What do you do when you're too unambitious to achieve greatness? Make a big deal out of "the little things."

I'd love to preface this post by saying, "the little things", is not inherent to this book. In fact, it's a universal slogan for slackers everywhere. Whether you can't be troubled to buy your girlfriend an anniversary gift, or you're too timid to reach beyond simply recycling and turning the lights off at night, everyone loves to lean on "the little things."

Starting on page 187, and continuing to the first paragraph of 188, Hawken examines a response, penned by David James Duncan. It's in retaliation to the takeover of Christianity by Fundamentalist. The response contains a wee bit too much of a certain social element called "cop-outanium." It's one of the most dangerous things in our society, and specifically dangerous to political social movements. It can most recently be observed in Mitt Romney's campaign, where instead of running as a moderate and breaking bi-partisan lines, he copped out, changed all of his policies, and went for the Republican base. Tsk tsk Rom Rom, tsk tsk.

However, it is specifically damaging to the environmental movement, because we lack a singular, major, unifying act. There's no 9/11 to unify us against terrorism, or Pearl Harbor to get everyone on the same page, and by the time there is, it'll be too late. So No, Mr. Duncan, I don't agree that the "Great things tend to be undoable", and I also don't think you should feel satisfyingly warm and fuzzy every time you recycle a can. I'm not saying go out and blow up a dam, or kill lumber jacks (Hah, if you could), just don't throw your some-how-pessimistic-and-inspirational-at-the-same-time dribble in my face, and expect me to like it. As the saying goes, shoot for the moon, because even if you miss you'll fall amongst the stars.