REFLECTING ON COMIC STRIPS
            Reading comic strips usually helps to bring a little humor to our lives. Many cartoon strips have a way of reflecting life that makes us smile and chuckle. Whether they intend to or not, cartoonists often help us see ourselves in a very human way.
            Here are some cartoons noted in the past that seem to have a message that bears on our ideas about conservation. What do you think?
            Two characters in “Mutts” are standing on the seashore. One is holding a shell to his ear and the other is telling him “They say if you put a seashell to your ear you can hear the ocean.” At that moment, a huge wave heads for shore covering them with water.  The wave recedes. Both stand dripping wet. The one holding the shell says, “Wow.” (Patrick McDonnell) Could it be that we focus on a specific project and fail to notice what’s happening in the environment around us?
            The characters in “Tiger” are up in their tree house and Tiger is thoroughly enjoying himself. His friend says, “We gotta move, Tiger.” Tiger continues with all the things that he likes about the tree house including the view looking over the yard.  From the opposite side, his friend sees the school buses and the school and says about the view, “It stinks.” (Bud Blake) Do we consider conservation a good thing only when it fits our point of view?
            The focus is on Dad in “Fox Trot.” Dad is videotaping his ride down the waterslide getting some spectacular footage. Of course, Dad and camera end up under water. Dad survives and the camera does not. (Bill Amend) Are we recording marvelous feats of technology and development that could be wiped out if we forget about the environment?
            Bill Waterson in a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon from 1995 says a lot about us.  Calvin is sledding on a snow-covered hill with Hobbes riding behind. Hobbes says, “I don’t see a path.” Calvin says, “We’ll make a path. Change is invigorating! If you don’t accept new challenges, you become complacent and lazy! Your life atrophies! New experiences lead to new questions and new solutions! Change forces us to experiment and adapt! That’s how we learn and grow!” And then the sled goes over a cliff. “Whoops, now here’s a fresh challenge,” says Calvin. Hobbes says, “I’ll admit its opened up new horizons.” Are we like Calvin and simply expecting to find new solutions to the problems we create in our environment? Would it be better to look ahead?
            Enjoy cartoons. Laugh a little at yourself. Then, as you go about the activities of real life, remember that conserving fresh air, clean water, good soil, and natural resources is serious business.

Della Moen, Earth Team Volunteer, NRCS/Stephenson Soil and Water Conservation District, an equal opportunity provider and employer, 8/25/10 (for publication on 08/28/10 in the Journal-Standard, Freeport, Illinois) Della can be reached at info@stephensonswcd.org