To the Editor:
I am feeling very ashamed today after witnessing the destruction of several majestic, over-three-centuries-old trees whose only crime was to “be in the way.” I am thinking of all the trees in my life that I have directly caused to be destroyed. In the past, I too just had to have the trophy house, shiny wood floors, paper to print on, and a nice cleared yard. I have also caused the eradication of many many, more trees indirectly. Today, I am feeling very, very sorry.
These particular trees had provided shade, numerous wildlife roosts, nourishment, and refuge for more years than you or I will walk the earth. Humans tried to protect them, but in the end were even more defenseless than the trees themselves against other humans.
I know we all need to make a living. I know that I am as guilty as those (maybe even more so) who removed the trees.
These trees were quite beautiful, but very defenseless against our modern machinery. The daylong event was the culmination of a lot of preparation work by many.
Loud machinery clawed at woody limbs like a prehistoric monster cutting off the legs of its prey. Its jaws at times shook like a nightmarish monster shredding its conquest in supreme dominance. The trees offered little protest except for their loud successive cracking and snapping.
Passersby on foot, bike, and vehicle barely glanced at the tyrannical annihilation — some were oblivious. Attention was instead focused on cell phones, on intended destinations, and on more urgent errands.
“Can’t see the forest for the trees” was literally turning from “Didn’t notice the forest or the trees” to “What trees; what forest?”
Please resist the urge to label me as sanctimonious. We are all to blame for the destruction of our Mother Earth and ultimately the planet. Global warming deniers need to “chill out.” Can you justify picking up a stone to cast? Look around the space you occupy at this very moment; what do you own that came from wood?
All around us are results from the pursuit of the vanities of humans. Today I witnessed firsthand a gang assault on Mother Earth. There was no funeral; ironically, loud cheers were heard while the remaining large tree was finally toppled and chainsawed into pieces.
I am inconsolable trying to write this requiem. Can you at least devote a moment right now to consider what impact we as humans are having on our planet? We are causing the destruction of our very lives, our species. What can we do to halt this destruction? Regrettably, I see no solution. I feel like those disemboweled trees.
Those of you who love labels, go ahead and get it (some of it) out of your system. Go ahead and call me a tree hugger, hypocrite, self-righteous, self- pity wallower, etc. Yeah, yeah, boo hoo. I don’t need your validation.
OK, I have climbed down from my plastic milk crate — couldn’t find a wooden box.
I hope that all who were involved in today’s tree massacre can sleep tonight. If not, you can just reach for some sleeping or antianxiety pill, which probably was derived from a plant in the Amazon. At least it was discovered before we destroy our ecosystem. We will need those pills to console ourselves (and our future generations — if we have any) in the aftermath.
As for me, I will be kept awake. The now treeless void allows the last-quarter moon to show through. A permanent reminder that it isn’t the only thing that is waning.
Eileen Stanbrook-Charter
Vineyard Haven