Don't Be A Poser

It has become clear (to me) after much listening, observing, inferring, and research that generally people who are loudest about changing, healing, helping and/or saving the world are the individuals who do the least to further this cause. And, the individuals who do not make bold pronouncements or arbitrarily give the masses advice are the ones who do and are changing, healing, helping and/or saving the world. It is a classic example of the adage actions speak louder than words.I was once on the band wagon of the written word. It is after all a very powerful tool. But, without being backed by clear action the writers of these words become, for lack of a better word, posers. (Poser-one who pretends or displays) As I stated earlier I was once a poser. At this point, it is important to clarify that I am not speaking of novelist or story tellers, unless of course the novel or story is/was intended to teach a lesson or give advice. I was neither a story teller nor a novelist. I was a writer of poetry and rhetoric. I would proudly type my thoughts and beliefs, send them out into cyberspace, and walk away feeling pretty damn good about myself. Until, a college class forced me to begin volunteering my time and energy to those who actually needed it. They certainly did not need my writings. They needed my listening skills, my money, my time, my friendship, my hope, hell they needed a ride to the doctor, not a poem, not pretty words. Overtime, I began to notice that the true helpers were quite, non-obtrusive, and had a smoldering anger about them. I began to learn that I never really helped further the words I so emphatically wrote. And, I chastised myself for this.I want to be clear that I am not writing about recycling or cutting the lights off when leaving a room. Sure, our environment is important, but not as important as the immediate needs of the masses. Since this first experience, I have volunteered in several different capacities. (Elementary schools, a children’s home for neglected and abandoned children, AIDS walks and auctions, nursing homes, etc.) Slowly, I began to feel the smoldering anger that many devoted volunteers and social workers carry around with them. However, nothing in me smolders, in me fires rage. In me the anger manifested itself into contempt and indifference for those who only write and speak of helping and do nothing but attend a church, spoil their children, or give excuses that they have no time. At this point one could and should ask the questions why the anger? Where does it come from? In answer to the later, I do not know. But as far as “why” I may be able to give some what of an explanation. Helping others is not profitable and it is thankless. Other occupations that help no one in need are far more profitable. This lack of recognition is the root of the anger. In me there is another contributor to my contempt, the need to expose not only myself but others for being the posers that they are.I have no problem with those who do not claim to or even want to help others. That is their decision. My contempt is directed to those who claim to want to change the world but does nothing concrete to attain their goal. It is to them I present this challenge. Do what you say and say what you mean, volunteer your time, give money even if it means your own child will go without, donate what you do not need, and most important do not expect anything in return.

