Hard truths searingly painful to read, heart-woundingly painful to let land.
I grieve the loss of humanity that informs these actions. So many billions of years of evolution and the intelligence of human beings is seemingly reduced to an infantile ego-centrality motivated by greed, power-grasping, destruction and hate.
I have trust in the Life Force of creation to make some unimaginable step forward in evolutionary terms of this man-induced extinction, for the planet, for our beloved creatures, plants, spaces and oceans.
I anticipate a grief that overwhelms anything I have known to date.
I find myself drawn to fantasies as fuelled by rejection , hatred and the desire to destroy as those of the perpetrators … but then I pause, I breathe, I sense.
We humans of conscience and consciousness have a sacred duty here. To do what Jason and others do: to get specific in our honouring, to be devoted in our loving, to be particular in our appreciation of every diverse form of Life we experience NOW. The wasp landing in my apple juice, the juvenile grass snake we saved from the cat, the silvering leaves of the Tristis birch shaking tears of accompaniment in the wind.
Jason, you remind me of my sacred duty. You always illuminate my world even when it’s with dark, brutal shadows.
Here in South Devon UK I appreciative of the distance that is between the precious stream, wood, field and garden I am blessed to live in and the insanity that is resulting from the US Administration and Trump. But it echoes here too.
Thanks, Jason, a wonderful post. I sincerely wish this could be pitched to the AP. Change the narrative, change the narrative, change the…He is doing the same to history. Unfortunately, as startling as it is, there is still a percentage of people that support him. The fact is, they accept the lies. Why? Who the hell knows. Even some of those people who verbally ‘swoon’ over a Scarlett Tanager, or “I love the calls that a Loon makes” can still be a MAGA supporter. If my sister is any indication, falling in that Trump approval percentile, then all I can determine is summed up in this classic line from Forest Gump, you know the one—“stupid is as stupid does”. We can only hope that there will be no remnants of this administration in 2028, which seems so far away. Look how long almost a year and a half feels like. “be held liable for ecocide and crimes against humanity”—oh please, yes. Unbeknownst to Trump, he had been the chosen puppet all along. Somebody cut the strings!!✂️
Thank you, Lor, especially for the reminder that there is a good overlap between nature lovers and supporters of the administration. I think in part it's because while loons and tanagers are close at hand, politics are distant and receive varying amounts of attention and analysis. A compelling story (well thought out or not) drives all of our politics, and is bound up with our own personal stories. Birds, like the rest of nature, stand outside those stories, if we're not paying attention to what our politics is doing to those birds.
"What this means is that these fascists are alone in a world that largely loathes them." Thanks for calling the president and his buttkissers what they are: fascists out to destroy things, often for the simple reason that it pisses off those they dislike, though, of course, if they can make money doing so, then ii makes them feel even better about their pathetic selves.
It is revelatory to think about how they haven't really built or improved anything. It's all tearing down, all negativity, all destruction. And yes, it's hard not to see so much of it as pathology.
I think they're actually pretty busy building things behind the scenes---especially Peter Thiel and Russ Vogt and likely Musk. First, they have to tear down all of the social structures that were in place.
Good point. Still, though, I think they're better at tearing down than building anything durable. Sociopaths generally don't have durable social constructs.
I know, sorry. There is of course no question that any toadstool is inherently of greater value than trump. Bad attempt at a joke on my part. I thought Jason's particular word choice in that instance may have been cheekily deliberate.
I enjoyed reading this so much, Jason. It will require a couple more read throughs for me to fully digest all of it, but this really spoke my language and that feels like an increasingly rare occurrence. For what it's worth, I have read widely here, and this was my first "restack".
Very thoughtful, Jason. Tough to get through but oh so worth it. You’re right about the necessity of wielding power to staunch the bleeding from this administration. And that empaths have a hard time doing that. Loved this: “The woodchuck belongs here. I’m on probation and trying to write myself free.” In my estimation, you belong as much as the woodchuck — for your words and your humanity.
Thank you, Julie. It's hard to start throwing names around and pointing fingers without feeling like I'm falling into the troll trap, but the larger context about caring for life saved me from that, I think. And thanks for elevating me to woodchuck status, though he/she was very cute. Less cute if they make it into the garden, though.
Thank you for calling out the enemy in this essay. This administration is hastening extinction in general and ours in turn. These dots need to be connected. Most remain depressingly unaware.
