Maria, You Will Bounce Back!

On July 7 my long-time friend and fellow activist Maria Wilson suffered a serious stroke. She has been in ICU for over a month now and is still not able to see many visitors. At this point she is very sick, but I remain hopeful that the old Maria will be back soon.

Over the past 10 years we've worked together on many environmental efforts and campaigns through our local Sierra Club Group. Maria has a special calling to care for the Earth, and for that I have the deepest respect and admiration for her. We have tabled together, demonstrated together, worked in political campaigns, and have fought for the same worthy ideals.

When I think of her, there are so many memories that come to mind. Maria, when you get better I'd like to share with you just a few of the ways you touched my life. Here are some things that immediately come to mind:

1) When you presented me with that beautiful plaque after my term ended as Sierra Club Group Chair. I still have that plaque and it's one of the things that truly mean a lot to me.

2) When you saw me bringing refreshments to all the Sierra Club meetings and you took the initiative to organize and coordinate the refreshments each month. I was so thankful to have the help.

3) When you attended a couple of the population workshops I organized. Just having you there was a great show of support and it meant a lot to me.

4) When we demonstrated against Saxby Chambliss and you were talking to the cops, no doubt saving us from getting arrested.

5) When I organized the first Earth Day tablings in 1998 I was at one of the tabling sites and was afraid that no volunteers would show up to staff our booth, but then you and Roger showed up — I was so glad to see you, and so grateful.

I have a special respect and love for anyone who volunteers and "gives back" to this world. But I have the deepest respect for those who help the environment and future generations. Chances are you may never see a return on your investment of time because the rewards are far into the future, yet you keep giving and giving, and serving and serving. This is remarkable.

Thank you very much for inspiring me. Thank you for reminding me that humans are for the most part wonderful, and that it is the most dedicated ones among us who will be the ones that will ultimately save the community of life.

You will be reading this soon, Maria. I know you will.

Todd

Lazolution

Okay, I was talking to a colleague tonight and he shared with me some interesting insight:

Why Americans Are Lazy

Back in prehistoric days, the individuals and tribes with the most food, most efficient organization, and best weapons were the winners. Those who could not compete were weeded out by evolution.

The problem is that these successful humans tended to be selfish, horded resources, and became lazy. Ta da, they have now evolved into Americans.

Unfortunately, our success in the caves of Europe 20,000 years ago may now lead to our failure in the good ol' USA. We have become like the Roman Empire in its last days — obsessed with good food, entertainment, sports, narcissism, and self-indulgence, and not really about the Earth or future generations.

Then there is the problem with all these big modern "tribes" that try to compete with one another for dominance. For instance, today we see Islam and Christianity competing with one another. One way these "tribes" try to overpower the other is by mass breeding. Growing the human population is never really a good solution, because all those humans require more resources and make a greater impact on the Earth.

I'm not sure how this will all end, but I am certain of one thing: We are all prisoners of our genetic coding, much more than we can ever imagine. So much of our behavior can be traced to those early days in our evolution. The problem is that what once suited us back in caveman days is not likely going to work well in our modern, global economy.

TD

A thanks to brother Steve in Maine for sharing his insight.

Brainwaves of Humanity

Okay, I've spent the last few days looking at dozens of blogs on the Web. I've seen a lot of interesting blogs about travel, pets, raising kids, etc.. But what I'm not seeing is a lot of deep thought. What I see is a focus on the trivial. I don't know, I'm not feeling good about this whole "save the Earth" thing.

My problem is that I spend WAY too much time thinking. In the second grade my teacher called me the "Absent Minded Professor" because I was constantly daydreaming and zoned out. When I got my first real job at Dairy Queen at age 17, I almost got fired because my mind was a million miles away.

Most of my mental energy is spent on figuring ways to help our dying species and Planet. A reader of my blog once told me that I seemed frustrated because no one else seemed to "get it." That describes me in a nutshell. I always try to keep an open mind, but I get so frustrated with conservative religious people that I don't even want to have a discussion with them, in fact, I don't even want to be around them.

What amazes me most is how people can hold totally conflicting values, find a way to justify their contradictions, and seem to have no problem with that. For example, guns, war, and Christianity ARE NOT A PRETTY MATCH, but Right Wing folks seem to have no problem with their opposing values. Or Christians and the Republican Party — religious evangelicals appear to have no problem aligning themselves with big corporate predators that ruthlessly exploit the environment and labor. Or Christians who scream about "private property rights" and "my rights" — sounds selfish to me, and contradicts the communal living style described in the Book of Acts.

So, I spend a lot of time wondering if humanity is worth saving or can be saved. Every day I see things, read things, and hear about things, and I am just amazed at how utterly insane this world is. As a coworker once said to me, "Everybody's just trippin', man." Indeed they are.

Todd

Desiderata

In 1978 I was on my high school yearbook staff and someone had the idea of making the poem below our theme. I remember that a girl passed out a handout of the poem to all of us staff members. This week I was clearing junk out of my mom's attic and came across the poem -- 30 years later. I now realize that a lot of this has stuck in my head through the years -- it has actually had an influence on my life.

Todd

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.