An Unexpected Heart Break

To preface, an environmentalist is any person who advocates or works to protect the air, water, animals, plants, and other natural resources from pollution or its effects, according to Mr. Webster. Now, I will admit, personally, I think extreme environmentalists are foolish and are ultimately wasting their time on the Earth. This idea may be unfounded and may be foolish in itself, but it is a belief nevertheless. I had never considered myself an environmentally conscious individual as I was not actively "advocating" for a better and healthier Earth. I figured "saving the world" was beyond my power, and it very well may be. It was not until recently that I experienced a strange emotional drain from what I saw to be a human breach on nature. The image that met my eyes was simple, common, and seen millions of times prior. However, despite the prevalence of the scene and my belief that environmentalists are partially incompetent, the scene before me made me stop in my tracks. What I saw was this, jovial children running in front of their apathetic parents towards a chain linked fence. These children laughed and pointed at a slouched mass before them while throwing popcorn at its dejected face. As I approached the creature (I was at a zoo viewing the "wonders of creation"), I was met with a face filled with emotion, with character, and with visible pain. I do not believe in evolution and my distant ancestors were most definitely not monkeys; however, this face had the very human ability to emit emotion.

I stared at the young primate and wished it freedom, but I knew such a wish would not ever be. I am not an environmentalist; I still do not have the fervor or power to save the Earth, though I do love it dearly; but my heart broke just a little for this helpless and despondent creature. I knew I could not save it, so, in my mind, I decided the next best thing would be to remember. I waited for the ignorant youngsters to clear away from the prison door, and, stepping forward, I lifted my old Nikon FA, wound the film into place, focused on the poor little monkey, and pressed the little silver button. The shutter opened and closed in a fraction of a second, but I knew it was just long enough for the monkey to crawl through and plant itself forever on my film.

I am not fighting to save the trees, or the air, or the water, or the dirt. I'm not even fighting to save the monkeys; but, if I were to fight for something, I would fight for this monkey. Maybe if we all fought for one thing we could save the Earth, the world, the dirt. I would even lead the charge, as long as it began with my monkey.