what will it take?

This was originally posted on the old buzztail in July 2007.

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Trapper Peak -- Bitterroot Mountains, Montana

Let’s face it. As a society we are far too comfortable, far too insulated in our cocoons to really be in touch with the wild. Our lives, our living environments, our working environments, all of it, are largely artificial. Hence the gradual destruction of our natural home, our native habitat. We’re losing touch with what’s at stake.

It’s nothing new. It’s been going on for generations now. For many of us  our only contact with the wild anymore is through calendar photos and TV documentaries. That’s like looking at a picture of a meal on the menu instead of actually eating one. It’s not the real thing, and offers nothing in the way of nourishment.

We’ve come to passively accept the degradation of our wild nature with little more than an occasional whimper and maybe an occasional contribution to our favorite environmental group thinking we’ve done our part. That’s not said to belittle environmental  groups or downplay the generous contributions many make. Not at all. But it’s going to take more than that. Much more.

What will it really take to protect wildness? Well, passion and anger and outrage for starters. We humans need to rear up on our hind legs, look around, and realize that we need to protect our natural home from the greedheads  and all those who will take advantage of our silence to profit greatly. To stand by quietly and let it happen is to condone it. We’ve done that for long enough. For too long. We need to defend our wilds as ferociously and passionately as we would protect our homes against intruders who would break in and do harm to us and our families. Whether we have it in us to do that remains to be seen.