A modest proposal

In these times of trouble, how can we honor the Semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence?

I’m going somewhere here, but it will require your patience.

I was watching a show about dogs last night, and was reminded of a relatively new term in science that describes the evolution of dog-human relationships: survival of the friendliest. The idea is that friendly interactions that benefit both sides create biological bonds.

Dogs have a membrane in their eyes that permits them to show the white of the sclera. We call it puppy dog eyes, but it is the same look that human infants have to show helplessness, and one humans instantly respond to. If you think about it, this look is what often endears mammals to us, and helps to cement our affection for them. It’s not surprising that the most popular pets are other mammals, like us. The human-dog relationship is complex and multi-faceted, but it is clear that we have developed ways of understanding and loving one another that are mutually beneficial.

Bees and flowers are a perfect example of survival of the friendliest. They have both evolved to help one another. Plants make themselves beautiful to attract the bees; the bees feed themselves while pollinating the flowers.

The opposite is true with invasive species, who have not evolved to cooperate in their new environments. Emerald ash borers kill every ash tree in sight, thereby destroying their own habitat, and ultimately, themselves. Since they’ve come through and ravaged our area of Wisconsin, my tree experts tell me that the beetles are dying off. Invasive garlic mustard crowds out native plants, and depletes the soil of the nutrients necessary for growth. Evolution takes time, and meanwhile, the local habitats are destroyed, in some cases irrevocably. At least in our lifetimes.

Human civilization is all about survival of the friendliest. Yes, of course, there have always been wars and cruelty, and always will be. But the entire concept of the rule of law is that we co-exist by following rules that reinforce our mutual interests. In an era in which this basic tenet is breaking down, it is interesting to me that the protests have become very specifically peaceful signals of harmlessness. Hence the dancing blow-up animals. That this is not perfectly successful is duly noted.

The photo on the cover of my book depicts a phenomenon called “crown shyness” in which trees deliberately restrict their growth to respect the light and space of neighboring trees. How’s that for survival of the friendliest?

So…bear with me here, because I’m about to make a leap.

I’ve been thinking a great deal about our nation’s coming 250th anniversary, amid our current environment. And I’ve also been thinking about something possibly more important: our thoughtless destruction of the natural world—the world we all need to survive, whether we realize it or not. I was deeply impressed by the United Kingdom’s celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, which celebrated—in part—by promoting The Queen’s Green Canopy. The nation—indeed, the entire Commonwealth— was asked to plant trees to create a living memorial of the occasion, and in response, at least three million trees were planted. I suspect it was more.

Environmentalists tell us that trees are the single greatest defense against global warming we have. In one year, a mature tree can absorb a half a Metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent.

So, rather than celebrating our nation’s founding with fighting, what if we celebrated by creating the Founder’s Canopy? We could support organizations like the National Forest Foundation, linked above, or by planting trees ourselves, and urging our local communities to plant more trees, and even to create ordinances requiring that developers cut down fewer trees.

What do you think? Do you have ideas to help make this happen? It seems to me like a way each of us can contribute to the future in a way that doesn’t require a lot of bureaucracy or organizing. All we have to do is what we can do individually. And in these turbulent and uncertain times, what better way to celebrate the Quarter Millennium (a term I find more pronounceable than Semiquincentennial) of the United States, than with agency, action, and hope?

Please let me know what you think in the comments, and feel free to share widely. All paid subscriptions today will go toward the purchase and planting of trees.

Happy Sunday.

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“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” ~Julian of Norwich

I know the world is losing its collective mind, and it’s difficult to look out and see the chaos around us. But we are not the only human beings in history who have lived through trying times, and although we are required to do what is right, adversity does not require us to live in abject misery. It’s essential to remind ourselves of the good things in the world, so I hope these posts provide a place of refuge for my readers. These posts will always be free. But if you find what I do is worth something to you, I hope you will consider a subscription. Come and hang out with me, the dogs, and this stalwart little community of good people. And remember: We do not have to live on bended knee.

Also: dog photos.

Come on. Let’s plant some trees!

And now for your gratuitous dog photos:

Eli on his daddy’s knee.

The jealous face.

Revenge.

Apologies.