Nothing makes me happier than being the most green person on the planet earth. That’s right. I just went there.
Put it this way. My carbon footprint is the size of a 15 week in utero child. I don’t care if you don’t think the baby is a person. He still has feet and they are small. Cap and trade that one.
I know what you are thinking, “What does it feel like to be the greenest human being on the planet?”
For one thing, I’m tired of all of the mail from the rainforests asking for donations. I’m taxed. Also, your instincts are wrong. You should not put flowers in my shadow thinking they will grow. However, I do have some herbs in my house that are growing without any sunlight. Forget thumbs. My toes are green.
Seriously, what prompted this post and how will I make it turn into something meaningful besides self-congratulations?
1. I ride a scooter to work
2. Laughing helps the medicine go down
Nothing makes me–a Roman Catholic Republican–(that’s right I just used the “R” word)–giggle inside more than pulling up somewhere on my 100 mile to the gallon (1 gallon gas tank) Honda, elite scooter. My liberal friend with the bumper sticker “Save the Sea Urchins” has nothing on me. He produces more carbon in one hour than I produce in two months. Not to mention my wife and I use cloth diapers.
Ouch. You didn’t see that one coming did you? Cloth diapers + scooter = Nobel peace prize nominee. (Did I just nominate myself?)
So I’m driving home and one of these “I voted without using my intellect” bumper sticker SUV’s is passing me and the lady flicks out her cigarette on the street. Really? Come on, I thought I was the spawn of global destruction: Catholic, conservative, more than 1.9 kids. She had everything going for her except…a reason.
As Catholics, we have a reason. Stewardship is about taking responsibility for what you can do–even taking ownership (a Catholic idea–see Rerum Novarum), not about stupid campaigns that make people do nothing but think they are doing something. (For more information read Kierkegaard’s This Present Age). That’s what I see. People buying organic plastics that only have decomp lives of 1,000,000 years instead of 2,000,000 years, energy efficient 90″ TV’s and 5-story houses built to organically blend into the environment.
Blech!
Being eco-friendly isn’t about being eco-maniacal. It’s about realizing that everything is a gift and there is a good and bad way to use a gift.
“Don’t choke your brother with the wrapping paper, Johnny!”
You get the point.
Like what I had to say? Hate it? Check me out at my blog where I discuss why I’m Catholic and other things about that @ www.almostnotcatholic.com
(imagine source: wiki commons/Gyre)
4 thoughts on “Eco-Maniacal”
Awesome. Truly. We don’t have a scooter, but we do use cloth diapers! And grow most of our own food in the summer. That’s as local and organic as it gets!
“So I’m driving home and one of these ‘I voted without using my intellect’ bumper sticker SUV’s is passing me and the lady flicks out her cigarette on the street.”
I almost lost my latte on that one.
lol Great article! It had me in stitches.
“My liberal friend with the bumper sticker “Save the Sea Urchins” has nothing on me. He produces more carbon in one hour than I produce in two months. Not to mention my wife and I use cloth diapers.”
I’m with you as a due-paying member of the Cloth Diaper Club.
Brent, you are hilarious! Your great sense of humor is a wonderful gift! So very proud of GOD’s revelation in your life and proud of the profound decisions you have made in living your faith. May GOD bless you always. Thank you for sharing your marvelouos gifts and experiences. You are a blessing to others!