1 post tagged “earth day”

Remember that public service spot in the 70's with the American Indian*  watching people dump litter out of the car; close-up on his face and a single tear slides down his cheek? I think of that ad often. And I wonder why they don't show it anymore. It was effective. My generation got it. We now have a whole new generation who has no idea it is inappropriate, selfish and yes, dare I say, EVIL, to throw garbage around.

My son and I often walk through the woods near our house. There's a great county park on the mountain where we often see deer, chipmunks, rabbits, wild turkeys and all manner of birds. We walk early, before any of his sisters are up. Having those moments of eco-therapy each day really helps us to regroup and start the day with a fresh spirit. It's prayerful. He rides his bike ahead of me, spotting wonders, and I, the jaded middle aged woman, am constantly renewed by seeing things from his point of view. At this time of the year, it's especially soothing. The birdsong and budding trees remind us of the renewal of all things. The Creator is awesome and seeing a cardinal is just a special gift to start the day.

The one blight on all this is the litter. It ruins an otherwise beautiful landscape. Its utter wrongness is jarring. Water bottles, power bar wrappers, soda cans, paper towels, cigarette butts.  It's all so senseless and out of place.

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So Sunday morning, while on some level I realize it is hopeless, I am compelled to try to do something. My son, who is used to me, thinks nothing of it when I tell him we are cleaning up the park today. With all the enthusiasm of a seven year old, he helps me gather trash bags and gloves and off we go. 

In the end we had collected two bags full of every manner of debris and detritis. Did we "clean up the park"? Maybe just  a  small part of it. But I'd like to think that while it didn't really even make a dent, and we are, after all, coming into "high season" when whole families of fat, complacent consumers will be dumping stuff in my beautiful woods, maybe, just maybe, we did accomplish something more lasting. Perhaps, God willing, my children will take these lessons with them and someday make a better world because of it. Maybe they will feel compelled as I do to try to make their own immediate slice of the world a little better. And maybe that's the best public service ad of all. 

Happy Earth Day!

*I have it on the authority of Sam Bealer, PhD., American Indian Scholar, activist and member of the Delaware tribe that this is the preferred self-designation.