On America's birthday - July 4th - I am most proud of our ability to preserve our wild natural areas - especially our National Parks and Wilderness. Often called "America's Best Idea," our National Parks truly are our cathedrals. What I like best about America's wild areas is the fact that they are gateways to a spiritual space that stretches out far BEYOND mere nationalism. Parks and Wilderness Areas put us in touch with a spacious state of awareness that could never be circumscribed by any national identity, government, or way of life. Because of this expansive state of awareness fostered by our Open Spaces, to be an American means paradoxically to go BEYOND being an American, recognizing that we are in fact most truly citizens of Planet Earth. And THAT, for me, is the truly important thing about America's birthday!
Photo: Snow Buttercups, Trail Ridge, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, June 29, 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment