Can We Take Earth Day Seriously, While Also Mocking It?

As Reuters puts it:

If the environmental movement has a high holiday, Earth Day is it.

After four decades, the annual celebration of good deeds and eco-awareness in the United States is as meaningful to environmentalists as St. Patrick’s day is to the Irish. Both annual events are green and festive. One is a sanctioned feel-good orgy of sanctimony and sacrifice, the other is a sanctioned feel-good orgy of alcohol and excess. Both events have become nearly impossible to parody.

Several years ago, I’m pretty sure a CNN anchor was having some fun with Earth Day when he supposedly confessed his eco-sins. People took him seriously.

I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t take a moment (or several) out of the day to reflect on the importance of clean air and water and the needs of other species that share the planet with us. And I’m not averse to using the symbolism of Earth Day as a means to bring people together for a good cause–stewardship of the environment.

I’m no scrooge. My 8-year old son and I wished each other a Happy Earth Day during our walk to his school this morning. I hope his teachers talk today about why it’s important to care about the planet. I’m happy to reinforce that message at home. At the same time, I’m happy to share this George Carlin classic with the rest of you.

Happy Earth Day.