Monday, June 7, 2010

Grieving--Suffering and Loss in the Gulf

It's hard to say precisely why it has been so difficult for me to write a post this past week. Somehow, when I begin writing anything, the devastation of the oil leak in the Gulf comes to mind and makes my topic seem trite. Although the present locations of oil coming ashore are quite far from us, and although we live on the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Gulf, it all seems very near and threatening when our sea birds fly overhead.
So, today I will express my grief and utter frustration with this ongoing disaster although I cannot offer any new insights. My sympathies are with the families of the workers killed in the initial explosion. The threat to marshes, shoreline, and all the life that flourished in this rich ecosystem before this accident is immense, with no end in sight. The destruction of the livelihoods of countless families is severe and ongoing. What more can any of us possibly say? We pray, but wish we could somehow do more.
The news footage of oil-soaked brown pelicans is particularly heart-breaking, as they cannot possibly understand their own suffering. Although not the most beautiful of birds, they are amazing creatures, graceful in flight and precision in motion diving for food. To me, they seem symbolic of all the loss and suffering that has occurred and that will continue for years, possibly decades. The healthy brown pelican pictured here proudly refused to yield an inch of its chosen territory on Jacksonville Pier when we walked out there several months ago. It is a magnificent bird. Considering the larger picture of human and natural devastation, I feel my share of responsibility as a consumer of oil products and can only mourn.

11 comments:

  1. I think we are all mourning over this catastrophic mess, Mary. There are no words, truly.

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  2. Amen to that, Sherry. Stay safe up in tornado alley!

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  3. It hurts. I am planning on posting a painting that I did last year after a beautiful week on a beach on the Gulf.

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  4. Hi Mary! Thanks for visiting my blog. I just took a peak around yours and I love what I see. Such a wonderful combination of my 2 favorite things, art and nature. I look forward to seeing more posts!!

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  5. Yes, it is so sad to see all the devastation this is causing the wildlife and knowing there is not much that can be done about it.

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  6. You expressed it well, Mary - my heart breaks - as Sherry said, "there are no words"...

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  7. It's super to hear from all of you. I have time to respond to a couple of comments--will come back later.

    Peggy, I will look forward to seeing your Gulf beach painting--that will be a fitting tribute to the life and natural beauty under threat there. I'm delighted to hear from you!

    You are welcome, Heather--it is very nice to connect with you, and I appreciate your stopping in and commenting here.

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  8. I am sorry that I rejoiced prematurely, that is the problem solved. You're right, no choice but to pray that it has survived nature. It is terrible what we are doing it. Every time I sit in the car, I feel like a traitor.

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  9. Lisa, Rosemary, and J.B., thank you all for visiting and for expressing your heartbreak, too.

    Maybe it seems odd, but sometimes I comfort myself by thinking of all of you and of the places all over the world where our blogging friends live. Even though the devastation feels overwhelming to us in the Southeast U.S., many of the world's natural beauties remain as lovely as they were a few months ago. Let's do all we can to preserve as much as we can.

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  10. What a sad sad stupid situation. I feel very close to it now because we made our first ever trip to Florida (&Ding Darling wildlife area) near Fort Myers this spring. What a beautiful place & all the wildlife on that Gulf shore. I shake my head in sadness.....

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  11. You are so right, TB and always express your feelings well.! I appreciate your reflections.

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