Earth Day 2008

Today is designated as earth day—as my daughter informed me. She also added that Monday had been international pot smoking day. That little tidbit of information worried me—how did she know anything about drugs? I had to remind myself she is sixteen and learns all kinds of things at school. She said she only knew it because of Adolf Hitler’s birthday, pot smoking day—two losers on the same day.

Anyway. My daughter and earth day. I have forgotten what it was like to be passionate on conservation. She made me mad because over the weekend I had a three liter plastic bottle that had God only knows what in it. Someone brought it home from something. I was afraid to open the thing for fear of what would slam into me. She was indignant that I wouldn’t open it, rinse and put it in the recycle bin. Then she crossed her arms and huffed “people like you are stealing my planet.” To which I of course replied, yes your highness. We went our separate ways to cool down.

I use plastic shopping bags and then I reuse them for things around the house. She was irate over this. She actually bought canvas grocery bags for me to use. She spent her hard earned money on several shirts that were different earth day themes—at $12 a pop. Which aggravated me. The child is going to Florida for a week next week and will need money. She said Mom! The money is for (such and such) foundation! It’s a good cause.

After dinner she went to her room, I suppose to IM her friends and I can only image the things she said about her “lame” mom. So anyway, I was struck with a memory. When I was 12 Ranger Rick was a big deal. Thanks to Ranger Rick I learned about deforestation, threatened species, protected species and extinct species.

My cousin and I railed against the injustice of the world. We made protest tapes against the Forestry department because they completely destroyed the lovely forests of Noth Central Arkansas.

In the typical governmental “wisdom”—an oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one—they went in and intentionally killed the local trees so they could replant them with pine. You know, this still pisses me off. The same pencil dicks that have decided you can no longer ride ATVs in these forests because the destruction riders cause, are the same ones who ARE responsible for more damage than we riders could ever do!

Anyway. At one time I was passionate about conservation. For the next 5 years I cried out in protest against the things I saw. I supported the Wolf Sanctuary (which I still do to this day. It's actually a local organization). Save the whales, save the condor, save the eagle I encouraged and only buy dolphin free tuna.

I still give to different foundations for conservancy. (However, I refuse to do anything to support PETA. For one thing, their methods can be criminal at times. For another I love my grandfather’s home raised beef. Pork is my absolute favorite. I also enjoy hunting and never turn down fresh venison, rabbit, elk, and bear, whatever.) I have decided to make it a point to try and be more conscientious.

To this day I struggle. I think farmers and beef ranchers are great people. As previously stated, I love home raised beef. Farm raised buffalo is a second running meat.I also know that to protect their stock these sane wonderful people often shoot and kill coyotes, wolves, cougars and other wild creatures. This kills me. Both the farmer/rancher and the wildlife have the right to exist. They both deserve to be protected.

I know of cases where despite the protective status of the animal the rancher kills it because it has been/is a threat to their cattle, sheep, goats, whatever. I can't reconcile these two parts. I hate the thought of any creature being murdered like that. (I can hear you all now "but your a hunter advocate". I am. I also believe we have the right to keep and bear arms. Yep! I'm an NRA supporter as well.) The difference? God created deer, bear, rabbit, and other beasts for food. And I have serious doubts we'll ever put rabbit and squirrel on the endangered species list. Deer was threatened for a time but now they are so abundant many are dying of illness and starvation.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to reconcile the two issues in my mind. There has to be some sort of compromise I just can't see what it is. Maybe my daughter's generation can find an amicable solution. If she is any indication of her eras dedication there is hope yet. I guess we really do learn some lessons from our kids.

Back to work!
Huggles,
Donica