After dedicating years observing chimpanzee actions, Jane Goodall became an expert on the hostile behavior of leading males. In a recently released interview filmed shortly before her death, the celebrated primatologist disclosed her unusual solution for addressing particular figures she viewed as exhibiting similar characteristics: transporting them on a permanent journey into space.
This notable viewpoint into Goodall's thinking emerges from the Netflix film "Famous Last Words", which was recorded in March and preserved confidential until after her recently announced death at 91 years old.
"I know individuals I'm not fond of, and I would like to put them on one of Musk's spaceships and launch them to the celestial body he's convinced he's going to discover," commented Goodall during her discussion with Brad Falchuk.
When questioned whether the SpaceX founder, known for his disputed actions and connections, would be part of this group, Goodall responded positively.
"Certainly, without doubt. He would be the leader. Envision whom I would include on that spaceship. In addition to Musk would be Donald Trump and various Trump's loyal adherents," she announced.
"Additionally I would put Russia's leader on board, and I would put China's President Xi. I'd certainly put Benjamin Netanyahu on that journey and his administration. Send them all on that spaceship and launch them."
This wasn't the initial instance that Goodall, a supporter of ecological preservation, had voiced concerns about the former president specifically.
In a previous discussion, she had observed that he showed "similar type of behavior as a dominant primate will show when battling for leadership with a rival. They stand tall, they strut, they present themselves as significantly bigger and hostile than they may actually be in order to frighten their competitors."
During her posthumous documentary, Goodall elaborated on her analysis of alpha personalities.
"We get, notably, two types of leader. One type succeeds through pure aggression, and because they're strong and they combat, they don't endure very long. Another group achieves dominance by using their brains, like an aspiring leader will just confront a superior one if his companion, often his brother, is alongside him. And you know, they last far more extended periods," she explained.
The celebrated primatologist also analyzed the "social dimension" of behavior, and what her comprehensive research had shown her about aggressive behaviors shown by people and apes when faced with something they viewed as hostile, despite the fact that no threat actually existed.
"Primates observe a stranger from an adjacent group, and they get very stimulated, and their hair erect, and they reach out and touch another, and they've got visages of rage and terror, and it catches, and the remaining members absorb that sentiment that one member has had, and the entire group grows aggressive," she detailed.
"It spreads rapidly," she added. "Certain displays that grow violent, it spreads among them. Each member wishes to participate and engage and grow hostile. They're guarding their territory or fighting for dominance."
When inquired if she believed similar patterns were present in people, Goodall answered: "Perhaps, on occasion. But I firmly think that the bulk of humanity are decent."
"My main objective is nurturing this new generation of compassionate citizens, beginnings and development. But is there sufficient time? It's unclear. These are difficult times."
Goodall, born in London five years before the start of the World War II, equated the battle with the difficulties of present day politics to Britain standing up Nazi Germany, and the "determined resistance" displayed by Winston Churchill.
"That doesn't mean you avoid having periods of sadness, but subsequently you recover and state, 'Well, I won't allow to let them win'," she stated.
"It's like the leader in the war, his renowned address, we'll fight them on the beaches, we'll fight them along the roads and metropolitan centers, subsequently he remarked to a friend and reportedly stated, 'and we shall combat them at the ends of broken bottles because that's all we've bloody well got'."
In her concluding remarks, Goodall offered inspiring thoughts for those combating political oppression and the climate emergency.
"Even today, when the planet is challenging, there continues to be possibility. Don't lose hope. If you lose hope, you grow apathetic and remain inactive," she counseled.
"Whenever you wish to protect what is still beautiful on our planet – when you wish to save the planet for coming generations, future family, their offspring – then consider the actions you take each day. Because, replicated countless, multiple occasions, minor decisions will generate great change."
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