The dots and connections seem increasingly obvious, and I think most folks see at least some of it. Whether they care or feel empowered to say or do anything is another question. We're stuck waiting for the midterms, but I have little hope that the obvious result will either be allowed or certified. That will be the next stage of ugliness, and the real test of ICE vs. the people.
Thanks for this, Jason. I love how you invite us to consider what really matters, and how we need to think about and judge ourselves and others in light of the contributions we make to the planet, rather than the hierarchies so many of us have grown up with. Our planet shifts a little every time an individual dies or a new one emerges. But with each species we lose, Earth diminishes, as the unique worlds those species carry are lost forever. This is, of course, deeply disturbing and very sad, so I appreciate how you underscore in this post that so many people want something different.
Swedish politicians (not least the current government) also need to be reminded of this. Elections are looming here, and these will determine the direction of the final term before the 2030 Agenda goals slip by. On 22–23 August, many individuals and organisations will come together in what we hope will be Sweden's largest climate event so far, in an effort to draw attention to just how many of us care. It’s comforting to know that people across the globe are holding on to hope that the home that you and Reanna Moore write of, even if changed, will still be one with room for many.
Thank you, Suzanne. You're so right about the difference between life and death vs. the much deeper grief of extinction. I do hope to help folks see that the changes we're making are unprecedented and, eventually, irreversible. We all normalize the moment we're in, and so nature diminishes moment by moment.
Good luck with your elections. We'll need some luck too. All indications point to an all-out federal attempt to prevent the result that everyone knows should occur.
Hard truths searingly painful to read, heart-woundingly painful to let land.
I grieve the loss of humanity that informs these actions. So many billions of years of evolution and the intelligence of human beings is seemingly reduced to an infantile ego-centrality motivated by greed, power-grasping, destruction and hate.
I have trust in the Life Force of creation to make some unimaginable step forward in evolutionary terms of this man-induced extinction, for the planet, for our beloved creatures, plants, spaces and oceans.
I anticipate a grief that overwhelms anything I have known to date.
I find myself drawn to fantasies as fuelled by rejection , hatred and the desire to destroy as those of the perpetrators … but then I pause, I breathe, I sense.
We humans of conscience and consciousness have a sacred duty here. To do what Jason and others do: to get specific in our honouring, to be devoted in our loving, to be particular in our appreciation of every diverse form of Life we experience NOW. The wasp landing in my apple juice, the juvenile grass snake we saved from the cat, the silvering leaves of the Tristis birch shaking tears of accompaniment in the wind.
Jason, you remind me of my sacred duty. You always illuminate my world even when it’s with dark, brutal shadows.
Here in South Devon UK I appreciative of the distance that is between the precious stream, wood, field and garden I am blessed to live in and the insanity that is resulting from the US Administration and Trump. But it echoes here too.
Thank you Jason. I mean that.
This is all very lovely and well said, Lynne. Thank you. Yes, plenty of grief and action ahead. But joy is on the path too. Be well.
Thanks, Jason, a wonderful post. I sincerely wish this could be pitched to the AP. Change the narrative, change the narrative, change the…He is doing the same to history. Unfortunately, as startling as it is, there is still a percentage of people that support him. The fact is, they accept the lies. Why? Who the hell knows. Even some of those people who verbally ‘swoon’ over a Scarlett Tanager, or “I love the calls that a Loon makes” can still be a MAGA supporter. If my sister is any indication, falling in that Trump approval percentile, then all I can determine is summed up in this classic line from Forest Gump, you know the one—“stupid is as stupid does”. We can only hope that there will be no remnants of this administration in 2028, which seems so far away. Look how long almost a year and a half feels like. “be held liable for ecocide and crimes against humanity”—oh please, yes. Unbeknownst to Trump, he had been the chosen puppet all along. Somebody cut the strings!!✂️
Thank you, Lor, especially for the reminder that there is a good overlap between nature lovers and supporters of the administration. I think in part it's because while loons and tanagers are close at hand, politics are distant and receive varying amounts of attention and analysis. A compelling story (well thought out or not) drives all of our politics, and is bound up with our own personal stories. Birds, like the rest of nature, stand outside those stories, if we're not paying attention to what our politics is doing to those birds.
Such a beautiful piece, Jason -- as always! Will continue to share your messages broadly. Thanks for writing this! And thanks for the mention!
