Earth Day is the singular global day of observation in a unifying theme. No other day, holiday, celebration, unifies the world with a true commonality as much as Earth Day. Not even Christmas Day is a unifying theme world-wide. Few religions, other than Christianity celebrate Christmas.
True, Earth Day does not make kids giddy, adults open their wallets, or, songs fill the air such as does the Christmas season.
There is a good reason why Earth Day is observed, if not celebrated, world-wide. Simply, we do have an environment to enhance and protect. Yes, to save.
Granted that Earth Day and its reasons to exist perpetuate political posturing from opponents. Nonetheless, there is much greater acknowledgement than April 22, 1970 the first Earth Day. Some of those who truly did not understand back then asked in jest, rhetorically, “What am I supposed to do, hug a tree?” That was the beginning of the phrase tree-hugger.
In fact, planting trees (Arbor Day the fourth Friday in April), caring for the environment, recycling as a policy, and understanding what is at stake are reasons to think about the future situation for grandchildren and those unborn. A careless attitude simply is self-destructive.
It was Richard M. Nixon, as president of the United States (1969-1974) who approved the suggestion by Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson in 1969 that we should devote one day to focus on an Earth Day, even though each day should be earth day. Mr. Nixon did feel some pressure with the tenor of the times, however, for all of his faults, he was politically astute and knew it was important to swim downstream with the movement in favor of our environment. Author Rachel Carson had primed the pump in 1962 with her book “Silent Spring” about use of pesticides on plants and flowers. Today, 48 years later, in spite of forces which fight against an improved environment, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has one million staff members of scientists, attorneys, and specialists, based in six cities, Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Beijing.
We should do something in honor of Earth Day! In fact, do something more often than one day a year. Earth Day observances will be in at least Naperville and Geneva. See elsewhere in this week’s issue.
Theodore Roosevelt would approve! See page 3.