“From a more practical perspective, groundwater nourishes the tree, which in turn feeds the clouds, which feed the earth—and the earth feeds us. It’s a cycle that the white man has broken by trying to conquer the Earth. There are ecological consequences of the destruction of the forests.”—José to Paul, page 62, “Blood for Freedom.”
Throughout centuries man and nature seem to have a highly complex relationship. While humanity is a part of nature, they still find ways to conquer its will and flow through blatant damage to the earth.
In my book, “Blood for Freedom,” I briefly include a scene where natives in a small town in Guatemala engage in a small ritual before harvest season. During this ritual, the leader prays to nature in humility—warning them of the impending damage they will instill upon the earth when they work and gather crops for their families. After stating their intention, they also ask for protection—that their human ways of destroying the land for sustenance do not play a part in their punishment.
Whatever the case, the scene has struck a chord with many readers. One pointed out that many people from first-world nations may find this ritual “strange” or “superstitious” because of its display. Nevertheless, it also shows the strength of humility in their understanding. They know they cannot control nature, and after willfully destroying it, they know the risks of what may happen.
If anything, it seems that modern civilizations have forgotten their roots. With constant environmental issues like climate change, food shortages, and global warming—perhaps we need to humble ourselves to nature. After which, we look for ways to make amends, or we’ll lose all it has left to offer.
With that being said, it was a welcoming interpretation. Hopefully, I will be able to receive more from other readers as well. It’s nice to know that despite different cultures, we all understand that fighting against the work of nature is futile.
by J. P. Piché
J. P. Piché 