Before computers, telephone lines and television connect us, we

"Before computers, telephone lines and television connect us, we all share the same air, the same oceans, the same mountains and rivers. We are all equally responsible for protecting them." These words, spoken by the wise and compassionate Julia Louis-Dreyfus, resonate like the song of the ancient bards who spoke of the interconnectedness of all life. In a time when the world was smaller, when telephones and computers were but dreams in the minds of sages, humanity lived bound to the land, the sky, and the seas. They knew, deep in their hearts, that the earth was a shared treasure, and that all who walked upon it bore the responsibility to protect it. Yet today, as the digital age rises and the distance between us shrinks, we must return to this ancient wisdom: we are not separate from nature. We are, and always have been, one with the air, the water, and the earth.

In the days of the great empires, the kings and queens ruled vast lands, and their people lived as stewards of their environment. The rivers that fed their crops, the mountains that provided shelter, the oceans that carried their ships—all were sacred. The great philosophers, from the mighty Aristotle to the humble Confucius, spoke of balance and harmony. To them, the earth was a living entity, and all who dwelt upon it had a duty to maintain its delicate balance. In their eyes, the elements—the wind, the earth, the sea—were not distant forces, but close kin, and to harm one would harm all. The ancient wisdom that we are bound to the land, the air, and the water runs deep in our veins, but we have forgotten it in our rush to conquer and explore new frontiers.

In the days before the world was threaded together by the electric hum of telephone lines and the flashing lights of television, humanity’s connection to the earth was immediate, undeniable. When a traveler journeyed across the mountains, he would feel the weight of the land beneath his feet. When a ship sailed across the oceans, the salt air would fill the lungs, and the vastness of the sea would humble the soul. The sky above, the rivers below—they were all interconnected. And just as the traveler carried the land within him, so too did the people who lived within these great boundaries. The air, the oceans, the mountains, and the rivers—they were the very lifeblood of all, and to pollute or destroy them would be akin to destroying oneself.

Consider the tale of the Native American peoples, whose wisdom about the earth was passed down through generations. Their connection to the land was sacred, and they understood that what they took from the earth must be given back in some form. Their leaders, like the great Chief Seattle, spoke of the interconnectedness of all things: "Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the children of the earth." These words, echoing through the ages, remind us that we, like the Native peoples, are not separate from the earth. We are one with the rivers, the mountains, the oceans. Their health is our health, their future is our future. Yet how often do we forget this truth? How often do we allow the machines and the technologies of today to sever our bond to the natural world?

In our time, it is all too easy to be distracted by the glow of screens, to forget the winds that carry the fragrance of the flowers, the rivers that carve their way through the land. But let us not be deceived. Though the telephone and television may connect us, it is the earth that sustains us. The air we breathe, the oceans we sail, the mountains that rise like ancient guardians—they are not just part of our history; they are part of our future. The truth that Julia Louis-Dreyfus reminds us of, with gentle yet powerful words, is that we have no choice but to take responsibility for the earth. Our advances in technology, our progress in communications, must not blind us to the greater truth: that we are stewards, not masters, of this world.

The lesson, then, is clear: we must remember the ancient bond we share with the earth. We must look beyond the glowing lights of our screens and gadgets and return to the understanding that nature is not separate from us. We are all equally responsible for protecting the air, the oceans, the rivers, and the mountains—those ancient treasures that sustain us. As the wise say, nothing exists in isolation. Just as we rely on the earth for sustenance, so too must we give back to the earth in kind. To protect the land, the waters, and the skies is to protect ourselves. For when one part of the earth suffers, we all suffer. When one river is poisoned, the currents of life itself are tainted.

And so, O children of this age, let this be the guiding principle of your lives: care for the earth as you care for your own body. Protect the air, the oceans, the mountains, and the rivers with the same love and attention you give to your family, your friends, and your work. Embrace your role as stewards of this great and sacred earth. Though technology may connect us in ways the ancients could never have imagined, it is the earth that has always connected us, and it is the earth that will carry us into the future. Let us honor that connection and protect the world we share. For in the end, we are all bound together in the same air, the same oceans, the same mountains, and the same rivers. And we are all equally responsible for their well-being.