I am not getting into the Covid-19 debate, or lack thereof. What I will observe, is that it is apparent that “our” public lands are not ours. We are not free to roam in vast open space.
There is No Scientific Backing to Close Public Lands
The response to what is being closed, and what is staying open, to prevent the spread and flatten the curve of covid-19, has little scientific backing. I want to see data that says dispersed camping at vast forest lands spreads the virus, while shopping for plastic toys for stir-crazy children at Walmart doesn’t.
So, we are free to pack big box store parking lots. Because covid-19 won’t spread in Walmart parking lots. It will, however, spread in the parking lots of our vast open spaces, “our” public lands. That is simply an observation of the absurdity that we can go to Costco, Walmart, Target, and the list goes on. We can spend money, at corporate chains and amazon.com. We just can’t take a hike, especially if we live in an inner city neighborhood.
Last “Public Lands” Space Standing
We found the last open spaces open in the Bay Area, after all state and national lands were cold closed. Thank you, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, for remembering how much humans need nature, and for retaining critical thinking skills during Covid-19.
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has on its front page, “nature is essential.” This concept is retained during the Covid-19 illogic of what is safe (shopping in big box stores) and what is not safe (hiking in open nature), and this will not be forgotten.
This is About Control
This is about control. The last time I checked, rural Southern Oregon forest lands, are not jam packed with vacationers. Not even during the tourist season. Yes, spring break party beaches, sure, temporarily close them. But closing millions of acres of “our” public lands? I am not talking about the high-destination National Parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone. I am talking about the millions of acres of raw forestland, in Oregon, for instance. It is entirely off-grid.
Most people stay out of the deep forests, as there is no electric, plumbing, or internet. That is what makes it so magical. Pure nature. How can these absurd closures be justified? Is this getting us ready for what is to come? How will “our” public lands be controlled post-coved-19?
What’s to come if there is a second, more deadlier Covid-19 wave starting in the fall of 2020? National forests closed for half a year? I need to see real proof, that the virus is spreading in national public lands, more than in Target, in order to sit down and shut up.
The Constitutional Scholars Have Gone Missing
What of our liberty? Defined, it is, to start, “the quality or state of being free.” This country was born and bred on freedom and exploration. On the adventurous human spirit.
The fundamental right to explore nature and political mandates have never had such a contentious clash. I cannot find any historical data that says nature was closed during any pandemic (only indoor public gathering spaces). So what is happening? This article nails it, discussing how 2 fundamental principles in our democracy have been turned upside down: innocent until proven guilty, and the governments’ role to protect our rights (not us). It ends with a potent reminder, that “our freedom depends on our vigilance.” As a veteran who swore to defend the Constitution of the United States, and one who scored an A+ in Constitutional Law, I highly recommend all citizens read Virus Crisis Fundamentals: The 2 Things You May Have Forgotten. On that note, where are all the Constitutional scholars? Can we hear from them, too?
Are We Still Free?
Access to nature is a fundamental freedom, so inherent, so primordial, it has all been forgotten in the rush to contain the virus. Humans love nature. We are nature. “Whatever you love you are.” – Rumi. Our family loves adventure so we must be adventurers. Rumi calls this, “whatever you love, you are,” “a subtle truth.” I love truth so I must be a truth-seeker.
What about freedom? Covid-19 has opened up a big question for Americans. Do we still love freedom? Are we still freedom seekers? Are we still free?
