more terror on ourselves then any other species. We released safety in numbers would be more beneficial in ever larger numbers. Through terror and preemptive strikes we organized. Sometimes history shows us we are far more afraid of ourselves then our animal brethren. The primitive fears of exploring our world never left.
Most of these fears are irrational By never peering into the darkness, into what we don't understand we will never allow the masses to become calm, and realized what we fear is no longer applicable. Our intellect has done amazing things when we are realize there is nothing to fear beyond the boundaries of what we know – but only if we remain rational to what our purpose should be.
But there is a school of thought that we could never let the masses of monkeys forget the dangers which lurk just beyond what they know. It what keeps  them in line, what controls them. If we don't give them something to be afraid of they may direct that fear with even less irrationality. Its been so long that the fear has been burned into our psyche.
Are we tormented to never outlive our fears, or will we ever find the beauty which lurks in the darkness, just out of reach, shadowed in the depths we don't understand?
With deep thoughts and observation we have slowly broke away at the primal statue, but most of the masses don't get it. There is comfort in there fears. Realizing you have killed your childhood dreams and had them replaced with pathetic fears and desires is not a comforting thought. It is one of regret.
Besides something or someone will always spring up from around the corner, hidden in the shadows and if we forget those who strive in power are always there to remind us.
And so...
brother against brother
neighbor against neighbor
man against nature
There is fear, and he is God
nicely put together man
interesting story plot-line
my version seems to contain a bit more science-fiction to it, but your observations about fear/desire and people turning on each other is sharp
MOTHERFUCKING RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and you say you're going to paint this? Wow! Can't wait to see.