“There are more important things than living”
That quote comes from Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick yesterday. Judging by the protests to reopen the country, and the crap I’ve seen on social media, I’m sure there are thousands (or more) in the US who share this opinion. If only we could communicate with the dead, I’m sure we would change some minds.
What this really boils down to is selfishness. Thoughts of “this isn’t my problem” and “let someone else clean up after me” are prevalent in all aspects of these people’s lives. This goes beyond any virus, and extends to how they treat our planet. They don’t believe science as it pertains to the virus, and certainly not when it comes to global warming. We’ve had other virus scares in recent years, but since none of those had the transmission rates of Covid-19, these people just pass this off as a hoax. Similarly, the earth has had periods of global warming before, none of which had the acceleration that our carbon footprint promotes, so the disbelievers write this off as natural occurrence.
During this time of social distancing, our state has closed the popular outdoor recreation areas, but left some parts open. One such area has access on a road closed to vehicles, making it a much longer hike than usual. The photo above comes from there during yesterday’s hike. You would think that people who come out to breathe some fresh air and make the effort to connect with nature would be respectful of nature. I was so disappointed to be coming across freshly deposited trash along the way. I make an effort to clean up when I find this trash, but people like me can’t be everywhere.
Instead of using this quarantine time to get upset and wish for a return to a normal life, maybe we should examine what brought us here. The earth has shown that it is capable of keeping us in check. Our normal life needs to change to be in tune with the planet while listening to science. In the long run, there really is no one coming to clean up after us.
April 22, 2020 at 9:43 pm
To be or not to be that remains the question…Some of us just enjoy being more than others. Others feel like they disappear if they stop doing. Unfortunately, those that can’t just be, don’t realize that their actions do affect others. Therefore, their neglect begins with themselves and continues to affect everyone else, the earth, and the universe. We can only hope that there is an awakening to their confused state with such a severe lesson of life versus death. On a lighter side, spring time is such a beautiful depiction of life. Thank you for capturing it and dwelling on it…
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April 22, 2020 at 11:23 pm
Yes, the lesson that is coming out of this time is that we are all connected. One planet, one people. Not all will be receptive to this lesson, because the societal forces have ingrained that the earth is our grocery store. The problem is that there are few left to stock the shelves at night.
The vibrancy of springtime always invigorates my passion to be connected with nature. If I have captured that spirit and made you and others feel that spirit, then the positive energy I have generated is part of my contribution to Earth Day.
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April 23, 2020 at 4:28 am
Very thoughtful and thanks for you action.
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April 23, 2020 at 6:12 pm
Thank you. I think it’s time we all step up on responsibility for our home.
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April 23, 2020 at 6:31 am
Hear, hear, and bravo! So well expressed, so true and such beautiful photography.
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April 23, 2020 at 6:17 pm
Thank you, Liza! It was a last minute decision to head out, so in order to make better time, I packed light. This was an iPhone photo, and I think it did well for the situation 🙂
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April 23, 2020 at 7:14 pm
So do I! A magical moment!
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April 23, 2020 at 7:43 am
I don’t ever want to return to normal. This is the time for a giant reset of all human things, big and little. In this short time we’ve seen how nature repairs herself. We must keep that going.
This selfish folks? Darwinism will apply to them.
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April 23, 2020 at 8:09 am
Change in human behavior is a slow process and even with this crisis is not likely to be significant. Most people don’t want to get out of their comfort zone, and the comfort zone they know is deadly to the planet. I am thrilled to see the repairs that are happening to ecosystems everywhere and only wish it was being brought about through grassroot efforts instead of government orders.
The selfish folks? Let’s just keep them at a distance.
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April 23, 2020 at 8:16 am
I know. maybe this will force them out of their comfort zones because this is a marathon not a sprint. The first thing that must be done is to change as many politicians as possible.
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April 23, 2020 at 5:31 pm
Good point, Steve. We need to do way more than we have been. The selfish won’t like it, but Nature will ‘win’ in the end, without us.
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April 23, 2020 at 5:45 pm
Yes, Earth Day needs to become Earth Month, then Earth Year, etc. I think Mother Earth is only giving us a tease right now. We need her far more than she needs us.
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April 23, 2020 at 5:55 pm
Exactly what I said in my Earth Day post – we are no more than fleas on Her backside.
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April 23, 2020 at 7:19 pm
Seeing Trump, Melania, and Pence plant a tree on Earth Day was so sadly ironic. All the diabolical cuts that the Trump administration has done to hurt the environment would take billions of trees to rectify.
Stay safe, Steve.
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April 23, 2020 at 7:23 pm
I saw that, and had the same feelings as you. I was thinking “After what you’ve done in three years, what is the point of this?” Stay safe as well, Tom!
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April 24, 2020 at 5:36 am
Well said.
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