As I Look Out Over My Own Beloved Pacific Ocean

[underseasurveyor]

I appreciate her beauty and grandeur so much more today and I am grateful. I know she has her own health problems to deal with but nothing close to the devastation the Gulf of Mexico faces.

I remember as a kid what it was like having our beaches scarred with oil and tar and I hated it. Hated looking at the oil rigs off shore and disliked the people that worked on them. I realize now it wasn't the people on those rigs that were to blame they were merely working their asses off to make a living for their families but rather it's those people/companies that they worked for I now loathe with a passion.

My SO and I (he more than I since he's been doing this for over 30 years) work very hard to restore wetlands and marshes and tidal zones from years of over fishing, over use, dumping, chemicals, careless dredging and contractors that also don't give a rats ass about the ocean eco-system. I know what it takes and all the hard work and effort that goes into it and how long it's taken to see tangible results. And when I see the next generation of Osprey chicks and other birds that I never remember seeing growing up... I smile a great smile and my heart fills with joy.

My SO and I are having a hard time grasping the breadth and depth of destruction this oil gushing spill will cause on a immense scale. Larger than either one of us has ever seen or can imagine. Reading about the people going to take the last pictures of a once pristine beach full of life before it becomes overwhelmed by oil is so heartbreaking it's so huge that I am unable to imagine it or find the words to describe the despair I'm feeling for the Gulf and all the people and all the creatures living there that will be impacted so dangerously and deeply.

As I look out over my own blue Pacific Ocean I am grateful and yet so very sad.

[yellerpup]

1. Thank you very much.

We are all in need of hope in this situation. I spent the weekend looking across the Hudson River at New York City and as the small waves lapped at the promenade at our hotel I also reflected on how hideous it would be for all this water to be polluted and for all the water creatures to be struggling fruitlessly for their lives. This may be the supreme test. Either knock it off or we all die. :kick: & Rec.

[underseasurveyor]

13. Anyone that loves the water

and knows of the life it holds within it understands and feels the pain of the Gulf o Mexico.

:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. Love and know the Pacific, too

Am hoping one of the rigs there, like those off of Santa Barbara, will never transform the West Coast as it has our southern friends.

[underseasurveyor]

12. We've had our share of oily beaches over the years

And driving up PCH today on my way to work I looked out and never realized just how many platforms there are out there. And all it will take is one. However in comparison these platforms are not in nearly as deep of water. Not much of a consolation but at least it is one.

fingers crossed eh:hi:

[Cleita]

3. Read this from our Senator Boxer.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8472372

[underseasurveyor]

5. That was very nice of her to respond to you.. thanks for sharing that

It's been a while since I've written any congress critters but I think it's high time to write to Sen. Boxer and not only thank her but also to add myself to the already growing list of people opposed to offshore drilling.

All oceans are precious to me but the Pacific is especially so.

[Cleita]

6. Be sure to vote next Tuesday. Carly Fiorini has paid herself

another million or so to run ads against her until next Tuesday. Also, Karl Rove is giving her advice. If that woman primaries Barbara, we will lose one of our best Senators. I'm trying to scrape up some extra money to send to Senator Boxer's campaign. She needs all the help she can get against Miss Rich Bitch. I know she's the Repub but Boxer's campaign fears she could cause a lot of damage before the primary.

[underseasurveyor]

9. Oh yes I'll be voting for Barbara Boxer

I'd vote for her no matter who was runing against her but that carly woman... :puke: oh she turns my stomach. And meg.. add another puke emote after her too. Cheney and condi rice are endorsing that corporate hag... sheesh, imagine that.

[pipi_k]

4. I'm glad my MIL isn't here to see this tragedy in the Gulf

She died 5 years ago at the age of almost 94.

She had a deep and passionate love of the ocean. Spent summers on Cape Cod...Wellfleet, etc, with her husband, kids, grandkids...

Seeing any body of water, and the wildlife in it, destroyed this way would have broken her heart.

[underseasurveyor]

11. Oh sweetie..

Bless your Grandmothers heart.

And yours too:hug:

[NC_Nurse]

7. Thank you for your sympathy. Those of us who love the Gulf are feeling pretty

devastated these days. Been going there since I was a child, and to the east coast of FL. My whole family is from Jacksonville, we're a bunch of FL crackers - literally. They're all RW except me and my saintly husband who puts up with them. But we all love the ocean, always have. I hope this opens their eyes.

