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[Spike89]

75. Sad world without decoration

I suppose plastic flowers, plastic trees, and astroturf parks make sense to some. Others are fine doing without a daisy, christmas tree, or managed greenery. Christmas trees (as many have already said) are a farmed crop. Here in Oregon, one of the major Xmas tree producers, they are almost exclusively located on marginal land or farmland that is being rotated. The trees grow with virtually no fertilizer, pesticides, or irrigation. They also grow dense enough that 9 out of 10 of the planted trees would be "murdered" by their neighbors due to overcrowding before they'd reach the age of 50. Almost all of them are cut 4-8 years after planting.

Flowers, of almost any type, are infinity more detriment to the environment. Even non-cut flowers are a much bigger waste of resources. We should maybe switch all the effort we put into "useless" decoration and make sure we have enough sack clothe, ashes, and whips to punish ourselves for the harm our existence causes.

OTOH - I have no problem with anyone who says trees are too messy, smell unpleasant to them, or just think they are ugly. I just don't think one of the very best things about humanity--our ability to see, appreciate, and create art--is useless or a waste.

We decorate not to waste, but because not to decorate is a waste of our humanity.