Frankly, my dear, Earth Day is about as beneficial to the earth as Martin Luther King Day is to the man forty years after his death.  That's not to say that the cause isn't just or that we shouldn't be observant and frugal with the precious resources that Mother Earth provides. The important thing is to act on the meaning, not on the event. What Dr. King needed in April, 1968, was a bulletproof bubble and universal acceptance of the truths he spoke: prevention.  Governments, corporations and individuals actively demonstrating respect for the earth has far greater value than shouting from the rooftops about what should be done or what could have been done by others.

Should you wish to pay homage to Martin Luther King, you might choose to learn his ambitions and ideals then practice his methods on a daily basis, rather than merely taking a day off work in his name.  Similarly, should you wish to show respect for the Earth, you might find a longer-lasting and more sincere way to do so than offering your colleagues a tuneful "Happy Earth Day" as you park your car, trampling the grass in your rush to your air-conditioned office.

© 2007 Keith Walls. Original for CCF (Walls grants CCF first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology).