In a Word

At a time when so many of us feel powerless to effect meaningful change in the world, the immense power of a single word reminds us that, indeed, we can make a difference. Invariably, when we hear the word “environment” used, it is preceded by “the”. Saying or writing “the environment” makes it seem antiseptic, like something apart from ourselves and our place in it; it subliminally implies we have a choice in saving or not saving it. We can create a paradigm shift simply by exchanging the word “the” with the word “our”.

Contrast, for example, “the environment will suffer if we don’t do something now,” versus “our environment will suffer if we don’t do something now.” Inserting the word "our" effectively factors us into the equation, as it should be. If environmental groups, politicians, and everyday people begin to use this one simple word, we will perceive our connectedness to our environment and strive to make it a better place for ourselves and all living things. Become an environmental activist simply by using this one little word; ask your friends and family to do the same, and help make a considerable difference to our environment, one person at a time.

does it mean a shared reality, or claim of ownership? The use of that phrase could mean different things.

AND shared reality. No problem there as I see it.

Gene Hackman as the bad guy in 'Quick and the Dead'. He said 'this is my town' So from that concept Our town is better.

Great scene from a movie.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ValyraBeth#p/u/3/CmDsOXQVXWI

In road house, the people taking down the owner town boss, also said 'this is our town'

But there are some people that think in terms of 'us and them' and when they think in those terms, our is a group, not all people, and is a claim of exclusionary ownership.

So does 'our' include everyone, only those in some group, and if in a group, what factors define that group.


I'll stand with Preacher Crow and the Girl Stone.

...it depends on what the definition of is is...

By "our" I mean both; it is a mechanism for people to understand their place in this system (environment)and that it is folly to think we can survive in spite of what we do to degrade our, yes our, environment.

...claimed we damned environmentalists had caused all kinds of problems.

He went on to say that he, as a farmer.....

I stopped him right there.
And reminded him that farmers were the first environmentalists.

We got along good and he helped me with my project.

It is OUR environment. Good point.