I have to pause and take a deep breath when things go wrong between my wife and I. It’s almost always my fault, and yet my natural inclination is to point my finger at her, come up with a rational-sounding excuse as to why it’s completely, 100% her fault, and hope to get away with it. But even if I do get away with it (very rare), I end up feeling a smidgeon of guilt. Almost enough to make me regret it.
I feel the same way about the oil crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. Yes, it’s natural to blame BP, the federal government, and the fat oil men out there who have dominated energy politics for eons. And yet that’s not really getting to the source. I think you and I are ultimately complicit as the end users of this deep sea-gotten oil.
Sure, I try to be green and do what I can to help the environment, but like most, I do a mini- cost benefit analysis before choosing renewable sources, energy efficient products, etc. I ride my bike to work and do a little composting here and there, but you know what…I end up burning a lot of oil and gas that I pretend to thumb my nose at.
I won’t likely stop until there’s enough pressure on legislators and business to really create change in our energy marketplace. As long as subsidies and the status quo remain on the side of dirty fuel providers, I’m not likely to quit lighting my house or providing heat for my family. And as appealing as living “off the grid” might seem, it costs an arm and a leg.
So, the next time I see a picture of a egret trying to flap its oil-soaked wings and looking downright pitiful, I’ll likely feel a pang of guilt. And it’s well deserved until we ensure this doesn’t happen again.
