If a tree falls in the forest ...

If a tree falls in the forest - and there’s no one there to hear it - does it make a sound?

Surely the real question is “why is there no one around?”

Where are the ramblers and the hill walkers?  

Where are the Sunday strollers?  

Where are the horse riders, taking their mounts from the soulless open field where they stand like statues to the soulful mountain forests where they can stride with majesty and grace?  

Where are the mountain bikers, risking life and limb with breakneck descents or straining on the impossible climbs of their carefully crafted trails?  

Where are the young families who bring their children to the wonderland of dear and squirrels and rabbits and foxes?  

Where are the kids who don’t just walk in the woods but actually explore the darkest jungles hunting bear and tiger and wolf? 

Where are the cowboys and the indians, the wizards and the dragon slayers, pitched in epic battle? 

Where are the fairy queens and the sleeping beauties awaiting their Prince's kiss? 

Where are the artists, the writers, the musicians, the poets who come to fill their souls with the spirit of the land and speak to their muse?  

Where are the lovers who escape the glare of the city and find the silence that allows their hearts beat loudly together?  

Where are the people who come to speak to their loved ones passed on because the pain is felt too keenly within the family walls.  "Life goes on" ... but not without a place to first grieve and then be reborn.

Is there no one around because the people entrusted with management of their country have betrayed the people and the land, for the price of a treasonous signature, sold it off to faceless, heartless, senseless corporations who erect signs telling you "YOU ARE NOW ON PRIVATE PROPERTY"

Is there no one around because the government care NOTHING about the land and less about the people?

Because Taoisigh, Ministers and Public Servants have no hesitation in RAPING their own country, ravenous greed tearing the flesh and the fat from the land, and finally sated, PROSTITUTE the carcass of the ancient home of their fathers to the highest bidding vulture.

And they take pride in the pursuit, prosecution, conviction and incarceration of man, woman and child who trespass on the private property, sold for silver, which once they called their home.

Is there no one around because our Public Policy, Public Interest and Public Service have been replaced by Corporate Policy, Private Interest and Self Service ?

If we do nothing to stand against this unholy destruction of our beautiful country our children will not be asking “if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there does it make a sound?” ……. Our children and our grandchildren will be asking us …

“Daddy, what was it like to walk in a forest?”