Parades – Old and New
by Tao Oliveto,
Because it felt almost like a civic duty, I attended the annual “Christmas Parade” in my town last weekend. There was the usual cuteness going on – lots of smiling and waving. There were also lots of BIG vehicles pulling floats that carried all these smiling faces, moving very, very slowly down Main Street. Remember, idling engines are running at their most inefficient and pollute MORE than when driving at higher speeds. Although I tried to push this out of my mind, the fact that my eyes were burning from the exhaust really rubbed it in. I didn’t stay long and the whole experience made me start thinking….
Did parades exist before automobiles? Did horses pull then versions of “floats”? When did we decide to change all of this despite the fact that these events still move at a walking pace? That dangerous idea of “bigger is better” is, of course, partly to blame – even horses couldn’t pull some of the contraptions that move through NYC on Thanksgiving Day.
Yet, isn’t it time to see the fun being missed through the veil of smoky exhaust trailing all that beauty? Could we team up bicycles to pull things? And what about pedicabs? Then there is dedicating this event to veggie-deisel vehicles, because I prefer the smell of french fries to petroleum any day.
December 16th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Now that u mention it…
Every year, the parade in Greensboro lines up right on my St., right in front of my house. Only slightly annoying. Incredible to see a 350 diesel pickup pulling a a dozen Boy Scouts, who could quite easily hoof the short route. I don’t know when the tradition started, but nothing “trumps” Christmas. It gives us justification for going, doing, driving, consuming, in a manner that ascends all sense of logic and proportion. We are, buying stuff for people we don’t necessarily like, that they don’t want, or need, just for the spirit of giving. It is so powerful, that I would not be surprised to see Tracey herself, sporting a Santa hat, at some time.
There are some traditions that will never be unwound. Better to focus gifting toward donations to needy. or to Environmental efforts, local or International. I contribute monthly to Friends of the Earth, and a little to PETA.
And I will make most of my gifts.
Also, the shopping effect, sadly, drives, and is a measure of economic health of the country. How much made in China stuff we can unload to people on it’s way to landfills.
So, TAO, what do you want for Christsmas?