Of course, Jono. I really liked your piece on flood plains and making room for resilience. I hope folks read it.
Endangered species…
list shall include human beings.
We’re “on probation.”
"What this means is that these fascists are alone in a world that largely loathes them." Thanks for calling the president and his buttkissers what they are: fascists out to destroy things, often for the simple reason that it pisses off those they dislike, though, of course, if they can make money doing so, then ii makes them feel even better about their pathetic selves.
It is revelatory to think about how they haven't really built or improved anything. It's all tearing down, all negativity, all destruction. And yes, it's hard not to see so much of it as pathology.
I think they're actually pretty busy building things behind the scenes---especially Peter Thiel and Russ Vogt and likely Musk. First, they have to tear down all of the social structures that were in place.
Good point. Still, though, I think they're better at tearing down than building anything durable. Sociopaths generally don't have durable social constructs.
Yeah, no kidding!
Thanks for your essay!
Yes, sadly. You are correct. It's all about destruction. Arrgh. Don't get me going.
I won't. It's bad enough I got myself going. Thanks, David.
I'll take the toadstool anyday. Thank you.
Is this a quote from Stormy?
It's the "Trump or a toadstool" question of which has more value from the essay :)
I know, sorry. There is of course no question that any toadstool is inherently of greater value than trump. Bad attempt at a joke on my part. I thought Jason's particular word choice in that instance may have been cheekily deliberate.
I should have had my cheeky meter on! Not a bad attempt at all, just landing in a lazy brain :)
Very gracious, thank you! Given the seriousness of the subject matter, it was a little out of left field. :)
Unconscious in the first draft, cheeky in keeping it...
Huzzah! Petty but clever cheap shot confirmed.
I enjoyed reading this so much, Jason. It will require a couple more read throughs for me to fully digest all of it, but this really spoke my language and that feels like an increasingly rare occurrence. For what it's worth, I have read widely here, and this was my first "restack".
Looking forward to catching up on your work!
Thanks very much. I don't often go so political; it's usually background to everything else I'm up to. But once in a while...
Indeed, if only for the silence and humility...
Very thoughtful, Jason. Tough to get through but oh so worth it. You’re right about the necessity of wielding power to staunch the bleeding from this administration. And that empaths have a hard time doing that. Loved this: “The woodchuck belongs here. I’m on probation and trying to write myself free.” In my estimation, you belong as much as the woodchuck — for your words and your humanity.
Thank you, Julie. It's hard to start throwing names around and pointing fingers without feeling like I'm falling into the troll trap, but the larger context about caring for life saved me from that, I think. And thanks for elevating me to woodchuck status, though he/she was very cute. Less cute if they make it into the garden, though.
Thank you for calling out the enemy in this essay. This administration is hastening extinction in general and ours in turn. These dots need to be connected. Most remain depressingly unaware.
The dots and connections seem increasingly obvious, and I think most folks see at least some of it. Whether they care or feel empowered to say or do anything is another question. We're stuck waiting for the midterms, but I have little hope that the obvious result will either be allowed or certified. That will be the next stage of ugliness, and the real test of ICE vs. the people.
Thanks for this, Jason. I love how you invite us to consider what really matters, and how we need to think about and judge ourselves and others in light of the contributions we make to the planet, rather than the hierarchies so many of us have grown up with. Our planet shifts a little every time an individual dies or a new one emerges. But with each species we lose, Earth diminishes, as the unique worlds those species carry are lost forever. This is, of course, deeply disturbing and very sad, so I appreciate how you underscore in this post that so many people want something different.
Swedish politicians (not least the current government) also need to be reminded of this. Elections are looming here, and these will determine the direction of the final term before the 2030 Agenda goals slip by. On 22–23 August, many individuals and organisations will come together in what we hope will be Sweden's largest climate event so far, in an effort to draw attention to just how many of us care. It’s comforting to know that people across the globe are holding on to hope that the home that you and Reanna Moore write of, even if changed, will still be one with room for many.
Yes, it’s looking pretty grim over there right now.
Thank you, Suzanne. You're so right about the difference between life and death vs. the much deeper grief of extinction. I do hope to help folks see that the changes we're making are unprecedented and, eventually, irreversible. We all normalize the moment we're in, and so nature diminishes moment by moment.
Good luck with your elections. We'll need some luck too. All indications point to an all-out federal attempt to prevent the result that everyone knows should occur.