The Question is Begged, The Dol is Two-Legged. Er...

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not. 

- Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

For those of you with kids in school, it may not come as a surprise that Dr. Seuss' birthday was March 2. It was used as a springboard for Read Across America, so if your school is like my daughter's, you got annoying robo-calls about reading to your children. We really didn't need the reminder at our house, thanks, and it bugs me when a robo-call interrupts my viewing of "Dogtown," but there you go.

Not that the obnoxious calls have anything to do with how much I love Dr. Seuss. I love him.

My daughter's school encouraged kids to dress up as a Seussian character. Most kids did Thing 1 or Thing 2, or Sally from The Cat in the Hat. Baby Dol and I spent an entire day creating a fabulous, fabulous Cindy Lou Who get-up.

Here's the hair.

Yeah, I know--pretty damn awesome, right? I have no trouble fishing for a compliment on this bad boy, people, because it is the best thing I have ever done in my entire life. When I put that bow on the top and stepped back to look at it, I giggled maniacally, because I don't do hair. 

I mean, look at it, people! It's beautiful, quirky, lush! Feel free to heap compliments on me in the comments. 

After you answer the question, of course. Which is coming, now that I've vainly tooted my own horn.

My question today refers back to one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books, The Lorax. I will be honest here, amigos: I get choked up every time I read that book. 

I mean, who doesn't love that grumpy little Lorax? 

He was shortish. And oldish. And brownish. And mossy.
And he spoke with a voice that was sharpish and bossy.

He's quite the environmentalist, is The Lorax. 

I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.

The Onceler tells the story of how he  (the Onceler) destroyed the local habitat and drove away all of the native wildlife in his quest to create Thneeds (a sort of universal clothing item that doubles as a multi-purpose linen). 

The Lorax fought hard to stop the destruction of the habitat, but eventually even he fled. 

The Lorax said nothing. Just gave me a glance...
just gave me a very sad, sad backward glance...
as he lifted himself by the seat of his pants.
And I'll never forget the grim look on his face
when he hoisted himself and took leave of this place,
through a hole in the smog, without leaving a trace.
And all that the Lorax left here in this mess was a small pile of rocks, with the one word

UNLESS.

The Onceler gives the last remaining seed of the Truffula Tree to the reader so that the habitat might be brought back again.

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

And that's where we come to today's question:

What do you do, big things or small things, to make the world a better place? 

Comments

[Polly]

I try to take care of what falls in my path. If I see trash, I pick it up. If I know someone I can help, I do. I tend not to look far and wide for ways to sacrifice or improve the world, but if something, or someone, in need of attention comes to my attention, I assume responsibility (except for deadbeats).

[Equipoise]

I look for opportunities to serve those around me. I wipe off the table as best I can and pick up after Zoe at restaurants. I guess Polly put it best: "I try to take care of what falls in my path." I pick up after myself and those I'm responsible for- and often for those I'm not. Also, I think as a Mother I'm making the (future?) world a better place by teaching Zoe manners, to pick up after herself (and others...she's a lot like me), to notice the beauty in the world and try to preserve it, and to be kind to those around her and have pride in her country. That last one is small steps, but right now it's all about the flags for her and we talk about that a lot. Anyway, novel right?
P.S. I also have a great love for Dr. Seuss. That hair is something to marvel at. Toot away, my friend, toot away!

[Pandora]

My roommates and I recycle everything that is recyclable in our house. I'm also the girl who leaps out her seat and retrieves the plastic or styrofoam that my guy friends have stupidly thrown in the fire--my reflexes are even higher while inebriated.

[The Dol]

I like that, Polly. I think that's the best philosophy: take care of what falls in your path.

Equipoise, I agree that raising our kids to be decent human beings (or, as Polly has been known to say, "lovely adults") is one great gift we can bestow on humanity. My little darling is five, and we talk about all sorts of big ideas, from racism and sexism, to gay marriage.

Pandora, be careful with the fire.

[Diosa]

That is one impressive Cindy Lou Who.

I'm conscious about the choices I make and how they effect the world around me. I recycle. I burn most of my paper waste. I do my best to conserve energy and water. I try to purchase paper products and cleaning products made from recycled material, but they do have to work. I prefer to shop locally and purchase items produced locally. I carry my own shopping bags. I've almost completely stopped buying bottled water. And the less processed, individually packed crap the better - for the environment and my family's health. I've even switched to O.B. tampons. Less waste, cheaper and more discreet.

[the self-focused bitch]

i tried to use o.b., but apparently, i'm not talented enough. is using a tampon a talent?!
i'm not naturally a future thinker. i have a hard time planning dinner until it's dinner TIME. i tried to tell keith that we should talk about where we want to be in 5 years, but i almost puked as i attempted those words. i mean, why not just wait and see what comes to us?!
and we don't have recycling in our county. or even the county next door. we burn paper and leave everything else for the garbage guy to pick up.
hmmm. i'm having a hard time thinking of ways that i actually TRY (consciously) to make the world a better place. of course, i try not to let my kids be complete idiots, but that's more for me than other people. i don't want them to annoy me.
i guess i'm kind of a bitch? gosh, thanks, dol, for the reminder! :)

[the self-focused bitch]

keith just reminded me that i use cloth diapers, but that was more because i am so stinkin' cheap.
keith says he wipes with only one block of toilet paper, and it isn't double ply. i'm sorry to know that about him, actually.

[Alice]

I had to call Polly and ask if that was really Baby Dol because that hair is so PERFECTLY Cindy Lou Who. Wowza.

