I came up with my blog title "Open the Curtains” for a couple of reasons:
- First, I think it’s really weird when people keep their curtains closed all day long, even when the weather is gorgeous*. And when it‘s gloomy, all the more reason to open them and let in more light. Living in perpetual dim seems like a sure indication of mental imbalance (either that or a meth lab!) and a desire to avoid facing the world outside. *(caveat: I do think when the sun is so hot it starts melting the carpet, then it’s good to close the curtains and keep the heat out)
- The second reason is a metaphor for the first: people don’t want to open their mental curtains and face the facts about humans’ abuse of, and disregard for, the well being of the planet (and each other). And how this mistreatment of our one-and-only ecosystem will be our undoing, as long as we remain oblivious to the catastrophic effects of our use-it-up-and-throw-it-away lifestyle.
After reading my ‘Clotheslines and Coal Ash’ post, a good friend told me, “the first part was good, but the second part was a bummer – and people don’t want to read something that will make them feel bummed-out.“ This perfectly illustrates my point that most people are living in a self-imposed darkness of firmly shut curtains – they choose to live in the dimly lit, ignorance-is-bliss, status quo room of ‘I want to be a consumer my way and not think about the consequences.’ We can’t go on living in a place where we shut out the knowledge of how our individual actions make an impact not just on our own reality, but on that of the whole bloomin’ world!
No one likes a “Debbie Downer,” especially me. So even if the message is hard to come to grips with, I always try to provide a solution/suggestion that gives hope – since I remain hopeful. Because (DUH!) if we continue to ignore the problem it will just get worse…
I am definitely a lover, not a fighter. But this is such an important time and I feel very strongly that I have to do my part to get the message out. If people need to be forced to wake up and smell the crude awakening, then I guess I’ll have to get down and dirty and do some forcing! If we can handle getting a little bummed-out by facing reality now, then maybe we'll avoid getting really bummed-out when the proverbial sh*t hits the fan. And if we do wake up and make some changes, then maybe the sh*t won’t hit the fan so hard!
So, after careful consideration (and a reminder from my friend Liz of a name she suggested I use a while ago), you can now call me… wait for it –
That's right, just call me the ECO-DOMINATRIX!
You don’t wanna be bummed-out?!?! I’ll make you LOVE being woken up and slapped around by the shocking facts you’re avoiding!!
I have a virtual whip and I’m not afraid to use it! Now click on that link and read, dammit!
And put that plastic bottle in the recycling bin, NOW!
Click on these links, dammit!
Coming next: Simple things YOU can do to save the planet (and yourself)
All photos/graphics by me (except where noted below).
That's absolutely true, I hope people realize that being an activist may not mean the end of a normal standard of living. However some hard news once in while is a good wake up call to our seemingly close global reality.
ReplyDeletevery true, thanks. Hard news now will give us a softer landing for the future.
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