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I don't know. I do know as someone who is fairly active in my community that whenever you try to do something positive, people will always come up and criticize you. And the most critical ones are the ones who do absolutely nothing about anything. These are the 'human slugs' who basically sit on their butts and complain about everything.
I was helping promote a wildlife rehab program in my area a few weeks ago and someone (who I had never met before in my life) said, 'Why do you care more about animals than children?' And I thought, 'Why do you think those 2 concerns are mutually exclusive?' But after talking with her a little longer, I found out that for all her concerns about children, she does not do any child-related volunteer work and she does not contribute money to children's shelters or any other child-related charities. But it's perfectly fine for her to come over to me while I'm actually doing something and tell me that I should be doing something else.
As for 'treehugger'... I would identify myself as one and I have no problem with the word. But I became an adult well after the 60s movement, so I have no association of treehugger=hippy--and that's probably a good thing because as a somewhat ambitious professional person who has been working in the corporate environment for many years, I don't have much patience for 'singing kum by yah.' I think that people who associate treehugger=hippy are much older people who were probably of adult age back in the 60s. But when I hear the word 'treehugger,' I think of someone who has a concern about what is happening to the environment and is actually trying to do something about it.
When I do volunteer work on environmental activities, most of the people I meet are professionals... There may be a few old hippies occasionally, but most of the people are accountants, school teachers, plumbers, engineers, business owners, etc. (and consequently, the few hippies that may be there 'just for the experience' aren't taken that seriously).
Most of the people I volunteer with are able to bring their knowledge and skills from the business world and apply them towards finding solutions. The one thing that all of these people have in common is that they believe that they can 'do something'--and it doesn't matter if it's something big or small. This separates them from a lot of people who don't think they can do anything and who in the absence of taking any action, become critics instead.
It really saddens me to see how polarized this country has become. I think it's every bit as bad as the late '60's when I came of age. It's ridiculous to call 'tree huggers' (environmentalists) terrorists because some radical idiots spiked some trees back in the '80's. It just makes it an easy excuse for not being environmentally responsible. I got rid of my car 4 years ago, walk everywhere I can & only take public transportation when I'm pressed for time. I use recyclable cloth bags for my shopping, and use the trash, recycle & compost bins that my city provides. I also donate to Mercy Corp to help with Haitian earthquake survivers & to the Humane Society to help care for the many abused animals they care for. I think the majority of us who call ourselves treehuggers or environmentalists live or try to live like I do . It's not political it's about trying to restore our planet from all of the damage done to it since the Industrial Revolution. I'm shocked to see so many with a '50's attitude that they can be as irresponsible as they want to be.
It really saddens me to see how polarized this country has become. I think it's every bit as bad as the late '60's when I came of age. It's ridiculous to call 'tree huggers' (environmentalists) terrorists because some radical idiots spiked some trees back in the '80's. It just makes it an easy excuse for not being environmentally responsible. I got rid of my car 4 years ago, walk everywhere I can & only take public transportation when I'm pressed for time. I use recyclable cloth bags for my shopping, and use the trash, recycle & compost bins that my city provides. I also donate to Mercy Corp to help with Haitian earthquake survivers & to the Humane Society to help care for the many abused animals they care for. I think the majority of us who call ourselves treehuggers or environmentalists live or try to live like I do . It's not political it's about trying to restore our planet from all of the damage done to it since the Industrial Revolution. I'm shocked to see so many with a '50's attitude that they can be as irresponsible as they want to be.
I believe the OP's original post did address the radical elements by naming them thusly. Then through the history of this thread the OP see-sawed back and forth between labels and behavior and what was first stated vs. the basic everyday conservationist or average person who supports the environment.
Yet, your last sentence of your post is very telling as you with one broad paint stroke color anyone who doesn't choose to live your way as having a '50's attitude and being irresponsible. Just the kind of accusatory and confrontational behavior that leaves a bad taste towards environmentalists. More harm than good is done with those kind of statements.
Why are people called "tree huggers", "eco-terrorists" and such? Because they put mankind last when it comes to living..... and the lies and deceit they expouse are just too much to swallow..
Gee, I sure hope you wash your recyclable cloth bags due to the fungus that grows in them after you use them.... You realize that most of the country can't walk almost everywhere they need to go, right? You ever take a walk in near 100 degree heat with 80% humidity? ~good luck~
Lots of derogatory terms being thrown at people who have a respect for the planet and its environment,terms like tree huggers, eco terrorists, eco nazis,whacked out hippies etc. where did this attitude come from? Why would having concern for the well being of the planet we live on incur such hate and venom toward the people who do care? I dont get it
Watch one episode of Whale Wars and you'll understand where these terms come from.
I believe the OP's original post did address the radical elements by naming them thusly. Then through the history of this thread the OP see-sawed back and forth between labels and behavior and what was first stated vs. the basic everyday conservationist or average person who supports the environment.
I dont remember seesawing on anything
The main reason for the original post was the barrage of names that were incurred when in another forum a member was asking about the ramifications of buying a Toyota Prius , Commie, socialist,tree hugger and other epithets were thrown his way making me curious as to where the negative connotations came from between his idea of buying an environmentally friendly car and the mean spirited accusations of him being a dreaded TREE HUGGER.
Just because a tiger is pretty effective at what he does should not mean that we should hobble him to make it a fairer fight between the tiger and the antelope. I'm pretty sure than humans are animals too. And, if we humans are resourceful enough to cut down some trees to make a place to live, I don't think that there's anything wrong with that. Its all good.
I think why tree huggers hate people without any common sense might be a better question moving forward. How do you fix things like this? This is one of the many reasons why small organic farmers hate agri-business behemoths...
Driving spikes into the trees harms them in the long run too. So, they lower themselves by their actions to the level of that which they are against.
sort of like the ELF terrorist who burn down newly built homes or burn HUMMERS at dealerships.
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