What do you stand for?

The most common trait of all
primitive peoples is a reverence
for the lifegiving earth,
and the native American shared
this elemental ethic:
the land was alive to his loving touch,
and he, its son,
was brother to all creatures.
His feelings were made visible
in medicine bundles and
dance rhythms for rain,
and all of his religious rites
and land attitudes savored
the inseparable world of nature
and God, the master of Life.
During the long Indian tenure
the land remained undefiled
save for scars no deeper than
the scratches of cornfield clearings
or the farming canals of
the Hohokams on the Arizona desert.
-Stewart Lee Udall
to hear more wisdom from Stewart Lee Udall Click Here
Some might object or take issue with the
above mention of God. However, I would
like to suggest a conversation based
primarily on the last part, regarding the
"scars no deeper than..."

Today the US celebrates its birthday.
Today is a day that many stood up for
what they believed in, at the risk of
great peril to themselves and those
they loved. They certainly weren't
perfect, however, they believed in a
principle that allowed the United States
to stand on its own, and grow.

I saw something recently about what is
happening in Appalachia in the name of
coal, and it is heartbreaking. Talk
about deep scars:


As with most things, I am no expert, and
perspectives may vary, depending on who
is doing the talking, but
http://www.coalriverwind.org/ makes
a lot of sense to me. Perhaps consider
checking it out, and see what you think.

Some don't even want to think about things
like this, and I understand. However, if
we don't start paying attention, and doing
what we can to stand up to those we believe
are hurting us and our future, we will have
in some way forfeited what those brave people
fought for.

This may not be your "thing," and if so,
that's fine, but SOMETHING is...and there
is no time like the present to stand up
and take a stand.

Here is another interesting thing that I
didn't know until recently. I can only
hope that lessons are being learned from
these situations, and actions taken to prevent
events such as these from occurring.

When are we going to learn to say "no"?
Do we have to say "yes" to every idea
that seems like a good idea, based on
what people think they know?


Another interesting video/perspective on
the Everglades can be seen here.

I realize there are many things that are
interwoven in these issues, however for a
long time we've been hypnotized into
believing "bigger is better" and that we
think too small.

I can't help but wonder who started that.
I can't imagine a caveman thinking that way.
I can almost imagine it starting innocently
enough in one person's reality. S/he had a
belief that bigger was better, and perhaps
it proved to be true so others were willing
to be mesmerized by the idea, too. Perhaps
others got associated meaning from bigger,
which had nothing to do with bigger, but
appeared to be attached (for instance, a
bigger castle/home means that "I'm important,"
or "I'm intelligent, because I know how to
get this bigger thing." When, in actuality,
bigger doesn't inherently mean intelligent
or important or anything else.)

So often we will attach meanings to things,
and sometimes it works, and sometimes it can
cause trouble, but when we are unable to
discern that the meaning has been attached,
we don't realize that there is anything to
consider. It is just "what is," and things
like that can have a tendency to drive us
blindly into action.

By the way, I am not saying that bigger
isn't better, but I think that it certainly
needs to be looked at when there are things
at stake that can be more costly than the
momentary potential gain. The creatures
that share this planet with us - and the
geography in which we all reside - have a
role in making this planet what it is, and
keeping it inhabitable for us humans, and
to treat them in a disposable and after
thought kind of way is the type of thing
that could spell big trouble down the road
(if it isn't already).

Some would disagree. However, consider that
if we listen to them, and it turns out
they're wrong, it's going to be too late,
and then what will we do?