Brien Carr - Grooming the Wild

During class, we had turned to a discussion of how it is human nature to box in wild nature. We discussed the idea that the manicuring of our lawns is a testamnet to this theory. Over time humans have cultivated vegitation in gardens for the purpose of consumption. Eventually, this idea was mutated and combined with a romanticized view and appriciation for athestic beauty. Thus, the garden for beauty's sake was born and with it the boxing in of the wild. Wealthy kings wished to have eleaborate gardens designed to to experience the beauty of flowers and structures created to be works of art through the medium of plant sculpture. We even see a deeper appriciation in the Zen views of nature and the placement of plants and homes near water and other natural structures. I am beginning to believe that we are modifiying nature to fit our ideals as it should serve us best instead of adapting to what nature had in store and changing our lives to accomidate it. After now writing many times about environmental preservation, I can understand Berry's view now. We do misuse nature and have little regard for the reprocussions of our actions. The pupose of wild nature is not to use and abuse it, but rather to live in harmony with it. If we are to utilize it we should be able to give something back to it in return. One good option is protection.