While some people are making extreme sacrifices, the majority of the population seems unaware we are on the brink of crises. Could it be because draconian measures turn people off the cause! One thing is for sure, the right does not have the monopoly on guilt!
I would like to think of myself as a socially responsible person. I have given up my car out of climate concerns, I am a religious recycler, and I even haul my wet laundry up 3 flights of stairs and let it air dry in my city apartment. Yet, every time I go to one of those progressive web sites, I feel like an over privileged potentate! Instead of being able to feel ever so slightly good about my what I have done so far (and we humans need kudos once in awhile, it is our basic nature) I leave in exasperation at the next thing that is expected of me. The things mentioned in the title are -I kid you not- serious suggestions made by "progressives." Yes, there are people out there willing to make extraordinary sacrifices, but I wonder if encouraging such extremes is not just turning people off the cause!
Let us start with the food fascists. Believe me, I support both organic and locally grown whenever possible. But there are those who advocate only eating locally grown food. Period! So if you live in Chicago, you can never eat avocados or have lemon in your tea! (And your tea had better come from locally grown herbs!) I am also a flextarian with strong veggie leanings. One thing that keeps me from going all the way is evangelism from the vegetarian community, and sentiments like no one has the right to call themselves a progressive if they eat meat. I hate evangelism in any form, be it Christian fundamentalism or culinary fanaticism! Of course the vegetarians are nothing compared to militant vegans. (BTW, I am not saying ALL vegans are militant! And why do they always pronounce it vEEEEEEEEgan anyway?) Kind of like comparing the current Pope Benedict to the Jesuits of the Inquisition! They advocate no animal products at all! It figures we have people who combine all of the above. ONLY locally grown, organic, vegan food! O.K. so they can eat lots of fresh salads in the summer, but what does that leave them in the winter? Freeze dried alpha sprouts?
In fairness, some of the more lenient among them have recommended eating bugs. I understand intellectually that insects are important source of protein around the world. For those open minded enough to put aside cultural bugaboos to crunch crawly critters, MORE POWER TO YA! I am going to pass. Now, there is a loophole that allows one to eat anything they want! As long as it comes from the trash. One site did a whole article on Freeganism - getting ones dinner from the local dumpster. Again, I am not going to judge. With the economy the way it is, this might be necessity for many. I myself will take any non food item out of the trash and bring it to the recycling exchange if I have no need of it. But as far as food goes, I am going to stick with that insidious tool of capitalist oppression - the grocery store! (And as an aside I say thank you goddess for my abundant body! My entire life society told me I was cursed for maintaining a higher than average weight on the same amount of food as anyone else. Well, with the price of food these days my wallet friendly waist is a blessing!!!!!)
O.K. we covered food, now lets not forget about water. One article featured a woman who tried to live on 3 gallons of water a day. Actually that is what most of the world lives on! If her article draws attention to their plight, gets us involved against the privatization of water, or even gets us to quit wasting so much, she is a heroine in my book. But I am not going to try and live on 3 gallons. Industrialized nations take their hygiene seriously. Anyone here who tried it would be fired, friendless, or both. Besides, even the author cheated by bathing and washing her hair the night before and eating out! So, if she who made the point can't do it, how are we supposed to?
But it is not just the basics they find fault with. To their credit, one site had a good article on how social network sites like Facebook and Myspace can be used to mobilize for social causes. It was the readers who went ballistic. I am not going to argue the child predator or surrender of privacy issues because I think those are valid points. But they just had a problem with the sites in general. I think it was a neoLuddite, popular and modern automatically equals bad, overreaction. Personally, I think myspace is fun. I think it is a great way to stay in touch while avoiding long distance bills. Having been indoctrinated into the consumer way of life, I have found it a tough habit to break! So now, I go online and "shop" for friends instead of consumer goods. Since many of my friends are social justice organizations, I have learned much. Even in my own field. I never knew pioneering sociologist Emile Durkheim was expected to be a rabbi until I read it on his myspace page! But what I REALLY like about Myspace is it gives everyone an opportunity to tell their own story rather than just be passive spectators. I would much rather read what my neighbor thinks than listen to some journalist who is spinning her story around the needs of the papers corporate sponsor. I would rather listen to some struggling band then only choose from who some record label decides is most economically viable. The peoples' own voice equals greater choice, how can that not be a good thing???
But the most CRUEL of all admonitions was not to cash your economic stimulus check! Don't even put it in the bank! To get back at Bush! How insensitive is it to make people feel guilty about paying off some debt or getting their kids new shoes??? Do these people have any idea at all just how tight it is getting for the American public? There are plenty of ways to get back at Bush that do not involve financial stupidity! Like supporting a criminal investigation! Or boycotting anything he has a financial interest in! Or keep mocking the dumb stuff he says- a lifetime of revenge right there! People have every right to cash their stimulus check, it is their money! Not that they shouldn't spend it mindfully! Like paying down their debt or saving it. Personally, mine is going into a socially responsible bank in Chicago that helps the community. It is a win win situation because it is a good cause that also allows me a bit of security in an uncertain job market!
What is really frustrating to me is that we have one part of the population advocating surreal sacrifices while much of the country is marching on oblivious to global warming, resource shortages and the impact the financial crisis will have. I wonder if that is coincidence! I wonder if by advocating such draconian measures, people see changing their ways as something only fanatics do? What bugs me the most is that the liberals are acting just like arch conservatives! Isn't it the left who supports birth control information because they are smart enough to know that abstinence only education just leads to parenthood? Teens are not going to stop having sex. Whether they should or shouldn't is beside the point. They are not going to stop having sex. So, should we acknowledge their humanity and support safe sex or suffer the consequences? Most liberals are smart enough to advocate the former while the conservatives scratch their heads over paradoxical pregnancies. (The phenomena where teens who profess to be against premarital sex have a statistically higher rate of pregnancy because they don't think they will ever need birth control!) Well liberals, to me you are just like the conservatives on so many other issues. Just plunk on a big old Jerry Falwell mask on because that is how you are coming off. (Except skinny and in faux leather Burkenstocks!) People are not going to start living like ascetics! They are just not! What we need is more moderates that understand people are never going to entirely forgo their comforts. That does not mean we can't significantly change our habits to save ourselves before it is too late. In fact, if we find creative ways to change, we can tackle a multiple of problems and kill several birds with one stone (sorry bird lovers). We have always had extremists with us. History tells us there were people willing to whip themselves bloody and wear hair shirts for the glory of God! Yet, that is all they are remembered for. What did they ever really accomplish except make themselves miserable!!!