Yes!!! … I do focus far too much on ME in ecological community.
And I AM a “toxic” pragmatic idealist and pain-in-the-butt, Don Quixote gadfly who is pretty much a utilitarian who strives for sustainable livelihoods across the globe.
(Still … though I recognize ugliness & all the terrible violations of the Golden Rule & violations of the need to abide by the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, I do appreciate beauty and empathy & kindness & real love of all of humanity and other biota (‘Nature”).
I became what I am over 78+ years now because of genetic crapshoots, epigenetics, and environmental influences of:
o good parents [ Equity!!! … & the other 4 major needs!!! ] ,
o the dynamics of a decent little rural village of a diversity of relatively low input/throughput “quasi- agrarianism” (Devine, Texas) which was also a bedroom community for a decent city (San Antonio) [ Degrowth!!! ] ,
o obvious disparity & discrimination & other injustices [ Equity!!! ] ,
o Vatican II [ Ecological Literacy/Equity ] ,
o civil rights movements of the 1950s, 60s to date, ecological movements of the 60s & 70s to date [ Equity/Ecological Literacy ] ,
o the Vietnam War (my brief time in the military, my perception of my Dad’s attitude toward small arms … and War, and my Uncle Bain’s unnecessary death in Germany in February of 1945) [ Deweaponization/Demilitarization ] ,
o academic learning and ways to conduct scientific research at Texas A&M, University of Florida, and University of Georgia [ Ecological Literacy & the other 4 major needs ],
o and travels in Latin America and the U.S. and a bit in Poland, Ukraine, & Europe … learning pretty well two Latin languages & some of the culture of Latin America cultures … and really getting to know some regular folk in various parts of Latin America (& the U.S.) [ Agrarianism/Ecological Literacy/Equity ],
o learning quite a bit about the realities of state & federal politics from Jim Hightower’s Texas Department of Agriculture [ Ecological Literacy ] ,
o experiencing the joy of working with youth & other students … with “Kids On the Land”, Generations Indigenous Ways , Dos Pueblos-Nicaragua/NYC, Seguin Outdoor Learning Center, and in local Texas public schools & the Historically Black & Hispanic-Serving St. Philip’s (community) College [ Ecological Literacy ] .
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I apologize to those who I continue to hurt with my very harsh (John Adams-esk) but well-meaning words aimed at those on both the political Right & Left … AND ESPECIALLY YOU IN THE LUKEWARM MIDDLE!!! … And I must admit selfishly that I do appreciate the cautious gratitude that I receive from a significant number of others.
I still have much that I wish to do toward systematic systems change toward the 5 key needs of …
1. ecological literacy,
2. deweaponization/demilitarization,
3. Degrowth,
4. sustainable agrarianism, &
5. equity …
and quality life for ALL humans & other biota.
But I have little time left. (And there WILL NOT be much change in my mindset, ethos, modus operandi before I pass.)
Love,
paul bain martin
( 7 Ss / VV->^^ )
In Solidarity toward Degrowth “Communitarianism”
