Tree Hugger

A lot of times, some one will ask my major and I will say "Environmental Policy" and they will go one of two ways:
1) Oh wow, that's really neat. There's a lot of need for that these days.
2) So.... What...exactly....do you do with that?
Then I respond... "Well, I would really like to be involved with legislation regarding environmental policies. Oklahoma is really behind when it comes to the environment so I would like to be involved with that. I'm also really into recycling so that could be great too. I could also do consulting for a firm to make sure that a company is within regulatory compliance". Then a lot of people say.... "So you're a tree hugger?"
This has happened to me so many times that I just look at them and sigh. I almost just want to say "yes" and walk away. Who came up with this "Tree Hugger" business? AND why is there a stigma attached to the term "tree hugger" when someone says it? Is it a new insult? And what assumptions are you making about me when you use that term? Have you EVER seen me wear tie die? I always wear shoes. I wash my hair. I have never smoked pot... so what kind of hippie category are you putting me in?

Urban Dictionary.com defines "Tree Hugger" as: "An environmentalist or one who believes trees and all living things should not be cut down or harmed. Someone who works to protect the environment from destruction or pollution".

To be a little more credible- Webster defines Tree Hugger as: "Sometimes disparaging: Environmentalist; especially an advocate for the preservation of woodlands".

Lets look at this from a couple of different perspectives. First, based on the first definition, being that we are all residents of planet Earth, we may not all choose to follow a career path in the environmental field but we have something to gain from being a "tree hugger". Considering that we all enjoy the fruits of the earth such as oh... food, oxygen, water, aesthetics, and small issues as those, shouldn't we all be vested in the preservation of such fruits? Whether you like it or not, environmentalist or not, democrat, republican, if any of these things were taken from you even in the slightest percentage, you would start caring really quick. You care with out actively knowing you care. Of course you do. Your survival depends on it. So are we not, all in some way Tree Huggers?

Secondly, I touched on this earlier. Why does my being an environmentalist give anyone a reason to make assumptions about me? I chose my major becaues I appreciate the specific role that nature plays in our lives and I would like to do everything I can to sustain it. That doesn't necessarily mean I want to be at "one" with nature all the time. I don't camp. Not at all. It's not my thing. I tried it once and it rained on me all night. Then it monsooned when we had to take the tent down. It was July and I was freezing. It's not my thing. Jim Gaffigan says it best about camping. www.youtube.com/watch?=qle-vjHoQa4 . I also don't care too much for being dirty. I don't even get my hair wet when I swim about 99% of the time. But in 20 years if my kids say they want to go camping, I want there be a nature to send them and their father out into.

This is my career path and it's something that I am really passionate about. I feel like at the end of the day I have chosen something I can feel good about. It's something that will not only support me monetarily, but have a ripple effect on other people, people that I may never meet. That's a good feeling to me. Instead of assuming that I'm a crazy person who ties myself to trees, why wouldn't someone say "Thanks, I appreciate the work that you're doing". We all have our jobs that make everyone's lives run more smoothly. I am pretty against this war we are fighting, but everytime I see a man in uniform (usually at the airport) I want to shake their hand and say "I appreciate what you're doing and the sacrifice you are willing to make". I'm ashamed that I have never actually done that, because I think about it every time. Now I'm not the biggest fan of oil companies, but as long as I use the resources they provide, I need to appreciate the little man who makes sure that those resources are available to me.
Speaking of oil companies, do you realize how much money environmental experts are going to make as a result of this oil spill? Let me tell you, a lot. Maybe next time someone asks me what I am going to do with my degree I'll just tell them I'm going to move to Louisiana because I'll have job security for a lonnnnnnnnnnnng time.
I've worked really hard on my degree and now pursuing a second to help make this world a better place. I don't mind "tree hugger" but maybe more people need to think about what their saying when they say it. Just food for thought.

Posted in: Being Green