Take a hard look around. What do you see, really? A world consumed with itself, billions of people whose only principle motivation is to feed their faces and buy stuff to feather their nests. Damn the environmental and political torpedoes, it’s full speed ahead. Business as usual. The corporate makeover of our beautiful world continues apace and you are a pawn in the game. Responsible for the outcome even. And the outcome doesn’t look too good.
If you don’t believe me, take a hard look around.
I’ve been writing this blog and beating this drum now for over 4 years. In that time, not a single reader has weighed in with a rebuttal or “right on” acknowledgement that this assertion “we’re doomed” may very well be true. And if not one reader can even bring themself to endorse the notion that things may be worse than we realize, it is a sure bet that they aren’t doing anything to ameliorate the problem, like walking to work, recycling, nocycling, bicycling, or being a vegetarian at least one day a week.
Funny thing is, most people who read this blog are my friends and family. What does this mean, other than nobody, not even one’s mother, loves a gloom and doomer? It means most people, like you, can’t handle the truth, much less do anything to shape the outcome. Just like Jack Nicholson said to Tom Cruise.
At this point, I’ve learned not to care what people such as you think. I have learned that it doesn’t matter what others do or don’t do. It matters what I do. I can control that. Which means I can control what flies out of my fingers as I write this diatribe. And adjust accordingly.
What about you? Is your head buried in the superifical sand, or burrowed deeply up the eliminative canal where the sun doesn’t shine?
I thought so. Have a nice day being a wallflower AND an enviro-schmuck.
My, my, J. such ugly words – especially knowing there are many of those who love you who are actively doing as opposed to talking about the situation.
Have you checked into masonary stoves (aka radiant, another form of Finnish fireplaces) which heat & burn wood much more efficient than those stoves you are currently using? Smoke emissions go through subsequent heating which reduces the pollutants.
Wouldn’t hurt to get folks riled-up about the limited progress of rebuilding the coast. (-;
Ugly words? I do not know that anyone who ‘cares for me’ is actively more than talking about the situation, whether the environment, politics or rebuilding the coast. I am disappointed noone has taken the time to say “I hear you” or “you made me think and now here’s what I’m doing.” That was the point of the post. I am looking to build consensus that it is time to do more than simply have differing opinions. It’s time to get down the bare-naked truth (it is right in front of us all) and take action.
What is happening to our beautiful world is ugly. I do not fear taking on blame for the ugliness around me or lurking in all people of the industrial world; I’ve learned those who have the most to gain by perpetuating the true ugliness would rather see the messenger die or at least muzzled.
People who love me know me well enough to look past the strident words. For people who don’t know me I don’t mind risking pissed off or saddened visitors for speaking out. If all our “doing something” made things better I’d be all for it. But it doesn’t. I think “doingness” which involves consumption of resources and waste is the problem.
Try doing nothing more than burning at an intellectual intensity that causes sparks and flame in other people for a good cause. That will be doing something that actually improves this world, in my bloggiest opinion.
One of my two stoves is very efficient, has a secondary “catalytic” burner that burns combustion byproducts.I even wrote about it here.
Don’t worry susu, I know I’m a good little hypocrite too. But a little less hypocritical every day. If I can reach anyone and cause rethinking of personal consumption habits, travel, etc., then it is worth it to piss a few people off. Even you!
I’m not worried about their reaction. I mean, if people don’t like what I have to say, what are they going to do, consume more?
And as far as rebuilding the coast, perhaps it’s time to reconsider what rebuilding really means. If it just means building everything in the same places, few feet higher, it’s time to ask if parts of the coast are too low to support continued commercial and residential development.
I would rather see the coastal beachfront free of highways, houses, casinoes, Waffle Houses and other human sign. Same thing with the bayous. I know that’s not going to happen. We are way too self-centered, entrenched and collectively brainwashed to understand why we shouldn’t simply repeat mistakes of the past. Too bad. It would be a perfect time to let the sands cover highway 90, cover the slabs, cover the scars of human arrogance. Let the trees grow down to the water’s edge like they did a hundred years ago. Start now before the water comes up again, and one day in the near future, stays. People will abandon the immediate beach area and move to higher ground because they will, sooner or later, be forced to. Tragic as that may sound, it’s far more likely to happen this way than anyone in the ‘twinkie’ world could ever understand.
I understand your frustrations, J. It seems like so many don’t care and you are right. History denotes to create a movement, one can’t do it by alienating people. The greatest movements give people a vision and a course of action. With your gift for the written word, you could truly inspire a change.(-;
As for the stove stuff, it was a bit of a jab, but more because I have been researching the subject of alternative living, building energy effecient homes, etc. You know, my retirement place. I’m thinking that I’ll build my own masonary stove. Like I said, the beauty of these stoves is that they don’t only produce less pollution, they use substanially less wood. A double + in my book.
As for the coast, yes they are using some foresight in planning what will happen to the area south of the tracks. Unfortunately, the law as been changed from Casinos operating only on water to Casinos being allowed to build on land. The cities are looking at redesigning the infrastructure – creating a new traffic route, underground powerlines, etc.
Unfortunately, unemployment is now in the double digets along the coastal areas. Guess what industry is going to come to these folks rescue.
We are talking about people’s homes. Imagine should something happen to your beautiful mountain paradise due to some natural diaster and you were told not only were you not going to be reinbursed for your lost but you can’t build back because of environmental reasons. For many, these homes were their pieces of paradise.
Alienated? Do you mean you, or just people in general? The only environmental movement I have interest in is the one which directly reduces or elimnates consumption in or through influence on another person. Tis for others to react how they choose. All power and focus, if any, derived by going nowhere. The anithesis of action is inaction. As I’ve said befo, “not doing” as in not moving, being still, and not consuming is the only behavior that makes sense anymore for me.
And we are talking about people’s former homes. If my mountain home burned in a fire, I would prolly rebuild because it wouldn’t happen again in my life. If I had a slab on the beach, different story. It looks like game over for south of the tracks, the condo and casino perps have won. I’d get the hell out in this case.
My you do come off sounding so angry.
Alienate – raising people’s consciensiousness to environmental survival won’t happen if the methods come-off as religious zealous – calling names only closes minds to the points being made. but hey, you do what you want just don’t “expect” to get any responses.
You also missed my point regarding people’s homes – I said if someone told you your home was causing an environmental problem – you said you would build back. Then don’t expect anyone else to do any less. Do you realize that some of those homes that were wiped out on the coast were over 200 years old? Are you aware that the majority of the homes were around for more than one generation? It’s okay for you to build back because it won’t happen again in your life-time? I’m just searching for alittle empathy from you. Its seems too easy for you to be in your perfect mountain paradise living the “environmentally friendly life”, passing judgement on everyone else.
I am angry about the paucity of meaningful dialog between people of mutual interest. But at least it is out front and honest. And no I don’t really expect anything, even though I often ask for it.
Why do you need to look for empathy from me? Doesn’t the dialog count for anything more than taking sides? I reckon not. And what names, my dear? Condo and casino perps? LOL. I’ve said before, everybody is a bad guy that needs rehabilitating. Not jail or lynching. Including me.
I am from there and I went through the storm. I know about the old homes lost. I rode from 90 Edgewater to Hewes Avenue on a bike the morning after the storm. What does this have to do with discussing humanity’s relationship with the environment and people’s decisions with regard to building there again?
It is never easy to do the right thing. Even from a cold ivory tower in Montana.