On the Educational Value of Conflict

The quest for knowledge is ingrained into our human mind. This ongoing process distinctly separates us from all other biotic creatures on earth. The methods we humans use to acquire this knowledge is varied and diverse, and throughout time, many men and women have asserted that their particular method of acquire knowledge was best. But, what is knowledge? Of course, knowledge is many things to many people. For the medical doctor, knowledge represents understanding the human body and its systems. For the auto mechanic, knowledge represents understanding vehicles and their inner workings. For the elementary teacher, knowledge represents understanding pedagogy and the development of children. Although every interpretation of knowledge is different, all have something in common; to gain this knowledge an individual must first be educated. And, although there are many methods used to educate people, one concept will, directly or indirectly, inexplicably find its way into all forms of education. To be truly educated people must explore, study, and understand viewpoints and idea contradictory to their own. Humans tend to be very one sided in their understanding of the world. We believe and covet our truths, believing our particular truths to be best. But, this mind set is flawed. There is a very real danger in such a closed minded approach to the world. For example, the United State's invasion of Iraqi may have been less disastrous if the Bush administration had explored, studied, and understood the customs of the Iraqi people. Iraqi and the United States have very different cultures. If the Bush administration would have taken time to gain insight into the Iraqi people's culture, it may have affected how, when, and even if the invasion of Iraqi would have taken place. Clearly, the Bush administration made an uneducated decision, because they were unwilling to explore a different value system than their own, in this case, the Iraqi way of life. Of course, this is an extreme example, and in most situations, the consequences of not exploring, studying, and understanding conflicting ideas tend to be less obvious. A true education requires conflict. Without conflict, humans are not forced to validate their knowledge, a term that is interchangeable with education. John Stuart Mill says, "However unwilling a person who has a strong opinion may admit the possibility that his opinion may be false, he ought to be moved by the consideration that however true it may be, if it is not fully, frequently, and fearlessly discussed, it will be held as a dead dogma, not a living truth." (34) Education is the engine that drives our lives, and conflict is the fuel needed to start this engine. To fully understand another's conflicting view we must follow a particular process. First and foremost, a complete exploration of the conflicting idea must be made. Everything in life, as far as humans go, starts with exploration. The infant explores his/her world through touch and taste; the toddler explores his/her world through experimentation and assertiveness; the adolescent explores his/her world through defiance and independence; and the adult explores his/her world through contemplation and resolution. A human's education begins with exploration, and the exploration starts with exploring conflicting ideas. The exploration stage is the time for data collection. During this initial stage, the conflicting concept must be looked at one dimensionally. For example, a conflicting belief must first be broken down into its basic components. What is the belief? Why and how did this belief become valuable? Who spreads and maintains this belief? What are the consequences of adhering to or not adhering to this belief? Questions like this give valuable insight into what the foreign belief is built around. This is the first basic step in becoming truly educated. Exploration is intricately tied to conflict; it is an ancient rhythm that has echoed throughout human existence, and it is now and always will be the first step in becoming well educated. After a full exploration of a conflicting idea, we now move into the studying stage. At this point, one may ask, how is studying different from exploration? Exploration is limited to basic facts. Exploration focuses on who, what, where, and why. While, conversely, the studying stage focuses on the consequences or the affect of a conflicting belief or idea. This may be the hardest stage in becoming truly educated. For it is within this stage that we begin to draw conclusions. In layman's terms, the conflicting idea is now pitted against the individual's own accepted idea. The studying stage is more philosophical and asks questions such as, does the belief in question help, hinder or do both? What would happen if the conflicting belief were applied to another way of life? Is one group of people more or less affected by the different idea? As you can see these questions are vaguer and require deeper thought to answer. Clearly, by its very nature, the studying stage, if nothing else, forces people to think beyond their own limited view and instills knowledge, a concept synonymous with becoming truly educated. Finally, after exploring and studying, the ultimate goal should be an understanding of the conflicting idea or belief. It is at this stage that people come to a final conclusion. It is here that a person can now look at the conflicting idea three dimensionally. This three dimensional view allows an individual to make a truly educated decision or come to a truly educated conclusion about a particular conflicting belief. Although achieving an understanding of a different mindset may or may not persuade an individual to change his/her course of action or even their mindset, it does, by default, validate not only the individual's ideas but the conflicting ideas as well. Understanding another person's different ideas is foundational to becoming truly educated. Not understanding conflicting concepts, allows people to feel justified without justification. Also, understanding another's viewpoint leads to acceptance, and interestingly through acceptance we gain understanding. Of course, some may argue that unwavering adherence to a particular truth is more productive to becoming educated than contemplation of conflicting ideas, because the individual who does not explore alternative ideas is less distracted. Also, the argument could be made that a person's particular truth, and thereby their education, could become polluted through the exploration, study, and understanding of conflicting ideas. On the contrary, unwavering adherence is not conducive to becoming truly educated. Unwavering adherence limits a person's abilities and options. These limitations are in direct conflict with what it means to be truly educated. The ultimate goal of gaining an education is to expand an individual's ability and options not limit them. Of course, by exploring conflicting mantras, an individual's accepted mantras might change or mutate. But, by no means will they become polluted. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines pollute as, "to contaminate (an environment) through manmade waste." A true education does not aspire to pollute or contaminate. Conversely, a true education aspires to cleanse and purify. Yes, gaining an education may change or mutate a person's accepted beliefs, but the concept of change is wholly different than the concept of polluting. Life is filled with conflict. From our struggle through the birthing canal to the acceptance of death in our old age, life is riddled with conflicting ideas. Without it in our lives, we would not grow or evolve. The motivation found within contention inspires man and animal to over come adversity. We learn how to make our lives better each time we overcome or understand a particular conflict. A true education is inescapably connected to the exploration, study, and understanding of conflicting ideas, concepts, and mantras. Through conflict we gain a useable education. As the famous American ambassador, Bruce Laingen once said, "Human beings are like tea bags. You don't know your own strength until you get into hot water."

Thoughts From An Angry Park Ranger

This post was sent to me by Don Oneppo, my friend and park ranger. I love the anger in this and the undercurrent of sarcasm. It's about time someone got outraged. The outside world is not for everyone, and the people who have dedicated their lives to protecting it seem to agree. City folk, remember, you're not spectators of natural world your participants. And your creature comforts of your city life need to be kept there. One more thing, quiet down that's why there are signs stating "Quiet time after 10 pm" If you want to make noise late at night, go to a bar or go into the deep woods and if we're lucky a wild animal will eat you.

