Why are People Afraid?

The more I read these papers, and particularly the three additional ones highlighting our interviewer for the day, I felt myself getting more and more upset. I tried to understand their point of view, as I have in past when other conservatives have given me their views on the environment, but lately I am finding it harder and harder to listen. And that is a problem! We, as educators in the EE are sometimes accused of being liberal, agenda toting, fear mongering individuals. If I want people like Michael Sinera to listen to me, I need to do the same for him.

However, this level of educating children to be objective listeners is so frustrating! What about the current environmental issue at hand- the giant oil spill. What would happen if we all were just objective listeners....wait! That's why the spill happened in the first place! I believe that education should encompass teaching kids how to become active in their world- it was children who really brought the whole recycling movement in the U.S. to what is is today.

I guess the question I am asking myself is, am I forcing my liberal views about the earth when I ask my son to help me hold the groceries, instead of putting them in a plastic bag because mom forgot to bring her bags? Am I spreading my radical agenda when I am teaching city kids how to grow a "happy garden" (their exact words!) without the use of chemicals? Or, am I being a responsible human being- one created by a Higher Being who very early on in the Bible told human beings about our responsibility of being stewards of this beautiful earth, when I hang my laundry out to dry in full view of all of the neighborhood kids? I think the answer is pretty simple. Maybe Michael needs to watch Wall-E one more time.