Commentary on Environmental Effects of Human Existence

Recently there have been widespread concerns from government to grassroots drawing attention to the conditions of the environment due to the new “nature” of human existence, reflecting a lack of respect for the land we use, the air we breathe and the water we drink. I am writing this letter because I strongly believe that you need to be thinking about some serious events which have an enormous effect on the outcome of your future. The history and past of our nation, while not in your control, continues to create a potentially dangerous environment for you and for those who will become of you. These dangers include the condition of your land, the air you breathe, and the water you drink.
You took your first breath of air on the day you were born. You didn’t have any say about the condition of that air. You trusted that is was good and nature told you to just do it. Breathing is natural; there is not much thinking involved. You were taken to a home, a piece of land, prepared for you to nurture you. You didn’t have to do anything to deserve it, you didn’t have to manage or care for it. It was just there for you. You were given drink at thirst. From a tiny being you needed water to thrive and it was given, without consideration of its origin. This is your past.
The present causes much concern. The way of life for all human beings is changing. You must educate yourself to understand the events that are unfolding; the conditions of the land, the air, the water and what is effecting and creating a potentially hazardous environment for all our future. It is imperative that you understand your relationship with these and the effects of your existence on the land, the air and water each day that you live.
I want you to better understand and acknowledge that the things you were given on the day you were born, air, clean land, water, will not be available to your future, to your child’s children if you do not come to a better understanding of the effects of your actions. There is literature representing the oral legend of Smoking Waters in which the people of the mountains are spoken of as living in peace, one with nature. It goes that “the forest and streams fed them so that they never slept hungry. They were content with their brothers and sisters; they were safe in the shelter of the mountains.” The old man of the mountains, Smoking Waters, had a vision. He saw that the people would become greedy and plagued with war. He told the people, “we are happy, we have what we need, we need nothing more.” Many Feathers argued with war brings power, saying, “we can make ourselves heros, war will bring power to our people.” The people laughed at the old man and mocked his wisdom and vision. With leaving nature and seeking power these people soon saw their children crying for food, wives alone, men and fathers gone; the people of the mountains were no longer happy. Smoking waters cried and grieved, his tears mingled with the mountain spring and became a hot spring. His tears and love live on and his legend is believed to be the hot springs of the mountain, soothing the sick and weary and healing the wounded. Smoking Waters gift is love and peace to all people. What legend do you leave your children if you do not acknowledge your choices effect on the availability of nature’s peace?
The impact of human choice on nature has commonly been known as “human nature”; our nature is to use the resources at hand. Argumentatively, the choices that humans make in using up resources are not natural. It is as though somehow the future will take care of itself. I believe this is not an option. Please start to think, educate yourself, and desire to make a better future for you and those who come of you. You can begin by discovering how much your existence affects the resources in your personal community, and how you can change.
Your future will not regret your present if you engage in the discussion that you can change the outcome by acknowledging the past, by better living in the present. Your human nature will be naturally followed if you will stand for a better way of living.