I don't know about you, but I can't escape any news or talk about Cho Seung-Hui and the Virginia Tech Massacre.This is despite the fact that I hardly watch or listen to American news.
So after being force fed the multimedia rant about how he blames everyone for his assault, I couldn't help but have this sinking realization that this could easily happen again because anyone could at some point snap if they allow themselves to dwell on the hypocrisies, the unfairness, or anything else wrong in society for too long.
I kept thinking to myself that this guy could've diffused a lot of that anger if he was able to find an outlet that would allow him to escape the constant reminders of what he wasn't having - whether it be sex, friends, parental approval, status, confidence, etc.
If only he went into nature, it might have mellowed him out, help him put things into perspective, and ultimately be a more productive member of society. Come to think of it, even the guys at Columbine could've also used a non-motorized Nature break.
Imagine them taking a trip to a few waterfalls or to the top of a mountain or along the shores of some beach. That certainly beats any trips to cyberspace, video games, WWE Wresting, Las Vegas or Atlantic City where the have-not mentality is further reinforced. Plus, that trumps any material things they could buy to fool himself into thinking they'd be better off.
This is why I think we need Nature. I'll bet you're not going to have an angry guy going postal when he gazes upon a waterfall or some mind-blowing vistas or mesmerizing ocean waves. In fact, it's more likely that a non-motorized outdoor excursion would chill you out and make you feel better about yourself rather than make you more angst-ridden. Moreover, you don't need to have a partner from the opposite sex to go on an excursion and you don't even have to be rich. All you need is the will to go out there and get some fresh air. And I'd bet an improved state of mind from mellowing out through a nature excursion would've probably landed Cho Seung-Hui a mate in the long run without having to stalk anyone.
So while we're obliviously (or stupidly) destroying Nature, all we're doing is removing some of the very things we need to replenish our mental and physical health. You can bet as this keeps going on and the natural resources we humans as a species need to survive continues to dwindle, there will be more pressure to try to survive or at least maintain our quality of life. That means more conflicts, more stress, more pressure, and... dare I say... more people becoming like Cho Seung-Hui.