Folks yesterday ended the regular summer season. I am in the West roughly between the Wasatch and the Tetons. I went home and drank a martini. I made it a double. Yes, there will still be more happy campers. But for the most part, Labor Day signals an end to the onslaught of humanity. Yes, we'll still have to put up with rude French Canadians for a little while but for the most part, we've made it through the storm.It used to be that camping meant pitching a tent and hiking. Or maybe bringing the horses and doing some trail riding. But lately it seems like people are bringing their homes with them. The generators I can live with so long as they are quiet and used within reason. It’s the late night music and drinking that kept us running this summer. I saw more domestics, more of what we classify as "disorderly conduct" offenses, and generally more people being rude and obnoxious to neighboring campers than in years past. And what's with the big screen TV's out in the forest? Can't you cut the umbilical cord with your TV for just three or four days? I went through one campground last night and felt like I was at the freaking drive in. Listen folks, most people go camping to get away from it all. Who wants to here you screaming at your kids or berating your wife? No one wants to hear your stereo with the Bass cranked up to where my windows are vibrating before I even arrive. No one wants to here your drunken tirades and fights.Saturday I handled 4 public urination (for the record, I don't care if your taking a leak behind a bush but what's up with you idiots that don't even try to conceal yourself?) 6 disorderly conduct, 2 domestics, 7 loud music complaints, and one possession (meth) arrest. Holy shit people! This is supposed to be camping, not the hood. Your Lincoln Navigator might have a premium sound system with a CD changer but does that mean we all have to enjoy your music? The answer is no. And to you people that cannot understand why the posted speed limit is 15 MPH,,,,it's because a lot of people bring little kids camping with them and these kids tend to run around. To the chick in the Dodge Neon with the Raiders Sticker, yes, you do get a ticket for going 50 in a 15 and no, I don't care that you called my supervisor (neither does my supervisor, she said you talk like a 12 year old that didn't get the prize you wanted from the dentist)Being a park ranger used to mean a lot of PR, giving directions, occasional search and rescue, first aid, and a periodic encounter with some idiot who drank too much. But now it means responding to the same calls any department handles in an urban area. Instead of smiling at people and letting kids turn our overhead lights on, or petting our horse or sitting on our ATV and handing out junior ranger badges, we have to be on guard all the time looking for tweekers and gun totting survivalists who hate the government or want to use the wilderness as a place to stash shit for the Armageddon. And since when did it become popular to use the great outdoors to kill yourself? What happened to committing suicide in town? Now we have people coming out looking for the "natural way" to commit suicide and frankly, some of the places you are choosing make body recovery an all day ordeal. To the moron from Salt Lake that just had to take the 500 foot high dive, do you have any idea what it t akes to stage a deep canyon body recovery when our only access is the river? I had plans that weekend!Here are some of my summer favorites from this yearTo the peckerhead from Denver standing out the side of the road skinning out a dead Coyote. I understand that it was road kill and that you didn't shoot it. My problem is your lack of common sense. Everyone driving by sees you standing there with your buck knife gutting this damn thing. Do you think they know it was road kill? Every widow from Cheyenne to San Francisco that drove by and saw you standing there with your prize had there cell phones in hand faster than Wyatt Earp could pull a six iron. And to the Californian who stopped to help the deer that had been hit. You’re mad at me because I wouldn't call a vet? Are you nuts lady? This is the wilderness not The Bon Macy's. We do not call veterinarians for road kill.To the kid that pointed the air soft M-16 out of your car window at me as we passed on the highway,,, I’m sorry I made your dad wet his pants when I pulled you all from the car at gunpoint but hey, your the one who took the orange top off of your toy and don't you think that you being 16 means your old enough to know better? Hell, I damn near had my own private heart attack because of you. What am I supposed to think when I see a Cadillac with California plates and a big black gun barrel pointed at me? To the Hispanic guy who tossed the empty Bush Lite beer case out the window, how is me pulling you over racial profiling? I would have pulled you over no matter what color you are. You ought to get an ass kicking just for being a lazy pig. You paid how much for those rims and yet you drink the cheapest beer on the shelf and you can't afford a littering ticket? I don't think so. I hate writing tickets but you’re the kind that makes it fun.To the guy taking a crap on the side of the road, do you think that just because your on the passengers side of your RV doesn't mean we can't see you squatting there on the asphalt? There's a whole forest ten feet away! When I came around the corner and saw that I almost crashed into a friggin tree!To the guy doing the horizontal rumba with your girlfriend on top of the picnic table, yes, I'm sure it was cool and yes, she is hot but can't you at least wait until its dark???? Not everyone is a voyeur. Someone must not have enjoyed seeing your naked ass pile driving some tart from town or they wouldn't have bothered to call it in.To the guy who stole one of our ATV's. Don't you think you should have painted it a different color or did something to change its appearance before you start riding it around the same area you stole it from?To the rest of you real outdoorsmen and women who respect the land, pack out what you pack in, and enjoy the outdoors for what it is, more power to you. But I'll never contact you unless we are passing on the trail and then it's only a mutual hello or maybe answering your questions about weather or terrain. To the weekend warriors who bring your hate and discontent with you, stay home.Realistically, 90% of the people who visit the outdoors are great. You make the job fun. It’s the 10% who seek to work overtime to put everyone else out that makes it bad. The summer is over! Now I can concentrate on a little work around the house and maybe some fishing. Winter will be here soon and life will be good.