Close Encounters: The Island

I've finished part two of Encounters with the Archdruid, entitled, "The Island." The focus of the section is on the development of Cumberland Island and the reader is introduced to a man by the name of Charles Fraser. Fraser's the developer who wants to put a public resort on the island. He's made his living by capitalizing on nature's beauty and making it accessible to the paying public. It is with the introduction of Fraser's ethics that one begins to wonder if the right things can be done for the wrong reasons. I am most certain that this is true, but then, in this case, what is right and what is wrong is left more subjective, depending on the worldview you take.

Brower is still around in this chapter. He visits Cumberland Island with the narrator and the two tour it with Fraser. Brower and Fraser are juxtaposed and it is obvious that their beliefs are different, but they are perfectly amiable and agree on much with regards to the island. Brower, the staunch conservationist he is, believes in keeping the island as it is, untouched because of its intrinsic value to the world. Fraser, on the other hand believes that the island should be left largely untouched -save for a small area for cabins and a marina and some playground equipment- purely because of its aesthetic value, because that's what makes him money. It was said about him that he "is a conservationist in the real sense. He wants to harmonize a modern environment with all of the endowments of nature. " (then again, it is also said that "Conservation to Charlie means, in great part, that Charlie should not be bitten by a mosquito.") Fraser's beliefs are obviously driven by an anthropocentric worldview, as he seeks to preserve nature's "endowments' for the sake of their enjoyment value to humans. He's even hesitant to spend the night on the island in a brand new camper, as he's not one used to "roughing it."

Due to their differing approaches, Brower and Fraser, though agreeing on most issues, don't agree on everything. Brower, seeing the ecological benefits of having a marshy wetland on the island is all for keeping it there, while Fraser would see it drained, or turned into a man made lake, as it's more use to the public that way. In this chapter, the reader is also introduced to the idea of the "druid." This term is a reference to the historical druids, who worshipped tree spirits. Fraser terms those who he believes to be overzealous tree-huggers "druids. It's a term used in a derogatory way to poke fun at those who believe in trees for trees' sake, rather than for the use they have to humans. Little does he know that the man with whom he has enjoyably spent the day could be defined as the Archdruid.

I've encountered many Frasers in the past, and I question how they should be approached. If it's not obvious already, I'm a "druid" myself, and so agree with the practices of many who aim to protect nature, even for anthropocentric reasons. And for practical reasons, I see nothing wrong with letting them do the "right" things for whatever reasons they may have. Inevitably, however, I think that friction is bound to occur between the two camps at some point, for there always comes a time when preserving some aspect of the natural environment will in no way benefit humans directly and -heaven forbid- even inconvenience us. It is then that the Frasers of the world will not hesitate to bulldoze a natural habitat or fail to take measures necessary to protect an endangered species (especially if said species gives you a rash or has a face only its mother could love). It is then that the druids of the world will have to try their hardest to relate the existence value of these natural resources to the world -no small feat in a culture that is inherently self-centered and rather narcissistic, if I do say so myself.