A View From the Summit

A poignant scene in the scifi cartoon WALL-E depicts a solitary plant sprouting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world. The lonely cotyledon stands with verdant glow against a dusty barren and destroyed cityscape of the future. Viewers are presented with a semi-happy ending where corpulent and mind-controlled humans return to the Earth and find hope in the possibility of re-vegetating the planet. Ah yes, Hollywood has discovered a nostalgic theme for nature’s role in our lives, with Avatar and other enviro-themed scripts that attend to a certain demographic. And as long as one can sit in a climate-controlled soft seat, eating sugar-salt laden food, one can assuage feelings of a paradise lost through these fantasy escape sessions. Meanwhile, at the reality shack, polar bears are starving, small island nations are sinking, and the Midwest is suffering the worst weather patterns in memory and in methodical scientific record keeping. The Arab spring has helped to distract us from the record breaking early US spring. Our national politics have suspiciously shifted attention to the need for more oil to prevent, heaven forbid, increases in prices at the gas pump. Prices that have been unequivocally linked to everything except the actual supply of oil. EPA has put on the back burner, due to the lack of political fuel of will, the administration’s campaign for atmospheric reduction of carbon dioxide. And if the scientists are correct, it will take one thousand years to lower our atmospheric CO2 levels from their geologically historic record highs. It is always amazing that climate change doubters will indicate their willingness to experience climates that haven’t existed for approximately one million years, yet they will complain about exceptional weather patterns. Pass the ice cubes please.

Ignorance is said to be blissful. So bliss the hearts of the many who have no idea what is going on. A pox on the many who know, but due to conflicting agendas refuse to acknowledge science facts from convenient myths cloaked as opinions. There are many who are ignorant and simple minded and they follow like Solzhenitsyn’s sheep the extreme corporate marketing propaganda of those who wish not to share the economic pie. Hate-shock radio provides a constant energy source to the spreading waves of disinformation that psychologists inform us is very tough to counter. Once a falsehood is embedded in one’s mind, like an errant and reverberating tune echoing in one’s ear, they are not easily uprooted and refuted. In the reputedly greatest nation on Earth, just under 50% of the people believe that Saddam Hussein attacked the US on 9/11. How does one look at such profligate ignorance in the face and try to have a decent conversation. Just relax, the majority will overrule the less mentally gifted minority? Not really. Those with unbridled ambition for power and money will use every vehicle and method at their disposal, legally and illegally, to gain and retain control over the majority. And the majority of the majority will tend to follow along like sheep. Shopping sheep. Because we must keep shopping. Our national economic engine is based on consumerism. We need houses, the American dream, so we can mortgage the homes (our bad) to go into debt to buy more things. Because things bring us happiness, as opposed to relationships and meaningful works. Divorce rates, unwed childbirth, and mass experiences at entertainment to occupy our time attest to our misguided compasses. Margaret Mead could not explain to ignorant naked savages why we were not attending to orphans and widows as the number one priority, as they had been doing for millennia in their uncivilized culture. How would they now appreciate our consumer based, fossil fuel addicted, materialistic civilization that allows for, and gleefully watches on wide-screen TVs the genocide, mass starvations, and internecine strife across our globe? They might think that the gods had gone mad.

Perhaps an antidote to a world with TMI, and those saddled with sagacity and knowledge about our earth. Only enlightenment can free your soul.

Taking time to think about things that make you smile, inspire, raise spirits and enable you to enjoy the fruits of creation. Why not?
• A billion parents teaching their children
• Young people getting married
• Old people holding hands
• Family reunions
• Graduations
• Celebrating births
• Celebrating birthdays
• Celebrating achievements; sports, music, competitions
• Seeing the light in others
• Seeing the light in nature
• State parks, protected areas
• Farmers markets
• Special Olympics
• Humane societies
• Knitting circles
• Book clubs
• Habitat for Humanity

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. We value your contributions and look forward to engaging in a lively and informative discussions with you. Stay posted!