Professor ROBERT WAYNE (UCLA): “It’s difficult to domesticate a large carnivore; they tend to eat your children and bite you.”

find the story here: http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=124768140

In the course of the last year, Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for his ability to inspire people to hope and to work towards peace.  At the same time, he furthered Bush’s mission of war in Afganistan.  The United States is perpetuating two hopeless wars in two extreme locations.  What good does this do the world?

There is an argument out that a) Obama has done nothing this year or b) Congress and the Senate have prevented him from progressing any causes.  I am inclined towards option b.  It seems to me that the Congress and Senate have worked tirelessly against Obama’s causes and have actually slowed and reversed them (but blame him for their failure).  This year, Congress and the Senate bickered back and forth about health care and economic reform, pretending to work towards bipartisan efforts when they really just battled between conservative and liberal values.  Why couldn’t they look towards the good of society and vote YES for health care?  Why is universal health care, for the good of the American people, a contentious matter instead of an automatic boon?  Our friend, Pete, put it well, we have supported and paid for universal and free public education for decades.  How, or why, is health care different?  Why are opponents arguing that providing health care for citizens is communistic and socialistic?  It’s for the good of society, yes.  But, we are not returning to the Cold War, rather trying to progress.  It seems to me that those in power today are holdovers from the Cold War and are incapable of adapting to changing times.  I say to the Congress and the Senate, grow up, act like adults, and get with the times and do what will benefit this country instead of bickering, making backhanded deals, and sniveling back and forth about each other’s parties!

And in terms of climate change?  Why bring leaders together to Copenhagen to talk about climate change and ways to slow it for two weeks but have no solutions made?  Our leaders are committing our world to destruction and devastation instead of riding on the public’s interest in local food sources, green technology, and connection to the land.  Why can’t they actually join the band wagon and make political reforms to save the world we know, instead of looking out for private interests that will ultimately cause mass extinctions (including the potential of human decimation), complete climate alteration, and destruction of our world’s precious natural resources.

It seems to me, one year after Obama entered office, and on the day of his first state of the union, that the American government, and world leaders, and furthering the “tragedy of the commons.”  Hardin argued that people will always look out for their own benefit first, and look at the greater good for civilization second.  We are, and largely have been, acting upon this principle for most of human existence.  We continue to further this destructive cause by arguing against causes that would help benefit and better life for humans, animals, and plants, and our entire earth.

Some authors argue, like Ehrlic and Ehrlic and many others, that the “tragedy of the commons” will not completely occur.  They argue that communities often join together to strive for the greater good.  I hope this will happen in our world.  But, until small communities around the world rise to the challenge and lobby or elect leaders who are cognizant of this desire, chances are we will “stay the course.”

I urge you, all of you, to find a cause you care for (be it local food, bringing chickens to urban environments, protecting delicate environments, caring for citizens, etc.) and dedicate all your positive energy to furthering those causes.  If we all join together in causes to better human society through good, versus through misguided or negative causes, we can convince our leaders to make a change.

Obama, I hope you inspire us tonight to work towards hope and positivity as your campaign inspired us.  I keep my fingers crossed and positive thoughts pointed in your direction.

1. Facebook.  More specifically how it is a way to find out what people are doing… like a) making babies, b) getting married, c) passing the prime of their lives…. Um, yeah, it’s pretty weird seeing the high school hotties get beer bellies, double chins, babies, and thinning hair (no offense, anyone).  Apparently we are growing up with a vengeance.

2. Twilight series.  Seriously, what is the obsession?  I decided I was being uneducated by refusing to read the books.  Now I’m reading them and *yawn.*  Although, I am amused at how popular vampires are now.  That’s kind of hot… in a weird, messed up way.  But, then again, Bella and Edward have a weird, messed up relationship.  I can’t believe I am even writing about this right now.

3. Television. I am taking care of a house with television now and some of my friends have come over to watch it. I never watch it and I am so confused.  Why does it exist?  Is there anything worth while on it ever?  How do ads even work when they are so awful?

4. Small Towns.  You would think it would be easy to get to know everyone.  But, it’s quite a challenge really.  Good thing I’m up for it.  Ha ha!

5. Cars.  They spew out carbon, they’re costly and time consuming and really not very fun.  Why don’t people bike more?  It’s the most efficient form of human transportation.  And, it’s an endless form of amusement.

