Chemical Independence

                                  Chemical Independence
       Isn't it wonderful, what science has done for us?
They have come up with chemicals to cover up the unpleasant
odors of everyday living.  Isn't that wonderful?!?
       On first impression, yes...very.  But, upon further examination,
we need to NOT use those chemicals.  Here's my reasoning why:

1.  The chemicals mask good odors.  We never use our sense
 of smell to detect possible pleasantness.

2.  The chemicals mask bad odors.  We learn to not use our
 sense of smell to detect unpleasantness.

3.  The chemicals mask potentially dangerous or fatal odors.  Again,
 we learn to not smell danger.

      In this ever-changing world, danger looms at every corner. 
One of the ways we, and all of our fellow animal occupants of planet
Earth, have managed to survive and even thrive is by using our senses
to detect and protect.  We detect danger when we smell smoke, or
foul odors, even putrid food. 
     When we smell smoke, we look for the source, almost invariably,
a fire. Fire is a natural enemy. 
      Another natural enemy is the bacterium, so small that it evades
our eyesight.  When these bacteria invade a food source, spoilage
occurs.  Food that is spoiled is unpleasant to smell. We don't like
this smell, and that is an inbred, natural instinct.  It is self-preservation
at work. If we do not smell this odor, we assume the food is safe to
eat...not always the case.  Especially if the food has been treated with
a masking chemical.  It's kinda like a sneaky lie.
      Natural gas.  Yes, natural gas is an enemy.  In its purest form,
it HAS no odor.  They (yeah, scientists) solved that problem by
coloring the natural gas with an unpleasant, distinct odor.  We have
learned to detect natural gas by that odor.  But with those chemicals,
covering an unpleasant odor of natural gas is a snap. I don't know
of anyone dying from natural gas that has had the odor masked, but
it can and will happen.
     Predators.  Yes, predators.  Not the kind that prey on little
children or women...the kind that will eat you. We are animals.
Animals eat other animals.  Other animals eat us.  Sometimes, they
are big, like tigers or alligators.  Sometimes, they are small, like
rats or roaches, even bacteria.  It makes no difference.  We are all
going to be eaten.  Predators all have distinct odors.  The native
Americans were able to smell the buffalo or other animals they
were hunting.  They were able to feed themselves because of
their sense of smell.  We have trained ourselves to not smell.
     We have progressed so far that we shall soon see
extinction if we continue to undo nature's safeguards.  We need
to learn to use them as they were intended, not disable them.