Dear Protesters in Trees,
We all know that in today’s world, forests are being cut down at incredible rates to meet consumer demands for paper plates, cardboard boxes, and baseball bats.
Thank you for fighting the fight to save the trees not from the halls of congress or through well-organized boycotts, but by simply choosing to live in them. It's true: the best way to stop a tree from being cut down is to be in one.
You have plenty of faith and plenty of conviction and plenty of patience (there's only so much you can do in a tree). You have much to admire. In fact, I ask if we have more to learn from you.
What would happen if your sit-down intrusion style of protesting carried on to other controversial issues? Let's say... air pollution.
Maybe your same tree sitting idea would work on the freeway. All the people who hate pollution and want cars to stop using roads could go and sit on the freeway and 4 in the morning when there is hardly any traffic and then as the cars come they would have to stop and then think about the consequences of their dirty commute. I bet lots of people would ditch their cars right there, guilt overcoming their conscience. And if the cars don’t see the people in time and run over them, it would definitely be the driver’s fault -- for recklessly killing an innocent protester exercising their first amendment rights.
It might work just as well to promote Gun Control. It sure would be hard to go and shoot at the local range if you see a smiling, tie-dye shirt wearing, bearded 35-year-old man jump in between you and the target.
You tree sitters might be on to something, the power of the space that a human body occupies is great. And let that be a lesson to us all.
Sincerely,
A Man Not as Valiant as You
I am happy that atleast we have different type of protest. In India we have only one kind of protest. Hunger-strike. If someone denies to eat their food every single person should yield to their request. What a shame!
ReplyDeleteSit on a freeway? I think I'll try that! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I have to admit, if I saw someone protesting on the freeway, I would not think about how my car pollutes air... I would either turn around or jell at that persone to move! ;D bad, I know... but I'm not one of those people who would go protesting...
ReplyDeletefun post :)
Well, I just like the title of the blog...but ok, I've protested a few things in my time. BUT, I think execution is key. Sitting anywhere never did it for me. ~Mary
ReplyDeleteI love trees and I love cars. Just don't love the government that's too chicken shit to confront the car industry and, instead, puts the blame on us car lovers for driving non-so-green cars. Meanwhile they love the tax we're paying. Here in Holland, you buy some petrol or gas and 75% of that money paid goes straight into the government's pockets. That's right.... 75%.
ReplyDeleteI have to say the image of the smiling tie-dyed 35 year old in front of the gun got me!
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday.
:-)
Traci