Earth Day philosophy every day?

Commentary by Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig

On Tuesday, people around the globe will come together to celebrate the great planet we live on.

Earth Day 2009 will be No. 39 and counting — offering people an outlet to do their part to build a safer, healthier and cleaner world for all. The observance was founded in 1970 by Gaylord Nelson, a former U.S. senator from Wisconsin, “to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda.”

On the “official” Earth Day Web site (earthday.net) it reads, “Earth Day Network was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. Our mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable environment.”

Hmmm … interesting. Wouldn’t it be cool if we could incorporate this “vision” into a way of life for all? Not only on Earth Day, but the other 364 days of the year, as well? And let’s expand the focus from the environment to include say … one another?

I agree that all people should have these rights, but I also stand strong on the belief that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical or mental capabilities, religion and many more areas that we have allowed ourselves to be divided by should have a moral right to be accepted, not be judged and to live as he or she chooses, as long as it doesn’t mentally, physically or emotionally hurt another living being.

I must say … we humans are funny people. We will go to the ends of the earth to go green, save the planet, free the animals and more. But when it comes to getting along with one another, we seem to have a harder time grasping this idea.

Now I have nothing against being environmentally conscious. I occasionally fight the establishment and throw a plastic water bottle or two in the trash versus the recycling bin, but for the most part, have seen what global warming can do, and already has done, and don’t want things getting worse. But why can’t we turn all this love, support and admiration toward one another?

Hey … maybe we need to call it something, as people just love to jump on the bandwagon when you have a name for something. I think as part of our observance, we should treat one another with unconditional love, be forgiving and toss out those overused words like “tolerance” and “promote” and “acceptance.” You can wear whatever you want and celebrate it wherever you get the urge.
I know … let’s call it TODAY.

Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig is an award-winning journalist who resides in Oakland. If you have an individual, organization, issue or other topic that may be of interest to the Globe’s readers, contact her at talk2mfc@yahoo.com. Visit her blog at www.stpminute.blogspot .com.