“To live, we must daily break the body and shed the blood of Creation.
When we do this knowingly, lovingly, skillfully, reverently, it is a sacrament.
When we do it ignorantly, greedily, clumsily, destructively, it is a desecration.”*
frugality & sharing, perseverance
a process of profound and holistic learning
a tearing down of walls & barriers, and enhancing connectivity in ecotones
affirmative action … economic, social, ecological
the learning & appreciation of different & dynamic anatomical, physiological and psychological status, languages, ethnicities, cultures
simple, small, steady maintenance of sustainability and development of knowledge, wisdom, & prudence
i haven’t mastered this
but the process of positively ethical applied community ecology and the principle of connectivity
was ingrained in me …
by rural south central texas catholicism and small farm life
by parents of 1930’s depression times
by a st. joseph’s comal kneuper of a mom whose own mom passed and left her at nine (though certainly not by choice)
if you worship at the altar of BIG (big schools, big agrilogistics, big “bidness,” big air-conditioned homes, automobiles, big roads, big planes, big cruise ships) … and INFINITE growth and artificialization (and military & War) …
in a FINITE world of finite daily solar energy and finite soil & air and water
on which the precious photosynthesizers & biodiversity of creation depend, then …
as ol’ little jimmy said …
“may the bird of paradise fly up your nose
may an elephant crush you with his toes
may your [significant other] be plagued with runners in her[his] hose
may the bird of paradise fly up your nose”**
growth, fossil energy, neoliberalism, rampant artificialization & desertification destroy sacred creation
they devastate connections, effective communication, diversity
they wreck top soil, quality waters & clean air, sustainable food chains/food webs
you fail to abide by the second law of thermodynamics, the precautionary principle, and a profound & holistic abidance of the golden rule
and their connections to the ecological principle of connectivity
you neglect this ethos which facilitates quality human life for as long as possible. … then i emphasize strongly …
“may the bird of paradise fly up your nose”
if you have an attitude similar to aggie clayton williams,
that we should accept reality and not try to change what we cannot
that we should just complacently lie back and enjoy an open pandora’s box & the screwing of holy creation,
then … my message to you is:
“may the bird of paradise fly up your nose”
“may the bird of paradise fly up your nose”
“may the bird of paradise fly up your nose”
……………………………….
this piece WAS/IS informed by scientific studies & research
at 1862 land grant universities, in latin America, and of ‘ecologists” the likes of schumacher, pimentel, odum, & hickel et al.
but also texan rice graduate, and world bank ecological economist herman daly
who all concluded strongly that “Small Is Beautiful” and “Less Is More!”
don’t believe it? well then, for durn sure …
“may the bird of paradise fly up your nose”
“To live, we must daily break the body and shed the blood of Creation.
When we do this knowingly, lovingly, skillfully, reverently, it is a sacrament.
When we do it ignorantly, greedily, clumsily, destructively, it is a desecration.”
pbm
7 S’s / VV->^^
………………………………
*Wendell Berry
**Neal Merritt
