Gorillas in our midst.

• Author: Smith, Gar
• Position: Letters to the Editor - Letter to the editor

In "Walking with Gorillas," Terry Tempest Williams notes how a "humble group" of mountain gorillas accepts the intrusion of human tourists with measured indifference (July issue). If tolerance is a measure of civilization, Rwanda's gorillas are more advanced than much of the industrialized world.

Now picture what would happen if the situation were reversed. A small group of silverbacks wanders into an American suburb. Humans shriek, mothers snatch up children, people slam doors and make frantic calls to 911. The bravest boys heave rocks at...