Oregon has a unique relationship with its environment. It seems to be one of the few states to have built around and with nature as opposed to against and on top of it. Few other places incorporate the world in this way, mediating humanity and the environment’s usually contentious relationship by fully integrating each into an equal coexistence.
This bond has been built not from a directed will, action or thought, but through nature’s demanded respect, cementing itself as important not only in our physical surroundings, but through its embedding in our cultural spirit, state institutions and individual perceptions.
Portland’s sidewalks are cracked by roots, littered with pine needles, leaves, sticks and branches. There seems to be green everywhere, and in each part of the city – in its industrial sectors, residential spaces, financial district – an overarching awareness of the Earth and its authority is felt.
The city is surrounded by this awareness, not only in the decorative shrubs that line streets, but also in the enclosing, surrounding mountain ranges and miles of forest with infantry units of tall trees to fill every gap in what feels like a complete encirclement of the city. It’s this material reality, this plain view of the Earth’s occupation of us and feeling the capability to crash back in and retake everything, that prompts our respect for it.
Our environment is intimately connected to our humanity here not because of some innate appreciation Oregonians have for it, but because of this clearly observable fact of nature’s dominion. Instead of a frail and small planet needing to be cared for and preserved, it may seem more clear to us that we’re secondary to the Earth, and protecting it only means protecting ourselves within it, as the Earth will exist long after we do, with or without intervention.
It’s the same forced respect likely felt by Lewis and Clark when they were first here, 2,000 miles from Illinois. Or, the same respect forced from settlers in the westward expansion and Native Americans past and present. Oregon’s unconquerable features have somehow meshed with humanity’s unending urge to acquire, creating our particular relationship to the environment and showing itself in our reputation as “the green state.”
Tualatin High School senior Christopher Parra spoke on what about Oregon makes Earth Day different here.
“It probably has something to do with Earth’s position for us,” Parra said. “I think we think about the Earth a lot more because we’ve grown up with so much of it all around us. I mean, people are outside all the time, we have extensive hiking, biking and all those activities, and really amazing views and nature features.”
Oregon has a unique relationship with our natural surroundings, Parra added.
“It’s kind of like everything’s built around the Earth for Oregon, whereas in other states it might not be that important of a thing because it’s not something that’s thought of constantly and that has a really key place in daily life. Not to say other places have a lesser appreciation of the Earth, but it’s definitely different in some regions of America like the Pacific Northwest.”
Despite its importance to us and complete, total power, the Earth somehow often feels weak and unimportant. Commanding less weight in our minds, you hear calls to “save” and “preserve” it, when in reality, the Earth will exist no matter the ozone layer, nuclear fallout or climate disaster. In places where Earth’s full value is on better display, this understanding seems to fade.
On this Earth Day, it’s nice to make explicit this internalized understanding of the world: not as a place to abuse, disregard or even to save, but as an authority to obey and a surrounding army whose continuing mercy and beauty we should be more thankful for.