(I did not insert any links in the text--I'm not sure why they are popping up and I can't seem to get rid of them.)
The Anthropocene--the proposed new epoch starting with the Industrial Revolution when the impact of humans became geological--it's a good word. It rolls off the tongue and you can fit it into almost any conversation. Even conversations where you wouldn’t think were related: mammograms, the Lego Movie, Yellowstone, Martha Stewart’s Southern Comfort Punch—it doesn’t take long until you see it all points to the Anthropocene. One conversation where it does belong is in any chat related to Neil Young’s new song, “Who’s Gonna Stand Up.” Have you heard it? If not, you can find it on YouTube:
The Anthropocene--the proposed new epoch starting with the Industrial Revolution when the impact of humans became geological--it's a good word. It rolls off the tongue and you can fit it into almost any conversation. Even conversations where you wouldn’t think were related: mammograms, the Lego Movie, Yellowstone, Martha Stewart’s Southern Comfort Punch—it doesn’t take long until you see it all points to the Anthropocene. One conversation where it does belong is in any chat related to Neil Young’s new song, “Who’s Gonna Stand Up.” Have you heard it? If not, you can find it on YouTube:
The refrain *currently* goes like this:
Who's gonna stand up and save the earth?
Who's gonna say that she's had enough?
Who's gonna take on the big machine?
Who's gonna stand up and save the earth?
This all starts with you and me
Who's gonna say that she's had enough?
Who's gonna take on the big machine?
Who's gonna stand up and save the earth?
This all starts with you and me
However, I would like to respectfully submit a suggestion to Neil Young:
Who's
gonna stand up and save the earth?
Who's gonna say that she's had enough?
Who's gonna take on the big machine?
Who's gonna stand up in the Anthropocene?
This all starts with you and me
Who's gonna say that she's had enough?
Who's gonna take on the big machine?
Who's gonna stand up in the Anthropocene?
This all starts with you and me
Sure, it’s got two more syllables, but if
anyone can do, Neil Young can.
Anthropocene is a word that makes you sit
up and look around at the strip malls around you, at the ground tremoring from fracking,
at the human expansion that has trimmed habitat into quarter acre squares. If
you’re going to revise a song, fitting in the Anthropocene is a reason that
makes some sense.
