"Why would I want a new car? The Datsun runs great. I don't need a new car. I don't want a new car. I don't want any thing. These things, things, things, things," Christopher McCandless tells his parents who have offered him a gift of a new car upon college graduation.
Chris' story was told in Jon Krakauer's book Into the Wild that was made into a film directed by Sean Penn. He was a young man who saw the life ahead of him after graduation, one of Keeping up with the Joneses, a corporate job, and happiness so tied to materialism, and decided it wasn't the least bit for him. He headed off into the wilds of Alaska, and tragically never returned. Far from the world where he didn't feel he fit in, he found solace in nature. "All my destinations would except the one that's me, so I can breathe," signs Eddie Vedder on Guaranteed in the film's soundtrack. Nature accepts you for who you are. She isn't impressed by your latest promotion or possessions. Nature awes and inspires you.
Today is Earth Day, which is being forgotten falling on Good Friday amidst the Easter festivities. But our poor treatment of the Earth is easily forgotten. Only when it directly impacts a person - the water supply is polluted, say, or a cell phone tower is planned, does it seem to draw attention and cries of "not in my backyard."
Werner Herzog's "Encounters at the End of the World," is a haunting and dreamy look at the personalities who live in Antarctica, including its scientists. Many of these scientists, Herzog observes, doubt man's long-term existence on the Earth. Nature, they believe, will regulate us. I can't help think they are right. Why are we drowning out the warning calls?
On this Earth Day, I share the art of Jerry Hannan's Society, a cautionary tale pondering our modern day society's take and take attitude, "We have a greed, with which we have agreed." It was performed by Eddie Vedder on the Into the Wild soundtrack. Try and quiet the wants, focus on the needs.
It's a mystery to me
We have a greed
With which we have agreed
And you think you have to
Want more than you need
Until you have it all
You won't be free
Society
You're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely
Without me
When you want more than you have
You think you need
And when you think more than you want
Your thoughts begin to bleed
I think I need to find a bigger place
Cause when you have
More than you think
You need more space
Society
Crazy indeed
Hope you're not lonely
Without me
There's those thinking more less
Less is more
But if less is more
How you keepin' score?
Means for every point you make
Your level drops
Kinda like you're starting from the top
And you can't do that
Society
You're a crazy breed
Hope you're not lonely
Without me
Society
Crazy indeed
Hope you're not lonely
Without me
Society
Have mercy on me
Hope you're not angry
If I disagree
Society
You're a crazy breed
Hope you're not lonely
Without me
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