6. Packaged food.  Is convenience really worth the price on your body, soul, and mind?

7. Bureaucracy.  How come it takes so long to get simple jobs done?  When you’re dealing with hierarchies and bureaucracies I guess you just have to live with it… or change the system!  Good luck, Nancy….

8. Climate Change Summits.  What is the point of gathering people to discuss it when action hardly happens and when it seems the tragedy of the commons will, in fact, occur?  No one seems to want to be the change that alters the current course, even if it is for the good of all involved.  I mean, come on!  Why can’t each nation decide on what to do that would positively impact the situation instead of bickering over how much to give third world nations to deal with climate change?  What good will that do in the end?

9. Nobel Peace Prizes.  I’m stoked Obama is our president.  But getting a peace prize for his theoretical work in establishing peace when he sends more people to war seems a bit contradictory.

10. Classic Cross Country Skis. I crashed and burned on these things for years.  Why didn’t I know about the metal edged variety until a few years ago?  Now I can “shred the nar” on my sweet XC skis… also known as turn without eating it and finally learning to stop when going down hill.  Life is good on my Rossi’s.

I’m sure there are lots more things I’m confused about, but this seems like a good list thus far.  Maybe next I’ll write about clarity….  It probably won’t come from “New Moon,” though.  I’m hopeless confused there.

Alternately, there have been all these stories about grizzlies who are TRYING SO HARD to expand into new territory.  Bears used to be all over the western plains, not just the mountains.  But humans (surprise!), being afraid of them or whatever, killed the bears and isolated them into the mountains.  Bears need huge ranges to survive and mate with other bears, so keeping their genetic viability alive.  But, as people moved west, we established acceptable boundaries where bears can live (e.g., Alaska, Yellowstone, mountains where people can’t live, Forest Service Land).  But those boundaries don’t fit with the bear’s ecological boundaries.  And, unfortunately, it means that bears in “unsuitable” habitats are removed and returned to “suitable” habitats.  By “suitable” and “unsuitable” that means areas humans approve and don’t consider to be part of the bear’s home.  But all this land around the western plains and eastern slopes of the Rockies is there home!  And we keep restricting their ability to migrate, mate, and, ultimately, survive as a viable population.  Don’t they have a right to move as they need to, meet new bear populations, and spread into their previous territory without us restraining their every movement?

The bears are trying so hard to survive.  Don’t we owe them that chance?

I’ve never been here this time of year but have always wanted to see those rams duke it out.  Yesterday came very close to that event!  Driving up through the Gardiner Canyon Bridget and I saw a group of big horn rams hanging out on the side of the cliffs.  Their full curls and powerful, stocky bodies impressed me as much as their agile climbing skills and nimble feet! They stood still, huddled in a group, and occasionally nibbled on sage brush. 

But then, a herd of ewes came running down the 45 degree slope towards the 10 males!  Two males seemed to herd them down the slope.  The females stopped and stood stock still staring at the other males.  The males stood to attention, gazing intently at the females.  It seemed like they had a big horn ram convention as they discussed what to do with these new-comers. 

The ewes and rams stared at each other for a good 5 minutes before a brave male approached the ewes.  Slowly, the other rams followed.  And then began the pursuit!  The rams began chasing the females up the near-verticle cliff face.  They seemed to portray so much communication between their glances and body language.  It was amazing to see all this pass with no sound between them. 

In the end, they chased the females up the cliffs but decided not to combat each other to be listed as the biggest and best.   Hopefully, however, my next trip down the canyon will be welcomed with the loud smack and crack of big horn rams fighting for female attention!

In the row in front of ours, a little girl, 4-6 years old in a dress and long neatly brushed hair, sat staring at us with wide-eyes.  She would occasionally look around the room before returning her eyes to watch B and me dance (or watch us sit and slap our knees to the music).    Brian looked at me and said, “It’s your red lipstick!”  It might have been. 

At intermission, her mom came up and said, “I’m sorry, that’s my daughter who is staring at you.  We live in a town of 50 people so coming to Gardiner is always a big show.  She never sees this many people!”  I smiled at the mom and glanced at her wide-eyed girl, who was still soaking everything in.

This event made me wonder at how our perspectives change overtime.  This girl came to Gardiner, a town of 800 people, and experienced a life- (or moment-) changing event as she listened to French Creole music and drank in the sight of people dancing, leg-shaking, laughing, and lips covered with red lipstick.  What will her next life changing event be?!  I hope they may each be as sweet as that night in Gardiner.