Warning: This post smells of tree-huggers and free love. Do not be frightened.
Until I was about twelve yrs. old, I was a military brat (US Air Force w00t!). A fortunate by-product of such an upbringing has been a healthy, maybe even fierce pride and respect for our country and our military (cue Kenny Rogers). While this patriotism is alive and well inside my ticker, I've never been quite as disenchanted with our nation as I have been the last few years. I have taken the time to remove my "American" hat (resembles a baseball cap with a flat bill/sticker still on, "D" for Detroit; sits slightly askew) and don my simple "Human Being" hat (maybe like something I'd weave out of weeds?) to have a look around, and I've had myself quite an education. Mostly I've become aware of bad, bad Americans making bad, bad decisions all over the place. In a word: Boo, America!
Many times I've sat in my little room with my little energy-efficient Ikea lamp & light bulb ablaze utterly frustrated at my lack of influence in healing the world & making it a better place (cue MJ). These sessions usually occur after forgetting once again to bring my own bag to the grocery store. NYC has got to be the biggest waster of plastic bags in the world. And probably about 5% of those bags are under my kitchen sink. Gaaaaaah. For shame! In a word: Boo, Kassie! My heart is soooo in the right place, but it seems inevitable that I just keep aiding in the demise of this land that I love!
How can little you and I repent America? (If you've read a lot of the Old Testament, which I've been doing lately - especially Jeremiah - the word repent is used sillily. Specifically, with regards to God - He can't repent He's already at Himself! Anyways, I've taken to using 'repent' in any way I please. Silly translators.)
1. Stop being ignorant. Regardless of your political views or how you feel about global warming (If you think it's a myth, that's great. Not a myth? CDCs and other oil waste products. They are poison whether or not they are actually punching significant holes in our beloved ozone layer), bone up on at least the ecological consequences of your actions. Start small. I promise you learning about this stuff is addictive. It's a little like researching your family history - before you start, your gut says it's important, but your attention span says it's important for someone else. But once you've started , you're hitting my dealer for a re-up like daily. Word to the wise: If you're going to head to the media for your 'facts', make sure you check out both camps. I've lost complete faith in any news program besides The Colbert Report & The Daily Show.
2. Watch this film: http://www.hulu.com/watch/158468/fuel
IT'S FREE! and it's a feature film, so dedicate a night to it. It's educational AND entertaining! If you, like me, get inspired to help change and unite the world by serving and sustaining one another, this film will be a relief and a huzzah! Because, as you will learn from the flick, people, nay nations have already done all the work and made all the changes. The world is just waiting with it's arms wide open for the group hug we are all starving for, we just need to seal the deal with our support. How?
3. Contact your Congressman. Why are people so afraid of these stool pigeons? It's easy! We have email, telephone, snail mail. They have offices, even if they don't spend any time in them! Photocopy a buttload of your biofuel/renewable-energy-for-your-community demands and send one each day, or even all at once. They need to feel the pressure from their constituents to conform to the new green trend. No one wants to be more trendy than Congressmen do! Obama can't do much without the dis/approval of Congress, and who runs Congress? We do, actually! What?? I knoooow!!! We all know that Congressmen are (with a few exceptions) whimpy people-pleasers who need fill the holes in their souls with power and money. And they need to listen to us, or else their power & cash flow diminish. I'm gonna write my Congressmen this week. I'm not sure which state I'm a resident of, so I'm gonna hit up both New York and Virginia. Of course, our points should be made in a spirit of fellowship and progress, not disrespect aka the spirit of point #3.
If you can't be bothered with "environmental issues" and can't see their connection to your own life, that's cool. I can see how it feels like an unnecessary & futile effort. We've got enough on our plates with our small independent worlds. Well, at least check out www.thefuelfilm.com. Give it a two-minute browse and see if anything inspires you. At the very least, your effort could help create hundreds of millions of green-collared jobs here in the States. Which is reason enough for me!
Each of us can do something to eliminate our dependence on oil and coal. We don't have to create or instate alternatives. That's already been taken care of! We just need to strong-arm some politicians to do their job. The power is in our hands! And if the masses (you and me) don't do it, who will?
Or at the very least, get paper instead of plastic.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!! LAND. THAT. I. LOOOOOOVE!!!
Holler back,
Kassie
