By Martin J. Kidston
Everything is big in this big country of ours, with our big cars and big houses and big ideas. And behind all these big things is big money, tied up in big corporations where greed brews under the mask of a big ego guided by a little brain.
Little brains, yes, these equate to very small consciences, and without a conscience, big trouble abounds.
When I think about it, if anything should be big, I would hope it would be the corporate conscience. After all, theyve bullied the rest of us into servitude, and like an ant caught in a whirlpool, were stuck in this big, greedy corporate system.
But leave it to the little people in the small places to do what we, as little people in big places, have failed to do hit the greedy money makers between the pockets where it hurts the most.
The other day Im waking up from a long autumn nap, and I hear the same old song and dance on the radio, the one about global warming, the hole in the ozone, melting ice caps, blah, blah, blah. Its not that I dont care, because I do, perhaps more than any other tongue-biting individual living in this loud country of ours.
However, Ive resolved that I cannot make a difference, and have become as lazy and disconcerted as the rest, who probably believe they, too, cannot make a difference.
So Im lying there, unable to make a difference, and hear that global warming will cause ocean levels to rise three feet. No big deal when you live 4,000 feet above sea level. Neither is it a big deal to a big country with big ideas, burning big fuel in big factories not caring what the consequences are as long as it doesnt stop the money.
But to a small country, such as a small island nation in the big sea and there are many such islands in the big sea three feet of ocean can turn them into the lost city of Atlantis.
So heres all these soon-to-be-flooded-by-the-ocean-countries, no bigger than a grain of sand, really, banning together to sue we developed nations in the world court for destroying the worlds environment, and consequently, manifesting the extinction of their small island nations.
Money matters. We see it all the time. And to a country like ours that sees greenbacks over green forests, what does a little pollution matter, anyway?
Dont worry. If youre like me, its not your fault remember the ant in the corporate whirlpool? Its the same whirlpool that put arsenic in our rivers so the big gold companies can sell their big herringbone chains. Its the same system that harvests big clear cuts in our forests so big Hollywood stars can build big houses with tons of timber to impress their friends.
I know, weve heard it all before, besides, we cant make a difference.
But now, it seems corporate greed has spewed too many toxins and greenhouse gases into the air and the Pacific islanders are irked. Maybe they can do from their backward little nations what we cannot do from our advanced urban hubs change the world by hitting greed where it hurts the most right between the pockets. After all, someone has to get their attention.
As for myself, I may not be able to make a difference, but Id be the first to get the islanders a big, square-toed boot and tell them where to swing it up and hard. Its an easy shot, as corporate America has been sedated by greed and wont see it coming.
