| Last
spring it was brought to my attention, via cyberspace,
that the state of Montana was hosting the meaningless slaughter
of buffalo. I had just returned from studying abroad in Italy
and was flabbergasted. I spent three months in a place where
humans had to wait for mountain goats and sheep to be herded
across roads. I thought about some of the smaller civilizations
in the United States where the same scene is almost an everyday
occurence. The situation just did not make sense. Even the scattered
"facts" regarding the cattle industry, brucellosis, private
property, etc. could not convince me that what was going on
in Montana was a good thing. It definitly is not. As
a student of politics and environmental science Montana's
decision to deplete the population of a national heritage
symbol such as the buffalo is another ill-treated, short term
decision that, frankly, will never work. Such is the tragedy
of the environmental arena. Better science is a must and I
cannot say there is any evidence of that in this ongoing debate
with the state of Montana Department of Livestock and those
of us that are actually concerned about the future of our
species and the welfare of our entire ecosystem, all things
considered. Whatever we Homo-sapiens do to one living organism
is not going to remain unchecked by nature. It is a vicious,
beautiful, and phenomenal circle that will come back and bite
us in the end.
The
American bison has had a rough timeline in this country. Over
a century ago the buffalo were unfairly and carelessly used
by the white man to wipe out the Native American population.
In doing so a once cherished national and native symbol thats
numbers spread from horizon to horizon at dusk were forced
to an extremely unhealthy fraction of their origianl amount.
One would think a drastic cutback already documented and the
recent attempt to rekindle the bison population could remain
untouched, safely, and once again become an American heritage
symbol.
The
Yellowstone bison are unique because they are the last wild
herd. Their numbers were unwisely lessened in the past year
and the operation cannot continue. Knowing this and feeling
responsible for the future and welfare of our planet I took
the opportunity to join Buffalo Nations in their crusade to
erase the arrogant, selfish attitudes we humans tend to exercise
towards the environment. My college education has allowed
me to work with Buffalo Nations during the month of January
and receive college credit for my efforts. I am from Alabama
and will wrap up my undergraduate career at St. Andrews Presbyterian
College (North Carolina) in May of this year.
My
stay here has been grand.
I wish my cohorts the best of luck; may the force be with
them for the American buffalo.
Michelle
Melton p.o.
box 5271 Laurinburg, NC 28352 |
