We should all weep at how great land is trashed
Sunday, May 06, 2007
I was barely old enough to keep up with my dad in those huge, larger-than-life enchanted woods.
We were bowhunting in a national forest. Well, taking a stroll with a bow and arrow was more like it.
The real dynamic imprinted on me that day, way back in the roaring 1950s, was the life force that is the forest.
I immediately was hooked on nature's healing powers, the primal scream of the good Mother Earth that I would eventually learn to revere and celebrate as provider of life itself.
Quality wild ground translates to quality of life. Concrete has no "sustainable yield." I am a consumer. But like the reasoning predator instinct and conscientiousness to kill only what I eat — something my dad taught me — I was disciplined to be a respectful and responsible steward of this precious environment by which we are so blessed.
The truism that quality wildlife habitat produces quality air, soil and water should be pounded into the brains of every child on Earth. Sadly, it is not.
On those soul-inspiring wilderness adventures of my youth, I also learned that my body is a sacred temple that deserves only the finest rocket fuel of sustenance and not too much of anything.
Caring management
Likewise, as vast and powerful as the Earth is, she also needs some intelligent, caring management.
Dad taught me to never litter, to pick up any trash we may come upon and to take out of the wild more than we bring in.
We of the Nugent family were conservationists and environmentalists way before the words ever caught on.
So when we drive down the rural roads, city streets and major highways of America, words cannot adequately express the sorrow and confusion we experience when our eyes and spirits are so abused at the sight of wanton waste and irresponsible littering everywhere we look.
On our travels, there was a time where we would pull over to the side of the road to pick up garbage. After a while there was simply too much litter to keep up with. One family cannot do it all.
We have sponsored numerous Adopt-a-Highway programs around the country where good-hearted citizens volunteer for cleanup duties. Clearly, however, this is a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. Preventive quality control is always the wiser choice.
In my travels to the Great Republic of Texas, I am body and soul with "Don't Mess with Texas." I just wonder, exactly when does that program kick in? For surely, it has not.
In all my world travels, I am broken-hearted that such a proud, spirited state as Texas could be so careless and soulless as to allow littering to go unchecked.
We salute them
Sure, I see the best of the best Texans walking the roadways picking up trash on occasion. We join and salute them all for sure.
But if I see another car or truckload of criminal punks toss out another fast-food bag, bulging garbage bag or even just a random gum wrapper or fizzling cigarette, I think I'm going to throw up.
It is unforgivable and we all should refuse to take it any more.
I envision the proud Indian on horseback on a hillside, looking down at a once-stunning landscape now cluttered and toxified by irresponsible buffoons too careless to pick up after themselves in any way, shape or form.
We should be teaching our children how unacceptable littering and wasteful consumer gluttony are.
We should be teaching the importance of conservation, the wise use of our natural resources, consumer goods, food and water, not to mention for wiser use of our time, lives, money and health.
That the gorgeous lands of Central Texas are as trashy as downtown Philadelphia is a sin beyond description.
Yes, I really like the sound of "Don't Mess with Texas." Now, if we could just implement it ASAP.
Ted Nugent is a Waco-based musician and television show host.
Comments
By Wacoan
May 11, 2007 8:27 PM | Link to this
The audio link is really nice. It reads the article. But, wouldn't it be cool if Ted (and others) read their weekly article for the listeners?
And, Ted, write on, brother!
By Doug
May 11, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this
I think that something should be done about the pollution in the big cities. I was raised in Fort Worth but live in Hamilton now because of the pollution. The city is growing along with pollution. It will soon be as good as L.A. It is time for the big fat cats in the business to come up with something better.
I look at this way when I lived in Lake Worth in the 60's the clothes on my grandma's line smelled of fresh air and now they smell of jet fuel and pollution. Lake Worth is suburb of Fort Worth. Something has to done.
By Derek Johnson
May 10, 2007 5:27 PM | Link to this
Good environmental stewards, yes we all share this. Do we need to take care of the earth? Yes!
Related, does industry (man-made) carbon dioxide cause 'global warming' that will soon make the price of gas go sky high? No!
And Ted, one more thing, RON PAUL 2008!
By Philip
May 7, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this
Ted is starting to sound like he is not near as Republican as the politians that he has supported so strongly.
Welcome to the progressive and liberal camp, Ted.
By The Phoenix
May 7, 2007 8:49 PM | Link to this
Hey Ted. Thought you might enjoy an old Chineese Proverb to contribute to your editorial this week.
The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.
By The Phoenix
May 7, 2007 8:36 PM | Link to this
Quote for the day. If you ask most adults who the worst offenders are concerning littering, they will tell you kids are. But if you ask kids if they are the blame, they will tell you they saw an adult drop litter, why can't we and not get blamed for it?
By The Phoenix
May 7, 2007 8:16 PM | Link to this
Gee. I am so proud of myself knowing I don't litter my mind!
By kate
May 7, 2007 7:08 PM | Link to this
Yes Ted I never thought I would ever agree with you on something, but I have to admit that I think that you are starting to let the sensitive side of yourself show through. But, I want to carry your thought one or two steps deeper. You have merely touched the surface of the problem. This planet is our island home in the vast expanse of interstellar space. It is a living organism of which human beings are a tiny piece. We are dependent not just on the earth but on all other life, and our atmosphere, and our solar system to survive. However, we treat the resources with a greedy consumptive lifestyle, from which this trash overflows onto the land and into our streams. North Americans especially consume more that our share of the earth resources, at a rate unsustainable and selfishly robbing future generations of a good life. The only hope for human survival is lifestyle limitations that support equitable sharing of well being for the entire planet, all life, all resources, for all future generations - shared goals, shared resources, sustainable, universal flourishing. It is more than just throwing out the gum wrapper!
By Cindy Justice
May 7, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
We too were taught to pick up trash around us. Nothing ruins a hike in the mountains faster than seeing that someone has used the side of the mountain for their own personal land fill.
We do not need the government to tell us to be respectful of the great land we live on and visit. This is something that we should all know and be passing on to our children.
By The Phoenix
May 7, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
Gunner, thanx. I think I am convinced Congress has a cancer, and we as a whole have become infected as well. Certain politicians have refused to let Congress have a cure for this vile disease I speak of; our founding fathers would be ashamed of what Congress has become today. I wonder if there has been a failure of the 17th Amendment and it needs to be repealed? Our founding fathers would probably agree.
I think I'll pour myself another cup of coffee, go visit an old friend, tell him the world still turns, and go.......fishing.
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