In a recent blog post I characterized “the hot air emanating from Washington DC” as more dangerous than the smoke from California’s devastating forest fires. (I was talking about some of the tragic proclamations coming from the White House, not the comedy of the even more recent government shutdown.) Because Wild Idea Buffalo Company is first and foremost a conservation minded company, I was, of course, referring to the United States’ abandonment of the Paris Climate Accords, the opening of our public lands to the extraction industries, and the reduction in size of protected lands across the west.
That blog post elicited a thoughtful response from one of our good customers who, I am sure, had our best interests in mind: “…Great products, philosophy, photography and all around company with whom I feel good about supporting. One thought, please let this be a politics-free zone…specifically, statements like “dangerous hot air from Washington” have no place and moreover ruin the tranquility of your brand."
Here is my email response: "Thanks for your support. Sorry if my comment offended you. Certainly don't want to be too political. I respect your comment about keeping things apolitical, but please understand that conservation has been my life for 70 years. I don't consider defending our natural world political, I consider it survival for my grandkids. Very best regards."
I’ve been thinking about that benign exchange for a couple weeks and have grown embarrassed with my weak response. What we do at Wild Idea is not a game of commercial strategy. We feel that we are playing for “ALL the marbles.” We are engaged in a great, existential struggle that none of us can afford to ignore. We are doing, through our actions, what most people can’t do directly or won’t do, and what most of creation has no voice to do. Though it is soothing to think that our brand is tranquil, it is not so. Wild Idea Buffalo Company is about underscoring the destruction that out-of-control capitalism has visited upon the natural world. The suggestion that it is all a marketing strategy is insulting; though I’m sure our valued customer did not intend any such thing.
Between the time of that initial blog post and now I went to see the movie The Darkest Hour. If you haven’t seen it, go as soon as you can and watch Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Winston Churchill in front of the English Parliament. Churchill is, of course, surrounded by politics as he strains to make England see that opposing Adolph Hitler is much more than a political stance. Notice the look on the face of Ronald Pickup who plays Neville Chamberlain as he realizes that his efforts to appease Hitler have been little more than the a scolding finger in Churchill’s face – the equivalent of saying, “Now, now Winston, let’s keep the language kind and civil.”
Or consider Major Buttric of America’s infant Continental Army. Imagine him in 1775, standing at the Concord Bridge commanding the rag-tag group of common men, much like most of us. On the other side of the bridge stands lines of red-coated invaders. Major Buttric and his men are facing down the most powerful army the world had ever known. If you’ve ever been to the Concord River Valley, you know it is one of the most idyllic and peaceful places imaginable. You also know that even after 250 years, the air is still thick with the tension of that day in 1775. Now imagine Major Buttric turning to the embattled farmers who stand shoulder to shoulder with him and saying, “Now boys, let’s keep this place a politics free zone.” No. What Buttric really said was: “Fire, for god’s sake fellow soldiers – Fire!”
I do not mean to minimize those battles fought to protect our civilization or our freedom. Quite the opposite. I only mean to elevate the importance of defending our environment and to point out that victory often comes through uncomfortable words and actions. The stakes could not be higher. We are fighting for life itself.
77 comments
Dan your life is a statement to love of our planet and it’s sustainability, it is not political nor have you ever stated otherwise. Those who do not have words to state their agreement with your " little bit of heaven" without delineating it from the all-encompassing wholeness of mother earth chose divisive words…“now you made it political”. Belief and actions to a greater good are not politically motivated but just as stated…for the greater good.
The only red meat that comes across my family’s table is yours. We’re very proud to support you. We all need to do what we can to protect this fragile planet. I’ve been involved in public lands politics for almost 30 years now—there’s no way to keep it from becoming politicized. The best thing we could do to preserve our wild heritage would be to get all the cattle off those landscapes. Now. So helping you and your partners furthers that goal for all of us just a little. I’ve also read all your books. Your passion and dedication is admirable. Keep up the great work, and keep inspiring people!
Thank you for being a calming voice of reason and making your words turn into action.
Well spoken and highly relevant. It time and past time that Americans stood up for our true values. If this means being political then so be it.
Right on Dan, those who stand by and say norhing are complicit by their silence.
Dan, I heartily agree with you. We as individuals and caretakers of this one Earth and for the next seven generations need to speak out. We need to defend. We need to care. We must not acquiesce. We have a moral responsibility.
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless.
Not to speak is to speak.
Not to act is to act.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Well said, I’ve lived in the rural west most of my life.The idea that rural folks can’t make a living without squeezing a $ out of every bit of our wild lands, is a fraud perpetrated by extractive interests and their political cronies.
From France (and I wanted to do this for such a long time), thank you to be who you are, to defend these values with such commitment:
you are one of the people I respect the most in the world, Mr O’Brien, and one who brings me hope despite this tough world. Thank you!
very well said ! bravo ! you are absolutely right, this is a question of life and death !!
by the way, a Native American from Standing Rock came to France, I saw him on the french TV !! and I am devastated that the pipe line is authorized by “you know who”….
Really looking forward to see you in june
Astrid from France
Thanks, Dan. In my lifetime, I’ve never known a moment that so desperately requires the need to summon our best efforts to heal the planet. And the courage to make an unambiguous statement to our friends as well as those who may be indifferent or callous to this need that the current course taken by our leaders is unacceptable. Your statement is bold and true. Keep it up!
Totally agree! Thanks for stepping up and standing up!
You are right on target!
Thank you, Dan! Well stated. We must reverse course of greedy fools and look after the long term health of our beautiful and sustaining planet.
Thank you for this beautifully written response. Our nation will be lost if we all stay “peaceful” and “non-political.” All institutions are political, yes, even the church. So keeping our comments free from politics is impossible. We need to, as you do daily, stand up for ourselves, our great grandchildren, and the future of the earth. The future of the earth needs our protection from the “hot air coming our of Washington.” THANK YOU, Dan for all your work, dedication and life mission.
I Am 100% with Dan. Love the power of your words.
I have been teaching people for 17 years to work with the Land and to keep it intact at all costs. I teach how to “honor” this beautiful Earth.