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I was referring to your original comment, specifically the portion highlighted in bold:
Your statement that I highlighted, when you said what we "should" do, symbolically equating the desert with death, was clearly a moral judgment. I disagree with you on the spiritual geography of what the desert is all about. In fact, I think the metaphor of being alone in the middle of the desert is a more realistic illustration of what life is really about; just as the planet earth is a tiny, insignificant speck of life in the grand scheme of the cold, dark universe (although I'm sure there are other life forms out there somewhere). Some people enjoy the sense of isolation, or more accurately the sense of living in a giant oasis (a desert city like Phoenix or Las Vegas) surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of miles of unpopulated desert wilderness.
You do have a good point though... the culture that most Americans are living in the southwest is not really native to the region or adapted to the environment. Life in major southwestern cities is pretty much the same as life in cities in any other region of the US. In that sense, American desert cities are inauthentic compared to desert cities in Mexico, Egypt, Iraq, or Saudi Arabia, for example. Paddington made an excellent point on this subject a few days ago on the thread titled, "Worst Summer Climate: the U.S. Southwest or U.S. South/Southeast?" At the same time, I'd still rather live in desert USA though, even with its hypocrisies and contradictions than live in a "real" desert city in a third world country.
I agree again. My reference to " die in the desert" reflects the retired folks moving from Minnesota , to Arizona. They bring everything with them , they build a house just like they had in Mn. They furnish it the same. They ***** about water bans , and , can't understand why the grass is not green. The same thing happens in Florida , which , contrary to popular belief, is also an arid place . The exceptions are few and far in between. Best left to the gators, and snakes , and the Seminole. The Navaho did just fine in the SW , as did other First Nations people.
I agree again. My reference to " die in the desert" reflects the retired folks moving from Minnesota , to Arizona. They bring everything with them , they build a house just like they had in Mn. They furnish it the same. They ***** about water bans , and , can't understand why the grass is not green. The same thing happens in Florida , which , contrary to popular belief, is also an arid place . The exceptions are few and far in between. Best left to the gators, and snakes , and the Seminole. The Navaho did just fine in the SW , as did other First Nations people.
See, I think we actually agree with each other for the most part, just a little misunderstanding there. But while retirees are a large part of the people heading to Phoenix or Vegas, it's not all retirees; people of all ages, shapes and sizes are moving there. Phoenix actually has one of the youngest average age populations in the US. Agree with you about the stupidity of growing irrigated turf lawns in dry climates; I'm a major prononent of xeriscaping.
Yes, people have been living in the desert for a long time.
Cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix are just not meant to support such large populations. The extreme heat and lack of any water contradicts any habitable environment. So some might say a northern city like Minneapolis.
But water being a major factor in habitation,it makes the SW a more difficult environment
Sure we can make damns and pipe some water in, but such large population #'s as the above cities have, make the reality of the desert even worse.
The only solution would be desalinization plants but we are currently far from there.
Yes, people have been living in the desert for a long time.
Cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix are just not meant to support such large populations. The extreme heat and lack of any water contradicts any habitable environment. So some might say a northern city like Minneapolis.
But water being a major factor in habitation,it makes the SW a more difficult environment
Sure we can make damns and pipe some water in, but such large population #'s as the above cities have, make the reality of the desert even worse.
The only solution would be desalinization plants but we are currently far from there.
Does Phoenix have a river running through it ? , or , better yet , DID it at one time ?
So true , and , ......I can't understand why ! The heat , the dust , and more heat. Man was not meant to live in the desert. We all came from water , thats what we should return too, not the desert to die.
I don't know about yours, but my ancestors came from a piece of debris that was blasted off of the surface of Mars millions of years ago. My moms side came from chimps though. They still pass down the stories of when their ancestors first learned to stand upright. Maybe that's why im a bit weird.
This is a tough one. I got a 3-way tie between L.A., San Diego, and Tucson. I've been to all of them (and lived in the latter for a year) and enjoyed them a lot, especially the weather and the scenic areas around the cities.
'Southwest' is better understood in terms of culture rather than simple geography, thus eliminating Californian cities and Las Vegas, Nevada. If you don't believe me then how do you explain to a Scottish person that although New Mexico is in the southern half of the United States, it is not "The South". I spent the better part of a year dodging "Deliverance" jokes based on my being from New Mexico.
ABQConvict
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But while retirees are a large part of the people heading to Phoenix or Vegas, it's not all retirees; people of all ages, shapes and sizes are moving there. Phoenix actually has one of the youngest average age populations in the US. Agree with you about the stupidity of growing irrigated turf lawns in dry climates; I'm a major prononent of xeriscaping.
