Editor's Notes – 2008

Read the Crestone Eagle's 2007 Editor's Notes here.

May 2008

Enough already!

When is enough enough? How does mindlessness become mindful? What will it take to stop corporate greed and social gluttony?

The BLM has recently put huge tracks of land in the SLV—and some right next door to Crestone—up for oil & gas lease bid. They probably did so without any deep thought whatsoever. The oil & gas industry probably urged them to do so. “What the heck” the BLM bureaucrats probably thought, “there’s nothing out there in the San Luis Valley anyway.”

Nothing except people, ranchers, farmers, schools, churches, communities. Nothing except bobcat, eagle, owl, fox, elk, fish, an essential migratory bird route, crops, forests, plants, herbs and endangered and threatened species of all kinds.

Nothing except a very unique high altitude valley that is extremely sensitive to climate change, development and industrial impacts. Mountains whose high lakes are already becoming contaminated with mercury and acid rain. Nothing except the headwaters of the mighty life-giving Rio Grande River.

How casually these things are dismissed. Like the wetlands of New Orleans. Like the rainforests of Brazil or the cloud forests of Central America and the ancient polar ice caps.

The San Luis Valley has become a leader in the development of alternative energy. There is a large solar farm near Mosca with more facilities being planned. There is talk of wind generation and more organic farming. Detrimental technologies are on their way out. We do NOT need to feed our beautiful valley to an all-consuming gas-guzzling monster for maybe one more day of fossil fuel for the world.

No, the world needs places like the San Luis Valley to remain intact. It is not about the money anymore.

I give thanks to all who are working to preserve this place.

Gratefully,
Kizzen

April 2008

Say what?

“Today we have rifeye if a door ganz ola boss” and funny wustard fork hops.” Hmmmm. Pause for blank look. Sounds like, maybe, given the context, “ribeye with a goronzola sauce.” I repeat this back, she nods, I order. All right, we have communication.

I am hard of hearing. Quite. Many years ago I was given certain antibiotics for a septic infection that came very close to killing me. My life was saved, but a little bit each year, I’ve been losing my hearing.

Among us baby boomers, and those older than us, being hard of hearing is not uncommon. Heavy machinery, rock & roll and a very loud world has taken its toll.

The fancy dual hearing aids I wear help. Mostly. Sorta. All you hearing aid wearers know exactly what I mean when I say that background noise and little beeping sounds can drive you crazy. Or just make you avoid social situations and not engage in conversation with people who never learned to enunciate properly.

It’s a struggle. People say “hello” to your back, you don’t hear, they think you deliberately ignored them (well, sometimes maybe).

But I’m very grateful for my hearing aids, because with them I actually can hear—so many wonderful things.

If you find yourself saying “huh?” way too often, do yourself and your loved ones a favor and get your hearing tested by a good audiologist. (I’m especially talking to all you old muscians who insist on playing the music REAL LOUD because you’re already half deaf).

“An forget chew any thin gelse?

No thanks, just the check please.

Happy, finally, Spring
—Kizzen

March 2008

Going Loca(L)

“Please listen carefully, as our options have changed.”

—Boy, they sure have.

I’m trying to find someone. The person who undid my “autopay” at the propane company then sent me an overdue notice, the person who can tell me why my airline tickets went from “confirmed” to meerly “booked.” The real person who can come and actually figure out why my DSL internet is not working—not tech support, I want them to actually fix it!

“To speak to an operator, please stay on the line, or press 1 for more options.”

There are no other options. One by one small local businesses have been bought out by bigger companies who have been swallowed whole by corporations.

“For English, press one.”

There is only one “operator” serving other customers at the moment in the entire United States—and she’s actually in India. She’s very polite and friendly, but I can’t understand a word she’s saying. She puts me on hold—then loses me—and forgets about me. Our global friendship was short-lived.

“Please enter the last 4 digits of your social security number.”

I used to be on a first name basis with Peggy at the phone company, Diane at AllStar Gas—real people answering the front desk phone. They actually cared about their customers and the community they lived in.

Thankfully, we have a great local credit union with people we trust. Jerry knows our correct P.O. box number (even Peggy works there part time), and you can still call the county courthouse and get a person who will call you back.

Supporting local business is important. Going bigger is not always better. Cost cutting doesn’t mean customer service. A number doesn’t replace a name.

“To repeat this menu, press nine . . . and have a nice day.”

—Kizzen

February 2008

Got economy?

Whew! January was a rough month to make it through. Talk about cold! And we did: it was the main subject at gathering places, along with the economy, the severe winter crud, and the outrageous cost of propane.

This winter has been hard for local residents who earn their living here. Construction jobs are way down. There is a glut of houses on the market and only a few new custom ones are being built. Many carpenters and laborers are either out of work, or barely working. The effects of this radiate out and affect the whole local economy. We’re kinda like the town where the mill shut down.

Two years ago the housing market was booming and lots of construction was going on. Money was flowing. Good times economically, but residents were very concerned that with the new National Park we were going to be overrun with people wanting to move here.

Now there is a nationwide recession going on, and we’re feeling it here. We have lots of houses for sale. Crestone is a great place to live. I trust that wonderful people will buy these homes and become a part of this community.

This recession is a wake up call. We can’t keep doing business as usual. Our community must become more sustainable, for food growing, energy production and for jobs (but not in the oil & gas industry!). We can’t depend on growth, nor should we. We need outdoor, health & spiritual tourism. We need to create small green factories, local products, efficiency upgrades to our homes, and an “internal stimulus package” to generate income for our families. I think we’re motivated now.

Live long & prosper,
Kizzen

January 2008

For women leaders

I watched with sorrow the news report that Benazir Bhutto had been assassinated in Pakistan. The people there had such hopes when their former Prime Minister returned. She was no saint, but she was a very courageous woman challenging Mushariff. She might have made a real difference, brought stability to a country on the edge of chaos, but the militaristic and violent culture saw her as a threat to its hold on power.

We all are aware of how women are treated in many Muslim societies. They have little power, are dominated by the male culture, and generally considered unfit to govern. To have a woman head an Islamic county? Horrible! Unacceptable! We Americans watch and think ourselves superior. We don’t believe that—but then, maybe we do.

We have yet to have a women president, or even vice-president. Women are severely under represented in our Congress. Other nations have elected women presidents—but not us. Why?

Women would bring change. Change is scary.

The world is crying out for change. Women speak for peace, for the home, family, children—and for life! Women create stable societies, they network, they nurture—and they are quite capable of leadership. We have a desperate need for women’s voices, women’s viewpoints, women’s hands of restraint and for a balance of perspective.

I believe that when half of the nations of the world are governed by a woman we will see a different world. Either by the actions of those women, or by the shift of consciousness it will take to get them elected in the first place.

Shift happens. Wishing us all a visionary new year,
—Kizzen

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