The Teacher

I’m on another picture taking (evidence) trek across Trojio’s swath of despoliation. More photos that our lawyer’s requesting: Sr. Yee. That well, specifically, is my target. There’s no sign of the destruction chief or his hirelings about as I move in for close-ups. I advance right to the blue plastic barrel that catches what the windmill sucks up when in operation; which, right then, it wasn’t. I jared the barrel enough to determine it near full. I rocked it back and forth with a good push and pull that got its contents sloshing about. Putting two fingers in open top hole, I got them wet. This wetness I then licked. Definitely not good table-quality water! Brackish. Bitter. The inside of my top lip and the tip of my tongue held a slight burning sensation as I then labored up the high-tide trail.

“Ugly” was the term I kept repeating to myself as I gained top of that pass. More photos from there, and time spent thinking of “before” photos that we held in our old photo albums. From there, too, I thought about all the negative comments we’ve heard from the International crowd that flows through the rancho area: American, Canadian, German, Swiss, Swedish, Australian, etc., and many Mexicans, too; who've all said essentially the same thing. “Ugly.” They’ve questioned the doer’s sanity, his intelligence level, his morality. They’ve asked us what we’ve tried to do to stop this carnage. We try to explain. Many, many people are really bummed out by the bad example that this school teacher is setting. “Isn’t there some authority that can be appealed to?” quite a few have asked.

I often point to this brute’s doings as the absolutely typical example of what they can expect should Saul, the ejido, prevail in that parcelization scam. One long ribbon of Sea of Cortez coastline...trashed. Of course they become horrified. Many now ask what they can do to help us.

I’ve suggested that when they see this ape-looking creature, they should go up to it and tell him honestly what they think. Of course, fat chance that any of them will take that route. So when and if paths are crossed,when and if he waves, they wave back, and he never gets to really feel any sting...their combined anger.

And Alejo and family are worse! I know that Alejo detest the man, as does Guadalupe. Lovely Maria feels the same. Exactly, I really don’t know where the rest who live there at San Cosme stack up. I’ve never questioned, polled. But I’d bet that Trojillo’s popularity rating there is exceedingly low. And I’ll also bet that they go out of their way not to show it. Frustrating, I find some others’ characteristics.

I can’t wear two faces. I just simply refuse to waste the time and energy to do it. If I don’t like someone, they’ll soon know it. And vise versa! I’ve already made it quite plain to Saul just how stupid I thought his barging-in was. I don’t wave when he attempts such...which he doesn’t anymore. I look right past him; think of how I’d like to vaporize that blot on the land scape. I am his enemy. By him, I want that well understood.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about land clearing in general. What is it that makes men chop and hack away at live, healthy eco systems. Could it be a deep-seated fear of the natural? Especially I’ve noticed this when people from the cities gain control a part of semi-wild country. It must be their lack of understanding of what they are confronting. The unknown is dangerous. Better to chop it down. Tame it. Oh how little they feel of what they are doing.

How to live with natural eco systems, embrace them for what they truly are instead of what you want to change them into: This is something that I’d really like to teach this teacher. How to live in this rugged place, with it, and conquering your fears of it through intimate association. There’s really nothing to fear but fear itself out here. And it’s certainly safer than living in a city.

“How to teach Saul?” Over and over I’ve worked that equation. How could it be accomplished?

First, I don’t think this man would willingly submit to any voluntary re-education. So, since I’m setting myself up in judgment of his overall eco ignorance; and since I’ve already found him guilty of crimes against nature...and since I’m a benevolent judge who is much more interested in reform rather than harsh punishment, I would rule thusly:

Confinement to a small, comfortable, efficiency apartment. The frig and cupboards would be stocked with the needed essentials. There would be a functioning color T.V. On Sundays he could use the phone to call home for an hour. Once a week, what ever he wanted in way of special meal, could be ordered out.

Besides the T.V. the only other source of mental stimulation would be a very comprehensive collection of all the scientific evidence collected from around the world, books, articles, even video cassettes, in regards to mans' blind eco destruction. The length of his sentence would be determined by how much information he absorbed, how quickly he learned.

The cell would be monitored, of course. Track would be kept as to how much time was wasted with the watching of cartoons; something, with this character, I’m assuming would be a big problem, at first. If, as I suspect, this behavior pattern did arise, I guess blocking out (maybe with the exception of one hour a day) anything but educational material might have to be applied.

Our caged animal might turn lethargic with cartoon withdrawal for a period of time. Maybe the only way to finally turn him towards that thorough re-education, realignment with the forces of nature, would be the restriction of refrigerator access. I really don’t know what it would take for him to make that U turn. But if he wanted to get out ot there, sooner or later, he’d have to crack those books.

It wouldn’t take him long to discover that his species is rapidly despoiling this planet. If he had any feeling at all for this orb that he’s living upon, the documentation of this destruction, should at first scare him, then it should sadden him, and then it should make him angry. Perhaps, even at himself for his previous offish ignorance.

He should learn that all things green, all things that photosynthesize, are our only defense against global warming. He should learn that sending this once beneficial ingredient up in smoke causes, not in a big way but still adds to, particulate matter in the atmosphere, adding to the heating up of things.

Certainly he would discover that his idea of moving trees from town out to the country is not a good one. Unlike many other parts of the world this Sea of Cortez, semi- desert eco zone is still relatively free from invading, foreign species. It makes good eco sense to try and keep it that way.

Then, too, one would hope in his self-lessons that he’d stumble across the fact that the use of saline water, even mildly saline, breaks down and destroys the soil structure; eventually making it impossible for anything green, for a very long time, to again grow there. Surely he’ll pick up the fact that weak soils, like those he’s playing with, when denuded of native plant protection, exposed to the winds, simply blow away...leaving the land more impoverished.

He might also learn the adverse effects of pumping any water from the desert water table. There is much fresh water below the surface right now because of last falls hurricane rains. The water table will drop, and the more he uses... the more salt water will seep in to replace it. This is a fairly simple hydrology concept to grasp.

To make sure that Saul didn’t just thumb through the pages, moving his lips but not actually gaining, I’d order regular testing. If he proved recalcitrant, was trying to fake an eco- conscious rebirth, we’d sense it; increase his time left to study, to ponder.

Then, if and when it was determined that an enlightening had actually occurred, we’d release him with great fan fair. But, of course, continue to monitor his actions.

My greatest hope would be that he could reach such a state of grace that I would be comfortable with his visiting my camp, walking upon El Carrizalito. That would be great! We could set in the morning light and I’d try to teach him the local bird sounds. I might take him out for a walk and show him all the wild animal signs, instruct him some about the highly benefical indigenous plants. I’d teach him then not to be afraid out in nature, how to sort of coddle it in loving hands. How to appreciate it for what it is, rather than look to change it, convert it simply to peso ($) signs.

Email: david@dondavidonbaja.com