What a great BTQ, Dol! Way to make me really evaluate how much I don't do to make this world a better place. (Can we make a buddy system and I'll buddy with Dol who can cancel me out in the enviro dept? Please and thanks) Does trying my best not to be a complete tard count? You can throw my kid in that equation, too - I actually try better than my best to raise him to be a good person. And I vote...

Environmentally Im confident I am not doing my share. I recycle when it suits me which usually it does not. I don't throw trash on the ground, never, but I also don't particularly enjoy handling the trash of others so the "path" rule doesn't always apply. I take extra long and extra hot showers and I crank the furnace or AC to suit my comfort level. I use aerosol cans (I dont know exactly why thats bad but I know it is) and drink bottled water and wear cotton blends. I occasionally (like at least 2x weekly) eat meat and I buy tomatoes and every other veggie totally out of season. Maybe I should have lied here - upon review...

And clearly I am not making a world a better place with my abysmal spelling and grammar.

Sigh.

[Sistah]

On my way into work from the parking garage during our cold winters, I often pass moms without coats or mittens who are struggling with young children while waiting for the bus. A peek into Bus-Stop-Mom's grocery bag reveals that she left her house, climbed on a bus, waited at a transfer stop, climbed on another bus and went to the store in sub-zero weather just to pick up one or two necessities. I imagine these moms have minimal money to spend which is why their bags only have milk or bread in them.

The tangible poverty used to hit me very hard. I found myself tearing up almost daily during the winter. For selfish reasons (guilt and despondancy is not a good way to start the day), I now carry gift cards to Subway. There is one next to the bus stop. I hand them out to the cold moms who reach out and grab my heart.

I know how hard it is to parent little ones. I can't imagine adding the burden of poverty and the ensuing pervasive feelings of cold and hunger to that situation.

In the interest of full disclosure, my environmental and animal kindess could use some work. I am addicted to hot showers and most days take more than one. I am not a very good animal momma (clearly, Dol and I are not blood-related). In fact, if our dog pees one more time on my daughter's bed, he will not live to 15 (just kidding, Sis).

[Mia]

I thought I was the only one who loved The Lorax! That book makes me cry everytime.

I do my best. Recycling everything just like Pandora. I LOVE shopping at Union Square farmers market. There is a man there that looks like Santa Claus and sells the best cheeses. Whenever I can I get my eggs, and meat (bison burgers!) from there. Makes me feel happy - and everything tastes so much better. I also try and support the organic and environmentally friendly products my tiny tiny grocery store brings in so they'll get the message and keep changing their products. Like Michael Pollan I vote with my fork. :)

[The Dol]

@Diosa, thanks! And I switched to o.b., too. It seems like a lot of people have made the switch to carrying their own shopping bags. Do you see it a lot more out there?

@self-focused bitch, yeah, the o.b. tampons take a little getting used to, no doubt. i used cloth diapers, too. i loved them until the poops got serious, then i mostly gave them up. yeah, keith should have just kept that little halo of saintly environmental-ness to himself. now we all have to know that about him. (haha! i actually have a very seventh-grade mentality about toilet humor, so you can pretty much tell me that stuff and i'll get a kick out of it.)

@Alice, it's true! I really did that hair! I know, I can barely believe it myself. Your comment is hilarious, and makes me realize there might be money in some sort of broad environmental-offset company for people who want to buy a bottle of water and have some other schmuck get a glass from the tap to offset it. Sounds very American, doesn't it?

@Sistah, you are a good soul. We don't have the cold weather to bring it home like you do, but I tend to notice it in the grocery store--when the person in front of me is taking one item at a time off just so she can pay with what's in her wallet and her food stamps. I bought a lady's groceries a few months ago, because she realized she didn't have any money, and she was so obviously distraught about it. Oh, and if one of our dogs were peeing on a bed, I would be totally grossed out. I don't even know how you begin to deal with that sort of behavior.

@Mia, ok, I'm glad someone fessed up to crying over this book. Sometimes I am embarrassed by the things that make me choke up, and I always feel better when someone else is in that boat with me. I loooove the farmer's market. We have amazing ones here in San Diego, and I wish I were better about going every week. I have some activist friends who are particularly into food and humane issues, so I'm always guiltily aware of it when I go to Vons and buy some processed crap. I gave up meat recently, which was hard for me because I love steak.

[The Dol]

Holy crap, that was a long comment.

[Polly]

@Alice, if the Dol is going to offset anyone, it's me.

@Sistah, you rock.

@self-focused bitch, I use instead. I have sensitivity.

[Diosa]

@Dol - Yes, there are definitely more people using their own shopping bags. I used to feel conspicuous, but not so much any more.

[Chance]

I have nothing to add about o.b. since I have only bought those things once...for a girlfriend.
The hair rocks...she could be in a movie.

[Alice]

Polly - I ask in writing first. I know you're the boss but fair is fair and I claimed it.

Sistah - thats a great idea - and I agree with you on the poverty front - I'd help a struggling Momma any day of the week and waaaay before I'll ever stop taking long showers.

[Polly]

@Alice, the Dol and I have a preexisting, legally binding, legal agreement. Not to mention that net environmental savings aren't transferable over state lines. Puh-leese.

[Bookgirl]

LOVE the hair.

And I spend way too much energy feeling bad that I'm not doing more to make the world a better place. But I do what I can in small ways. And I like to think that my small things add up

I am almost maniacal about recycling.
I give money to street performers when they're good.
I tip generously.
I volunteer.
I compliment complete strangers on their clothes.
I smile at people. A lot.
I vote.

[The Dol]

@Bookgirl, I sort of made myself feel guilty with this post. I looooove that you volunteer at Planned Parenthood. That is pure awesomeness.