strange emotions?

i'm always interested by human emotions. i think they are reflections of our inner longings. sometimes they seem strange--especially in this case--but then again, we all express our emotions in semi-strange ways, don't we? some shut them inside, some scream them out, some use them to manipulate, some pretend they have none. regardless of how we deal with emotions, they affect us . . . whether they are our own or someone else's. so what do emotions tell us about the story we are in?

if you watch this video, you may be tempted to write these folks off as tree huggers, and emotion-alists (honestly, that was my first reaction too). maybe some of that has truth to it, but there is something deeper going on isn't there? why are they screaming out for the earth, groaning because of the loss of our connection with it?

"i've looked at clear cuts and burnt forests and i've felt outraged but i didn't scream and i didn't cry . . .but i need to."

"i think we are deeply hurting in america, i think we are deeply craving answers. i think that we've lost our identity as we have evolved into technology and into industrialized society. bring me to this cathedral . . .bring me to this rock that has the most incredible life. that makes me feel alive."