Glee for green has been a long time coming in this country. What started out as an almost underground burlap sack movement has sprung into a multibillion-dollar enterprise and an entire culture, even generation, of planet-conscientious actions.
We drive Priuses and are quick to let others know that we are doing our part to save the planet. We are quick to tote our planet-friendly bags in supermarkets and are even quicker to act as the perfect start of a doom-and-gloom environmental lecture masquerading as a conversation while perusing the aisles farthest away from the meat section.
Admittedly, most of us do not fit into this stereotypical yippie hippie eco-flower power mold, but we all know someone who does. And while we may secretly poke fun at these people who, yes, single-handedly save the world by abstaining from eating meat, their planet-saving enthusiasm has rubbed off on many of us.
Switching out a typical light bulb to the new and improved efficient incandescent bulbs gives many a short thrill. Using /green/ deodorant not only leaves us smelling au natural but potently lets others know about our desire to save the planet as well.
While it may be shocking to consider, many people simply aren/t ready to ditch their real deodorant and trade in the ole/ Tahoe for a Fiat 500, a smart car competitor that Fiat-controlled Chrysler may import stateside soon.
Jonathan Goodman may be one of the green movement/s shining angels. After years of mechanic work, Goodman figured out a way to create an automotive engine that can easily run on alternative fuels and boost mileage near 100 miles per gallon. But Goodman/s engines never make it into flimsy organic pieces of pasta that pass as a car. Instead, he plops them into heavy Hummers and Chevy Suburbans. And the engines that he creates aren/t delicate or made of tea leaves either. Instead, they/re jet-propelled, doubling and even tripling not just the miles per gallon the engine can run off of but the horsepower as well.
The environmental movement could learn a few things from businessmen like Goodman. We Americans are not pansies, after all. While some may be more willing and open to the idea of changing their lifestyle to one that promotes driving hybrid vehicles and shopping sustainably, many simply aren/t ready yet.
In our country, Discovery Channel dedicates a whole week of programming alone to inspired footage of gory shark attacks. We send mentally retarded people to death row. We lock up 10,000 children each year in adult correction facilities. We gloat over our huge military. Surely, not many people are going to succumb to driving hybrids when we can conquer the urban jungles in our fake Hummers.
The problem with environmentalism isn/t its lack of passion, but who/s passionate about the cause itself. The cause is still too lefty, too New England Liberal and way too Hollywood.
The environmental movement has had much success recently in the battle for changing our cultural philosophy. Hybrid car sales are up, as well as sales of other low emission cars. Large companies now boast about how green they are, and daytime talk shows devote airtime to explaining how being green around home can save money.
But what happens when the money comes back? What happens when the economy turns the corner? What happens if gasoline manages to stay below the $3.50 mark year-round? Will we see another tidal mass of petite blond women straining to see over the steering wheel of their GMC Yukons?
Unless someone like Jonathan Goodman tinkered with their suburban tanks to achieve a higher mpg rating, I sure hope not.
Matthew Christ is a political science sophomore.
