Fight harder
"Appalachia is the womb of the earth. Carol Judy often tells me that the 'mountains are calling her children home.' She held our seeds during the last ice age, and dispersed them out to the world when the long hibernation was over. Coal one of her most precious minerals was created during that time. And, interestingly enough one of the oldest things that humans have done is take minerals out of the earth for utilitarian and purposes of beauty and praise. Maybe this is some way for us to feel closer to her. Since before agriculture, humans have had as much value in what is under her surface as what is above. Many of what cultures hold of value from crystals for meditation to our cellphones and tvs, comes from below, and we praise these things. The Appalachian mountains are unique in geography, biodiversity and human culture. It is not the culture, the minerals or the environment that I value so, but the unique relationship that we hold as a people to this place and that this place holds to us. This is something I recently realized while doing a natural and cultural asset mapping project here in Eagan, TN. We fight for our mountains because she holds over 4,000 native plants and is the oldest mountain range in the world. We know she is the most biodiverse region. She is our oldest elder. And over time has drawn strong, courageous, innovative and passionate people with a sense of community and connection to her. Carol is right in saying that she is calling us home. Judy Bonds was and is her strongest voice; she is a warrior with a tender and healing heart; and like many of us, she called me home. Judy Bonds saved my life and I have been listening intently to the mountains ever since." -Michelle Mockbee, on Judy Bonds. RIP Judy.