Are we Guilty of physical abuse?

I justed started my last semester as an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota Duluth. I have a rather fluffy course load...Cross Country Skiing and the Birth of Modern Philosophy. Prior to attending, I suppose that I did not even consider the possibility that the skiing class would provide me with any intellectual stimulation. On the other hand, the philosophy class seemed more promising. It is taught by Prof Cole. A man whom I had yet to take a class with but has the appearance of being a quintessential intellect. He is probably in his 50's, fairly fit with a square jaw, and a sharp nose which he always seems to be slightly looking down. More over, he has fashioned himself in a way to resemble a typical ancient greek philosopher. His long silver hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail and he has a long, meticulously groomed beard fashioned around his jaw and chin...Very authorative.

In sharp contrast to Prof Cole, Tom Beery, UMDs outdoor sports instructor seems the opposite. He is tidy but has a loose demeanor. Very approachable and enthusiastic. I suppose he doesn't appear to be a typical sports muscle head, but he certainly seems less serious, grounded and academically inclined that Prof Cole.

I think my first impressions of the teachers were deeply wrong. I sat through Cole's class, mind drifting off as I listened to his monotone ramblings spoken more through his nose than down it. His lecture was less than inspiring. He read his lecture notes like a bad actor making his best attempt at a well rehearsed script. Based on the first class, I must say I don't have much hope of having any meaningful philosophical revelations, much less the epiphany I am right now badly seeking. However, I hold out much more hope for my ski class....

Tom started his class off by expaining the motivation for teaching his outdoor classes. He believes that the reason that we abuse our environment so much these days (via frivilous, excessive consumption and waste) is because we fail to physically contect ourselves with nature. As a result of this detachment, we lose sight of nature's value, at least the value of having things like drinkable water, eatable fish, breathable air.

Well, this idea really got my wheels turning. I have considered often how technology has social consequences and in turn how sickly or non-existent social relationships cause us to feel insecure, and leery of our neighbors intent. And also I've though about the effects that follow this progression, hording of resources (so our neighbors won't get them first and potentially use them against us or instead of us) consumption, greed, selfishness. Oddly though I have never noticed this even more direct potential result of technology. If I am sitting inside my little box (my house) fiddling on the computer, or watching TV, I am not amongst the rest of the world enjoying the crispy crunch of dead leaves underfoot, or craning my neck to catch sight of the woodpecker beating on the birch tree. In fact when I'm staring at the boob tube, I don't even think of nature, much less value it. Instead I come to value whatever is on the screen. Maybe its the flashy lexus in a commercial, or the concise disciplinary skills of the Super Nanny. (Have you seen those brats!) The result of this disconnect is that during the rare occassions when I do step out into nature, everything is exciting, mysterious and foreign. I don't have a clear understanding of nature, or how it works. I also fail to sufficiently value its spoils because of my bit of uneasiness at being in such a strange environment. In a sense, nature becomes a foreign enemy or at least an outsider which fails to garner the full degree of respect it deserves...Hmmm
This outdoor phys ed class will be a good experience and I promise to be a little less judgemental about people, like Tom Beery, who are teaching from a different, not lesser, perspective.
Lake Superior's North Shore