By Mark Antony Rossi
But I know that’s not true. Even with regular exercise I feel the disappointed Earth questioning my existence. We need strength to be human in this day of machines. I might add we need strength to withstand the deathly beauties of Nature as well.
If you consider for a moment Nature sees humans as merely another pesky creature lurking around the soil. It’s not sold on our proclamation as the chosen creation of a Cosmic Architect. It’s not in agreement with scientists who merely label humanity as the Dominant Animal atop a soulless food chain. The Lion and the Shark are laughing and cursing at our vanity.
My new age friends try to convince me Nature is a Mother caring for all and we should care back. Yet the legion of Earthquakes, Hurricanes, Tornados, Tsunamis and Droughts doesn’t speak to caring parenthood but rather bad marketing by blind devotees vulnerable to be washed out to sea. Mother Nature is a hungry hippo jealous of territory and more than willing to eat your young in a hideous heartbeat.
I still believe in the artificial constructs called cities which are our defense against the periodic ravages of a Nature I am told is a friend, is a living entity, is a mysterious force that brings life. I believe it brings life but I won’t turn my back on it since it also delivers death to feed the fickle and furious living things we turn into cartoons to soothe our conscience and the stockholders of tropical-killing tractors.
Nature is similar to Animals in that we rather force it to be something’s it’s not than face our nearby who hasn’t become a true neighbor yet. We want the world to be better but do so little to foster human contact and other ways to improve the human condition. Cleaning the ocean is important but it doesn’t negate our deliberate efforts to metaphorically urinate on a person who looks or thinks different than us.
The world won’t change if you fix the local animal shelter’s roof. The dogs and cats may thank you but unless you can have a dialogue with the roofer and not just with your Wolfpack at the water cooler you have accomplished little to improve life for the next generation.
I an not trying to discourage good deeds but some good deeds are disguised distractions from the real task of trying to put the world back together again one person at a time. Until we make that a priority again (or maybe for the first time) I choose to think my children are getting older and I am standing still on a spinning planet interested in mirror-filled echoes instead of virtuous voices ready to cast aside fear and face the unknown together. Only together can we fix the hole in our heart and the one in the ozone layer.