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Save The Planet, Or Its People

There's something very strange about how prominent the modern American eco-narrative is. Trying to 'save the planet', someone lives a deeply strange life we all sort of understand and appreciate, despite our lack of interest in the same. Some might even presume they look down on those that don't 'live sustainably', etc. because it's just so important to them. The upsides and downsides are salient, because this is a socially accessible choice. If it's your jam, you know it's there, and there are others who think likewise.

But the same doesn't exist for trying to save the people of the earth. Perhaps a prosletyzing zealot would be understood, but largely on the condition that they're not actually achieving anything. If they do, they're seen as community organizers -- this flattens the endeavor, obviously, but is largely deserved, given the hypocrisy of many who are loud about their faith.

A mundane act of self-sacrifice for others, though. That's almost too sacred to speak of. And for a stranger? Suspicious, perhaps. Unsettling to some. Why would someone do that?

It's not available as a cliche because it's not popular. It's not done much at all, to devote yourself philosophically to the task. I think maybe 80% of my own difficulties have related to the misunderstandings and isolation of this. It's not a bad life, just one people don't understand, but to be misunderstood universally, and to be alone, are burdens too.

Here is the cliche, as I'd like to build it (obviously a Christian bent -- I think history has many generous and kind people, but none striving so much for a cliche as the Christians in history closest to this role):

  1. Often walks places, avoiding car ownership specifically.
  2. Carries cash only to give to those in need that they see. Glad to be rid of money generally.
  3. Memorizes books of scripture.
  4. Knows the most efficient charities for helping others.
  5. Often eats bread. Simple, cheap, and Jesus was the bread of life. Other times, fasts.
  6. Simple clothing. Not necessarily comfortable, but in this post-abundance world, the clothes available to even the least among us are pretty good.
  7. Efficient, kind, knowledgable in their work. Strives for excellence.
  8. Pays coordination costs to bridge to a better equilibrium. (Having a blog instead of social media, organizing events for others, etc)

And probably some others I'm forgetting at the moment.

Christians are not always the best, but the best have almost always been Christians. Hard to escape that, and worth leaning into the patterns when building a cliche.