Comments suzanne has made

  • Moral values

    The environmental movement makes the mistake of not valuing family. Sure, lots of letters that go out from enviro orgs to potential donors talk about saving the world for our children and future generations. BUT:

    I work in the environmental community and often find myself in the company of disapproving zero population folks or lots of middle and upper class folks who have one kid and don't understand how anyone, after going through all-nighters with one baby, could have another.  Kids interfere with all that most valuable and important work we are doing.

    Doing my job everyday means leaving my family behind, as do my volunteer efforts for the environment.  Many of my collegues admit their kids are kind of clueless as to what it is exactly that they do.  When the enviromental community does offer something up for kids (like camps and workshops), it's stuff that is not only tends to exclude parents, but is usually incredibly expensive--or the kids get to plant native plants and trees in local parks.

    My question in light of the election has been, where is the hub? Where is the center?  The moral issue in this election was galvanized in the churches and by neighbor talking to neighbor.

    If you are new to a community and value God and country, you can usually find a church full of like-minded people with services and activities for the family and day-care and Sunday school for the kids--scout troops and 4-H groups spring up out of churches.  Church and all of the activity is free or nearly and addresses all ages.  Where can I go to be with others like me--for no other reason than to just be together and feel strong?

    As an environmentalist who is not a christian, I've had a very difficult time finding community, a place where my values receive affirmation and where I'm encouraged to bring my family along. There are a couple of churches and temples that embrace earth ministry and stewardship, but I don't embrace their faith.

    The best thing we have is our local food cooperative where we volunteer and shop, and while we shop our kids wander free because it feels safe. We run into lots of people we know there.

    But for many outside the coop mentality, the coop is scary place full of homos and freaks.  One friend who has a rather large family, but who embraces organics and local buying and other environmentally friendly practices was sneered at and called a "breeder" as she entered the coop.  

    I have very left-leaning, alternative life-style friends who have left their local coops because of the level of judging that goes on--and the myth of consensual decision making.

    I think the environmental movement as it is now alienates moderates who are trying to make a living and raise a family.  I know people who have moved away from orgs and activism and become more quietly active by making lifestyle choices because the demands of being an activist actually removes them from family and community. Or they move toward social activism because kids are welcome to help out in soup kitchens and at food banks.

    This isn't really a lot of complaining, as it may seem to be.  I'm trying to work through my current thinking so that maybe I can come up with a solution for my community.  

    No easy answers.  The left, the liberals, the environmentalists all have some work to do to present a united front and embrace those who don't quite think like us.  

    The enviro movement is full of strong-minded, well-educated individuals who believe they have the answer.  I think, sometimes, we can be as fundamentalist as the right.On Moral values posted 5 years ago 7 Responses