| Musing while mowing: Why advocate? By Paul Kusuda |
| Mowing the lawn isn't fun for me. Neither is exercising. Multi-tasking, I do some thinking once in a while as I mow the lawn -- and of course, get some exercise all at the same time. Sometimes, I think about how my neighbor and I laughed about the fact that we were enjoying the American dream -- owning our home. Of course, that dream has its drawbacks of costs, worries, work, upkeep, etc. Sometimes, I also think about how dumb mowing and keeping the lawn presentable must seem. The lawn needs to be fertilized so it can grow in healthy fashion. Weeds have to be pulled out. When rainfall is insufficient, it needs watering. Then, of course, the grass grows; mowing becomes due more quickly than if less attention is paid to it. But then, greenery helps cleanse the environment and the air we breathe. So, "what the hell," I think. (I can think in four-letter words because thinking is not censored.) Get the job over with, take a shower, and relax. After reconciling myself to mowing and exercising, I sometimes think, "Who will give a darn 10 years from now about the lawn's condition?" That sense of futility leads me to contemplate that perhaps, many of us who think we're accomplishing something may be just running in place; lots of energy used to come up with little or nothing achieved. I wonder if my activities mirror Don Quixote's jousting with windmills in the mistaken belief that they are giants. Useless expenditure of time and efforts? Then, again, how about Cyrano de Bergerac who at his twilight was fighting foes in his dreams, or nightmares? What about the time and effort put forth by advocates? The path of least resistance with respect to advocacy is to let others do it. One feeling might be that others know not only what's at stake, but also possible solutions or alternative actions, how to go about it, and whom to contact. That's certainly easier than to become involved. Besides, think about Don Quixote and Cyrano -- maybe being an advocate would be like fighting windmills or sword-fighting with villains who are in a dream world. Pastor Martin Niemoeller, victim of the Holocaust, once said, "When the Nazis came for the Communists, I was silent. I wasn't a Communist. When the Nazis came for Social Democrats, I was silent. I wasn't a Social Democrat. When the Nazis came for the Trade Unionists, I was silent. I wasn't a Trade Unionist. When the Nazis came for the Jews, I was silent. I wasn't a Jew. When the Nazis came for me, there was no one to protest." The fact is, we should each feel the responsibility to get into the action, to get involved. If we don't, others will. And what they espouse may not be to our liking or interest. Granted, it's not easy, it takes time, and sometimes it's not fun. So, where am I going to stand on the many issues that face us? Where are you going to stand? What are you going to do? |
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