My kids, my husband and I are all going to Destin in a couple of weeks. We've been going there for about 30 years. My kids spent many of their summer beach trips there. I really don't even care about how the beach looks, I'm worried about the animals. We plan to spend out time their volunteering if we're needed. Who knows what things will be like there by then...:(

[underseasurveyor]

15. Heh Heh

You made me laugh.. FL crackers:spray:

I needed a light hearted moment more than you know... Thanks:toast:

I've not ever been to the Gulf and it's more than a shame that I'll probably never see it as you have.

What these people have caused and done is a crime and if they aren't personally stuffed into the pipe to stop the flow then I hope they rot in prison or the rest of their miserable lives. Then and only then can that BP asswipe dare wish for his life back.

:hug:

[obxhead]

8. I took a fishing vacation to the Gulf

the week this well blew. I had no idea when I had left for the trip a week earlier how valuable the many pictures I took would become to me so soon. I was born on the FL Gulf coast and have so many fond memories of those beaches. It's very upsetting to know that I'll have to just be content with those memories for a long time to come.

[underseasurveyor]

10. Hugs

Your home:-( I'm so, so sorry.

I can't imagine what I would be like if this were California this was happening too right now. I just can't wrap my head around how huge this disaster is and I still can't believe this is happening.

[calimary]

14. I completely understand how you feel.

Every time I'm in Santa Monica, or up in the hills where you get a good view of the ocean, I just want to cry.

I look at how precious that ocean is, how precious that ecosystem is, and how much we've fucked with it in our selfish greedy arrogance. You can't mess with these things! It's like the most delicate clockwork in the world - so very many sensitive elements. Hell, my husband was playing some episodes of "Planet Earth" overnight when we all had insomnia at our house (kids home from college, outta school, son's band hanging out). There were pieces about the reefs in New Guinea or some place like that, in that part of the world, and how intricately patterned these little coral polyps were and how lush the undersea garden, and how vigorous and vibrant the multitude of life forms there are. How exquisite and breathtaking. The colors, the richness, the vitality. And how easily that precious balance is up-ended - by stupid greedy arrogant short-sighted us. We truly shit in our own nest. And only a few of us seem to be genuinely bothered about it.

I "love" how all of a sudden so many of these assholes who were all-free-market-all-the-time and business above all else and Holy God, no regulations or regulators or inspectors because it cramps business's style - are suddenly moaning and groaning over the destruction of the ecosystem in the Gulf. And frankly I wonder how long before our beautiful Pacific Ocean and all the living things who call it home - are goners.

[underseasurveyor]

16. Santa Monica is my home town

Where I was born.. My Grandparents lived in Santa Monica Canyon. So many great memories.

Yea I love that planet earth and blue planet series. We were all glued to the TV when Cousteau had a show on and loved watching Sea Hunt as a kid and OMG how I begged my mom to let me have a dolphin like Flipper. heh

Funny how these asswipes want small government with less rules and regulations but when the shit hits the fan they're the first to whine and complain that government isn't doing enough for them.

Have I said recently enough that I hate these people? No..
I hate these people!

:hug:

[calimary]

17. Hey, take a number.

I hate these people, too!

I swear, I find myself looking upward and apologizing to God every day - multiple times. The whole "Father forgive them (us) for they (we) know not what they (we) do" thing.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO OUR EARTH?????????????

I loved Jacques Cousteau's stuff. I find some of that stuff almost painful to watch now, knowing how we've defiled our beautiful planet - the only home we have. I'm a mom. My kids are old enough, at least physically, to start families of their own - although psychologically and financially they're nowhere near ready. But I wonder what the Earth will be like when THEIR kids grow to the age they are now. What will be left for them? I've already found myself apologizing to them about selfish, self-serving, myopic shit we've pulled. I say - "we tried! Some of us really tried so hard to keep things like this from happening! And we've pretty much failed since we're up against such mighty corporate and political and financial powers." They tell me "don't worry Mom - WE'RE gonna take care of some of it. And we know a bunch of you did try."

Still just breaks my heart. Remember that commercial with the Native American Chief Iron Eyes Cody - who was looking at a polluted countryside and fouled river that ran through it, and a tear could be seen when the camera zoomed in on his face? I feel like he does. There's an ache in my gut every day. And a far deeper and more profound one than the one I woke up with every day during the bush/cheney years, knowing and suspecting everything I did about what those bastards were up to.