Hello Everyone!
Today I am going to talk about a book I have recently read named Encounters with the Archdruid. It was written in 1971 by John McPhee.
Honestly, I probably would have never read the book but I had a book report due for my Environmental Science class and my parents owned the book. Now, I really recommend the book to anyone. If you are older than 10, the book is an easy read, it's interesting and it touches upon many key aspects of the conservation of nature. (But, you don't have to be interested in the topic to enjoy the book!)
Basically the book is centered around this idea of what is "wilderness" and the continual question: does it need to exist? David Brower, who was a major environmentalist and did much for the preservation of the US wilderness, is a main character in this non fiction book and hid ideas are juxtaposed against three non-preservationists. The author does seem to agree with David Brower that wilderness is necessary, however, he presents the oppositions views well and in a non-negative light. (Wilderness is often defined as areas of land left untouched by man, equipment, and let alone to evolve on its own. It is 'an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region').
Having finished the book a few days ago, I have been thinking about the positions the book expressed. Personally, I feel that having wilderness is really important, just like Brower. My grandparents live in Washington state and every year I visit them. They live on the edge of this huge forest, where no one can build houses/buildings or disturb the area. I love gazing at the stars from within the forest and just walking around and breathing it all in. Though the trees have been disturbed in the past, right now no humans, unless on foot, can access it. It is so peaceful and beautiful. I could live in that woods forever and never stop loving it, never get enough of it. We also always go hiking in the virgin forests (meaning never cut down forests) of Washington. The feeling is breathtaking. I sometimes just stop and look up at the hovering tree branches. They are layered with mist and seem to whisper the tales of the past (if that makes sense). When I try to describe it to people that have never experienced pure nature, I can't. You have to witness magnificent untouched nature in order to understand what I am saying.
So, I love nature and wilderness and am a complete advocate for preserving and conversing it. But it amazes how many people aren't. Or, they love nature, but don't see the importance in keeping it pristine. It makes no sense to me, nor will it probably ever. But then again I think I care more about nature than about humans. Don't take that the wrong way, but I feel that the environment has no voice and deserves so much more than what we are doing for it. Humans are often selfish and greedy and rude beings, so we don't deserve to be helped before nature. I mean, we have done so much bad in the world and we don't want to help anything but ourselves, yet we continually demand more and more out of the things around us. So, my preference goes to nature.
I think I may talk about this topic/book again but right now my original trail of thought has ended.
I hope you enjoyed this nature chat.
Stay tuned for more,
KZ
Stay tuned for more,
KZ
