I was having a discussion with Cadistra about the Cenarion Circle's large amount of paperwork, yet their stance on protecting the environment. This brought up a question that was too complicated for the 140 character limit on Twitter.
As a Ranger, being close to nature is not a foreign concept. As a politician, I have to wonder (and point out the hypocrisy) about the decisions people make in regard to their treatment of the resources we have.
The initial question: If Druids are so protective of the environment, then why do they have so much paperwork? Even if the paper is recycled, they must still cut down trees for the raw materials.
If they cut down trees for paper to maintain their own bureaucracy, then why are the Night Elves so up in arms about the Orcs needing building materials? There is conflict in Warsong Gulch because the Orcs have no viable building materials in Durotar and need wood from nearby Ashenvale. Notice, they are not clear-cutting the entire forest (there is no lumbering going on adjacent to Splintertree Post, Mor'shan Rampart, or Zoram'gar Outpost), nor are they setting up lumbermills in Azshara. I also must bring up the point that wood is a renewable resource, and I'm sure everyone can work together to plant trees in place of the ones that need to be taken for building material.
Yes, Grom Hellscream and his Orcs cleared parts of the forest, but going to war only makes people more belligerent and stubborn to continue their ways. Again, wood is a renewable resource. Thrall is the type who understands nature, and would like to strike a balance between taking and giving. I believe Thrall would be willing to work with both Shamans and Druids to repair the damage done when taking what they need from the forest, but the attitude of the Silverwing Sentinels is not doing much to convince the Warsong Orcs to stop anything.
Perhaps it's a misunderstanding of orcish culture, behavior, and personality. The best way to get an Orc to stop doing something is NOT to tell him, "If you don't stop, I'm going to attack you!" An Orc is just going to smile and increase the rate of whatever he's doing to provoke a fight. The greatest honor to an Orc is dying on the battlefield, not dying in bed of old age, surrounded by friends and family. Give the lowliest peon who is stuck in a menial job a chance to die in battle, and he'll do what he can to make sure that battle happens.
This is NOT a difficult concept.
Finally, if they are so environmentally friendly and have issues with necessary logging of a renewable resource, how is it that Night Elves are on friendly terms with Dwarves and Gnomes? How can they go to war over the trees in Ashenvale, but look the other way when Dwarves strip-mine for non-renewable resources and artifacts? The Dwarves mining in the Barrens and Mulgore are not Dark Iron Dwarves, but Bronzebeard's people. In addition, the Stormpike Expedition traveled into Alterac Valley where Thrall's own clan, the Frostwolves, wanted to live in peace with the land. How can Night Elf Druids justify fighting alongside those who have invaded a land to take non-renewable resources from those who have lived in accord with the elements?
As for the Gnomes...while the invasion of their city by troggs and their subsequent need to destroy it was unfortunate, they detonated a radiation bomb. Need I say more?
This is not a question as to who should have "possession" of a particular bit of land, but what they intend to do with it.
I can't help but question this as being hypocritical. There is bad blood between Night Elves (and often, Druids in general) and Blood Elves due to our use of the Arcane. But think about this: after Silvermoon was razed we rebuilt our city with magic rather than destroying the land around us. Eversong Woods is our home and source of protection. The Farstriders would do anything to defend it, even use the Arcane (something we hesitate using) to keep our home safe.
I don't really want to start ANOTHER war when the problem with the Lich King still needs to be resolved in Northrend, but...
To my fellow Horde: If you ever see a Night Elf Druid riding a Mekgineer's Chopper in Alterac Valley...target them first.
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I think...hmm.
ReplyDeleteI think that with the Night Elves vs. the Warsong Logging Camp, much of their hosility comes from the death of Cenarius while Grom was under the influence of Mannoroth. The elves aren't stupid, just prejudiced, xenophobic, and protective of their territory. I'm sure they KNOW that Thrall is a wise leader, and that he would gladly want to create a sustainable trade/logging agreement with the Kal'dorei, but I think it's the principle of 'the orcs killed our demigod. They're on OUR land, chopping down OUR trees. Kill on site; no exceptions.'
As for their stance with the gnomes and dwarves - I'm sure some of the more sensible druids are deeply saddened by their carelessness, but again, they're xenophobic - as long as their strip mining and whatever else occurs OUTSIDE of Ashenvale/Teldrassil/Darnassus, they don't really care. At least Baine Bloodhoof managed to strike a deal with the miners in Mulgore to have a shaman oversee the excavation. Granted, the dwarves were stubborn and hostile, but they eventually agreed.
As for [my] [the tauren's] stance within the Cenarion Circle...you must remember that we are 'technically' newcomers. The CC is an organization that has been around since/before the Great Sundering. Being as anti-social as they are, it took the coersion of many progressive thinkers to allow my people within the circle. Even now, it's really no surprise that we are 'second-class citizens' with the CC; it's mostly evident on the face and words of the Arch Druid Staghelm.
The Circle is stretched as thin as it is. While we and the Earthern Ring strive to maintain balance, we can't go around to cities, reminding everyone to recycle and compost.
And, for the record - the elves are FAR more fond of paperwork than we are...we tauren have always been more 'oratory' in our information keeping than anything. ;)
Paperwork. Yes, something ALL elves have in common. *stares at the stack on his desk*
ReplyDeleteThank you for your insights, m'lady. Lady Plainwalker, in her little garden by the Bazaar, does not speak often to me of the Cenarion Circle. While I'm sure some part of that hesitation is due to not wanting to share "secrets" to a city of Arcane-users, the few times she has spoken of them, her voice hinted at something deeper. From what you have said here, there's little doubt that she holds her own frustration regarding the place of the Tauren within the CC as well as their decisions. This is probably a common sentiment among the Tauren?
In any case, if history tells us anything it's that clinging to old hatreds, and even xenophobia, is likely to cause a race's downfall. My people have come to know this fact quite well over the past few years. We could have continued to hate the Orcs and Trolls, and really, anyone associated with them and the Horde (old or new). And we would have doomed ourselves to extinction. We could have refused the aid of the Alliance when we took back the Isle of Quel'danas. If we hadn't, Kil'jaeden would have likely made it through.
Yes, lessons were learned. Our most out-spoken critics say that our own allegiance is a matter of convenience, and the Sin'dorei are likely to change sides again in the future. Honestly? If we are led down a path that carries us to certain fate, we will GLADLY switch sides again if that's what it takes to survive. The catch is to never overlook the atrocities of the past (even the unforgivable ones), but also not treat future generations as the same people who committed such acts.
I think that sooner or later the Kaldorei druids will also be tested with their survival on the line. I wonder if, when that day comes, they'll also hang their heads, let their ears droop, and say, "We have just gone through a change that has affected us to the point where even our eyes have changed color too. Perhaps...we were wrong."
A wake-up call with a liberal dose of humility? A man can dream, can't he?