My wife has some pretty funny stories. One of my favorites is a particularly bad date that she went on some years before we met. If I recall correctly the guy was someone she met at work who was genuinely nice. However, he was somewhat boring and seemed to lack passion for just about anything. They were struggling for conversation during their date so Helene asked him if he had any hobbies. He said, “Oh yeah, I really like to bike.” Helene responded, “Really? So tell me what kind of bike do you have and what kind of riding do you enjoy?” Her date’s response: “Oh, I don’t own a bike.”
Last week I framed an entry on this blog about immigration with a conversation I had at a wedding about what I am passionate about besides kayaking. I stated in that conversation that I was passionate about justice and went on to demonstrate that much like Helene’s date from years ago, I merely pay lip service to my passion for justice while I live out my passion for kayaking—something that I am not incredibly proud of.
Well, I am also passionate about the environment and tomorrow gives me an opportunity to demonstrate that passion. In all honesty it is somewhat of a struggle not to serve myself and my other passion of kayaking tomorrow and go to the river on what will be a beautiful day. And part of me writing this is to hold myself accountable for something that is bigger and much more important than me going to the river to burn a few calories and have fun.
The proposed 1,661 mile Tar Sands Pipeline is scheduled to cross many rivers including the Yellowstone in Montana, the Ogallala Aquifer and the environmentally sensitive Sand Hills in Nebraska. Moreover, the pipeline requires a presidential permit because it crosses the US-Canada border. I am opposed to this project because of the risk that this pipeline puts on incredible natural resources and our country's stubborn reliance on oil and lack of effort to seriously consider alternative energy sources. Tomorrow there is a planned protest at the Whitehouse that I will be a part of. I am proud to be saying yes to something that is bigger, much bigger, than me just having a good time on the water.
For those interested in joining you can find more information here. And I hope to see you there!
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