Variations of “Not In My Backyard” Reverberate in my Mind

When I was in school for my graduate degree in natural resources, our class was asked to write an essay following the reading of Tragedy of the Commons (Hardin, 1968). It is required reading in most environmental programs.

The essay I wrote discussed the placement of high-power electric lines through our local neighborhoods in Wisconsin to supply electricity to people in another state and the larger metropolitan areas due East. Naturally, most of the people in our community (our backyard) did not want the high-voltage lines running through their neighborhood.

The essay follows at this link: https://1drv.ms/w/s!Ap0DuOisn9RtlEOgUzuB-pW8egPA if you are interested in reading it. It is several years old. Copyright applies with all rights reserved.

What I Am Seeing Now

Tonight, I saw a social media post advocating for letting all those in need have what “we” have. Frankly, it irritated me. I’m tired of these bandwagon posts.

The reason I am tired is that I want the people making these posts to put their money where their words are. It was dinner time. I was incensed.

I told my husband that I was tired of these posts. They do nothing. Are these people who want everyone to have everything willing to give up something of their own to make someone else’s life better?

Somehow, I doubt it.

Call me a cynic. But if people did something — anything — to make the lives of others better, they’d probably be doing it, not talking about it. I know a few people who do just that! They inspire by doing, not blathering about it on social media.

The Conversation Continues

To my husband, I proposed that if 100 people gave $1,000.00 each to make the lives of others better, that would equal $100,000.00. That’s quite a chunk of change! Some difference could be made with that kind of money — perhaps small reaching, but a difference all the same.

And if you don’t have money, you can volunteer to make someone’s life better. Schools, women’s shelters, libraries, food pantries, land trusts, and hospitals are all places that gladly accept the help of volunteers.

Next, came a segment of the television show, Sixty Minutes. They educated us on SOLA, a school educating refugee Afghan girls in Rwanda. What these girls have been through, we cannot even begin to imagine! The founder of the school is someone who is doing something — something to help. She didn’t wait around for someone else to help fill a need she saw. She acted.

Do something and stop talking about how you want everyone to have everything!

I’m tired of people talking and not doing anything to help. In my field of environmental education, we not only educate but also inspire action. Action must accompany education. It must.

So, I ask. Will you give up something of yours — a thousand dollars, the cost of your mammogram, a week’s worth of groceries, a year’s worth of gas, a month’s mortgage payment — or any number of other things — to help someone in need, someone you don’t know?

If not, then you need to SHUT UP!

Seriously, I mean it.

I want you to consider what you are currently doing to help those in need. Are you doing more than just talking about it on social media?

If not, then stop talking about it and start doing it!

Seriously, I mean it!

This article was orignally published on my Medium.com page on 2/27/23.