kfsaylor’s Recent Comments

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Death of Environmentalism??

  What is environmentalism? Here's one definition:

  Environmentalism is activism aimed at protecting the environment or improving its condition, particularly nature. This activism is usually based on the ideology of an environmental movement, and often takes the form of public education programs, advocacy, legislation and treaties.

  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmentalism[/quote]

  Since this past Presidential Election, a certain segment of those who identify themselves as environmentalists have been reflecting and hand-wringing over whether environmentalism is dead.

  The simple answer to this question is that it is nowhere near dead. In fact, it is as strong as it has ever been. However, perhaps there are some changes. It seems to me that it is those who are politically liberal that are lamenting the death of environmentalism. Just take some time to look into the politics of those who are writing and speaking about and lamenting environmentalism's post mortum; generally speaking, they are politically liberal.

  Perhaps the real question is: "Is liberalism's influence on environmental activism, policy, etc. being successfully countered by a more politically conservative approach to environmental activism, policy, ect." Perhaps the liberal's lament points more toward a subtle shifts in the focus of environmentalism because of the injection of conservative thought into the environmentalism's ideological structure? If that is the case, I guess, I can understand a liberal environmentalist equating that with the death of environmentalism but such would be a short-sighted view. The relative influence conservative politics has on the environmental movement as a whole reflects certain realities of this particular moment in time. You can be certain that, in the future, the realities of that moment will dictate and manifest the resurgence of a more liberal approach.

  The concern for the environment and a willingness to protect and improve the quality of the natural world is not dead ... however ... perhaps the liberal approach to and influence over the environmental movement is being checked by a conservative approach to environmental issues. On further thought ... perhaps the real question should be:

  "Why is 'Liberal' Environmentalism being checked by 'Conservative' Environmentalism?"

  BTW, Conservative Environmentalism is not an oxymoron. It is a growing reality.On Response to "Death": Part IV posted 4 years, 8 months ago 3 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Death of Environmentalism??

  What is environmentalism? Here's one definition:

  Environmentalism is activism aimed at protecting the environment or improving its condition, particularly nature. This activism is usually based on the ideology of an environmental movement, and often takes the form of public education programs, advocacy, legislation and treaties.

  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmentalism[/quote]

  Since this past Presidential Election, a certain segment of those who identify themselves as environmentalists have been reflecting and hand-wringing over whether environmentalism is dead.

  The simple answer to this question is that it is nowhere near dead. In fact, it is as strong as it has ever been. However, perhaps there are some changes. It seems to me that it is those who are politically liberal that are lamenting the death of environmentalism. Just take some time to look into the politics of those who are writing and speaking about and lamenting environmentalism's post mortum; generally speaking, they are politically liberal.

  Perhaps the real question is: "Is liberalism's influence on environmental activism, policy, etc. being successfully countered by a more politically conservative approach to environmental activism, policy, ect." Perhaps the liberal's lament points more toward a subtle shifts in the focus of environmentalism because of the injection of conservative thought into the environmentalism's ideological structure? If that is the case, I guess, I can understand a liberal environmentalist equating that with the death of environmentalism but such would be a short-sighted view. The relative influence conservative politics has on the environmental movement as a whole reflects certain realities of this particular moment in time. You can be certain that, in the future, the realities of that moment will dictate and manifest the resurgence of a more liberal approach.

  The concern for the environment and a willingness to protect and improve the quality of the natural world is not dead ... however ... perhaps the liberal approach to and influence over the environmental movement is being checked by a conservative approach to environmental issues. On further thought ... perhaps the real question should be:

  "Why is 'Liberal' Environmentalism being checked by 'Conservative' Environmentalism?"

  BTW, Conservative Environmentalism is not an oxymoron. It is a growing reality.On Environmental funders share blame for movement's weak pulse posted 4 years, 8 months ago 3 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Falling into Politics - A moment of free-thought.

  This post is just an attempt to write some thoughts and feelings unfilter.

  In my early post above I wrote:

  "With this said, perhaps a good beginning would be for mainstream environmentalists to find ways to reach out to conservatives that stem not from a search for a shadow dialectical agreement but from shared intuitive experience and understanding."

  This evening I went for a long walk along the wooded shoreline of one of my favorite birding areas. In the cool air, surrounded by darkness and the little breeze rustling the dry leave and grasses I reflected on these words. I challenged myself to expand on what I was trying to express.

  For some reason, particular memories flooded my mind. First, as a young man, my first small game hunt. Our Beagle (named Bozo) circling a Cotton-tail Rabbit back around to me ... my heart pumping ... the rabbit running into a clearing ... I raise my beloved 20 gauge shotgun ... aim and squeeze the trigger ... I'm on target ... but the rabbit is only wounded. My dad is not nearby but our neighbor is was along-side me.

  "Good shot son!" he exclaims.

  "It is not dead your going to have to finish him." he says.

  He goes on to suggest in a matter-of-fact way. "Pick it up and hit it against a tree a couple times."

