As my dog and I made our way down to the small private beach on Kemp Lake today, we came upon a sight we see every so often, and my heart sank.
Litter was strewn everywhere — broken bottles, cans, fishing line, lure and bait packets, cigarette butts, a fire pit on the meadow beside the lake, broken branches, rocks unearthed was the disgusting scene. My mind and body filled with shock, rage and bewilderment. And then a wave of pure sadness and shame.
The unfortunate thing is I have come across such scenes far too often and it always baffles me how some “people” can be so insensitive and deliberately destructive.
Such behavior tells me those people have no self respect, are no longer connected to this earth, and simply float in some sort of unconscious, self- absorbed limbo.
The fact that this beautiful little beach can be so abused and easily destroyed is shameful. It is shameful on all of us who are part of this planet.
My father explained to me it is always easier to destroy than to create, to kill than to let live, to abuse and hate than to love and take care of. In one of my favorite movies, Chief Dan George said “ ....to the white man everything is dead...” but to the “human beings” (his people) everything is alive.
To destroy this little beach, to get satisfaction from such acts or to be that ignorant shows me there are some very spiritually void people out there who have no sense of connection with their own environment. I grieve for them and the rest of us who have to witness these shameful acts and I hope somehow, someday very soon you will realize that your petty acts of terrorism not only decay’s your inner self, your soul, but that you damage our entire societal soul as well.
As I cleaned up the mess and tried to pick up every shard of glass, I thought of my late dad, and Chief Dan George, I tried to be positive and feel good and proud to be human, but it was tough.
For those of us who enjoy heading outdoors, try to be respectful and do the right thing even if its not the easiest or most convenient. If you pack it in, pack it out and leave that beautiful little spot, as pure and untouched as possible so others can appreciate nature’s beauty as well. All our souls will feel better for it.
Tom Eberhardt
Sooke