At a time when I could discuss a plethora of significant, disturbing national events, I’m going to focus instead on leaf blowers. You heard me, leaf blowers-hand held, 3 speed, backpack, 56 volt lithium-ion, ugh! They all disturb me.
The leaf blower provides excess noise pollution in a world of too much auditory stimulation. Many users of the leaf blower wear headphones for self protection, but what about the rest of us? We innocently stroll by with our untarnished children, subjected to this raucous horror! Sure, some leaf blower users are more conscientious than others and will turn down the volume to a soft roar. Still, it will come as a shock to brand new ears let alone those with sensitive hearing.
These beastly machines drown the unoffending passerby in exhaust and filthy street shrapnel. I explain to my one year old that she must hold her breath as we dash by the dust clouds. I’m pretty sure she has no idea what I’m talking about, let alone how to hold her breath, but at least I’m setting her up for future confrontations.
Finally, I must ask, what happened to manual labor? How is it that people can no more push a broom or a rake? Has the mobility to bend over to use a dust pan or hands become obsolete? Are we in such bad shape from sitting too much and drinking soda that our bodies can no longer perform simple tasks? Apparently, as I see and hear increasingly more leaf blowers interfering with the sound of the robins, the wind in the trees and my view of natural sunlight.
My rant is one of first world problems (they probably don’t have leaf blowers in Tanzania). I am writing about leaf blowers because I don’t know where to begin with the current political climate in my country. I am confused by the divisions of people, by the existence of so much hate. I am fearful about the damage that can take place in one week, let alone four years. Catastrophe has been documented to bond humans together. We’ll soon find out.
Times of great calamity and confusion have been productive for the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace. The brightest thunder-bolt is elicited from the darkest storm. -Charles Caleb Colton
Luscious Light 