  I complied ... However, tears were flowing. Far from being happy ... my sympathy for this animal overwhelmed me. (By the way, I've long lost desire to hunt.)

  The memories go on.

  Years later, I'm on a road driving to an appointment. The roads are wet. A deer runs out ... I strike it head on. I'm in an isolated area in Michigan. No homes nearby. This was before cell-phones were prevalent. The deer lay in the road hind legs broken and trying to right itself. It is a doe in the late stages of pregnancy. My heart is broken ... tears are streaming down my face. Finally, another car approaches and an man approaches. I feel like a fool ... no way to conceal my emotions. He laughs at me. "Just drag the damn deer to the side of the road." I want to scream, "You freaking cold-hearted $*#@!"

  You want help? he asks

  "No thank you."

  He drives away shaking his head.

  I sit with her until she expires. Sympathy. The gentleman in the car seemed to lack it in this situation.

  These memories bring to me powerful reminders of sympathy ... a pliability of heart.

  I again reflect on my words. "Shared intuitive experience and understanding," and inject sympathy.

  In quiet one on one hours there's so much I share and affirm with those adherents to mainstream environmentalism. We sympathize with one another because we share an intuitive love and concern for our shared environment based, in part, on our shared experience with things wild. These things transcend ideology. This transcendent point of reference brings us together.

  However, our adversarial political system demands we act. And demands that we act on our beliefs if we wish to effect the path our nation takes.

  I'm falling ... solidifying ... becoming rigid.

  Though it is no where near the same thing ... ideologically and politically ... I often feel like a warrior in the field of battle. I meet a friend on the other side. We are forced to struggled against one-another. However, before the battle begins our eyes meet ... a moment of recognition ... sympathy and respect. A fleeting thought ... to hell with this conflict! Let's join forces!

  ... the fight begins. Transcendence lost. Sympathy lost. All that matters is winning.

  Falling into politics.

  In spirit we touch the truth together. In temporality truth becomes refracted and the soul grieves while the world suffers.

  Keith F. Saylor
  On Making environmentalism palatable to social conservatives posted 5 years ago 19 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Should it be "Palatable" or Intuitive

  Hi Dave,

  I'll try to make this post as coherent as I can.

  Starting with the assumption that environmentalists should reach out to cultural Conservatives.

  To the question how do environmentalists make environmentalism palatable to conservatives.

  First, I think everyone should understand why the Republican Party has gained the support of many conservatives. Keeping this in mind:

  The Republican Party and Conservatism are not mutually exclusive. Many Conservatives are not supporters of the Republican Party for the sake of the Republican Party.

  The Republican Party has gained Conservative sympathies because they've spent years cultivating a relationship with them. They do not and did not set out to change the minds and hearts of conservatives; rather they embraced conservative values and gained the trust of many conservatives.

  Environmentalism is not going to succeed with conservatives if there approach is to strive for a dialectic structure they think conservatives would embrace. Especially if that dialectic doesn't come from the heart. I'm really concerned that many are advocating a kind of dialectical bait and switch approach. Not only will this not work ... it will only serve to strengthen the disconnect.

  I've recently written about a movement among conservatives who are concerned with issues surrounding wildlife and their habitat. This is currently a quiet and subtle movement as we begin to structure of thoughts from within a conservative ideological context. This movement embraces core Conservative political and moral values. Should this movement gain its political legs and ideological muscle, it will give cultural conservatives a foundation from which to get their minds around and embrace environmental concerns. But this embrace will come intuitively through conservative environmentalist's bedrock foundation in core conservative values. This intuitive embrace stemming from within the conservative political, social, and spiritual framework is essential.

  Many conservative environmentalists are of the view that the fundamental ideological starting points are so different between themselves and mainstream environmentalism that it is too great to bridge ... I've even admonished environmentalism should be wedged ... creating a conservative and liberal environmentalist dichotomy. Though maybe it doesn't have to be that way.

  The risk mainstream environmentalism faces is being marginalized if conservative environmentalist ideals become mainstreamed within conservatism as a whole and are thereby embraced by the Republican Party.

  With this said, perhaps a good beginning would be for mainstream environmentalists to find ways to reach out to conservatives that stem not from a search for a shadow dialectical agreement but from shared intuitive experience and understanding.

  I apologize if this is less than coherent. It is late and I should be in bed. I look forward to discussing this more and hope that, perhaps, we can work through to mutual sympathy with one another.

  Finally, I leave you with this. I created a webpage with content comprising some images I've taken over the past year. Most of the image are of bird nests and juveniles; though there are some flowers and insects. I thought I'd share it with you all because
  the intent of the page is not so much to display images; but to create a space for reflection ... a place to take a few moments and maybe center.

  You must have the Macromedia Flash Plugin to view and listen to the presentation. It takes about 15 secs for the content to load on my cable connection. I'm not sure how long it will take for those with slower
  internet connections.

  Just thought some of you might enjoy it.

  http://www.northbirding.com/med/

  Keith F. SaylorOn Making environmentalism palatable to social conservatives posted 5 years ago 19 Responses