John Muir, and the Sands of Time

Over the beginning of this class, we have discussed the idea of Western Expansion across the United States. One of the main proponents of moving West was John Muir, environmentalist and conservationist extraordinaire. In his text, Muir has an overwhelming passion for the land, and makes great strides to get other people to witness this land. He changed the perception of a land thought to be inhabited by reckless inhabitants, and was the original "tree hugger."

"As far as the eye can reach it extends, a heavy swelling sea of green as regular and continuous as that produced by the Heaths of Scotland"(Muir  56). Throughout the piece, Muir exhibits a love and affection for a land unseen by most. He is yearning for others to see it as well. I would imagine he pictured this land continuing to be just as beautiful as he saw it for centuries to come.

Turn the clock to the year 2012. Would Muir have the same erotic feelings towards this land as he did in the late 19th Century? I believe he would be disappointed, to say the least. While there are obviously still very beautiful parts of our Country left untouched, such as National Parks, there are plenty of notable differences in the Country Muir saw and the Country we see every day.

"The whole landscape showed design, like man's noblest sculptures." Not quite the same!

Times have changed. Industrialization has come and technology has risen to the forefront, and many beautiful landscapes have been replaced by polluted areas and large industrialized structures.

I doubt Muir's feelings towards the land would be the same as it was then, it's safe to say. At least in North Texas, where the world revolves around construction zones, large freeways and high pollution.

That's not to say that organizations have not taken heed of Muir's love for the environment. Many organizations are around to promote welfare for our land, such as Nature.org and Environment Texas which lists many several kinds of simple conservation projects families can do around their home or even around their community to keep the Nation from getting even farther away from Muir's vision.

Because "I feel strangely attracted to this smog" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Works Cited:

Muir, John. My First Summer in the Sierra. New York: Oxford University Press, 1869. 55-59. Print. 

http://www.environmenttexas.org/issues

www.nature.org

 http://amazingezone.com/img/2011/August/Arizona%20Grand%20Canyon/Grand-Canyon-Arizona-09.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Cowboys_Stadium_exterior,_2010_NBA_All-Star_Game.jpg

http://www.air-zone.com/images/smog2.jpg