Friday, November 8, 2013

SAM CAMPBELL SEVENTY YEARS LATER

Just got finished reading "Too Much Salt And Pepper", the latest book by naturalist Campbell I've reread from my childhood.

Reading Campbell's books, it strikes me just how much our social mindset has changed. People don't have the happy, laugh through anything attitude Sam and Jenny display in their stories. Hi Bub would have probably been placed on Ritolin today and Carol (a giggly teenager, a rare bird indeed these days) would probably be placed on antidepressants for being too happy.

Campbell's thoughts on everything in nature working toward growth are almost heretical today, what with all the people on Disability who have back troubles that prevent them from working but which still allow them to carry a two four up a hill. The lessons about personal responsibility and not blaming other people are all but unheard of today.

You bloody people. These kids set up websites and become activists about global warming, but schools are cancelling their outdoor education and environmental learning programs. Sure, there are outdoor nursery schools if you've got the money to pay for them, but by and large our young people are disconnecting from nature, trekking across screens, harvesting their farms of microchips.

No comments: