Romance of the Ranchos

 During the 1950s there was a radio show called Romance of the Ranchos. This was the history of Southern California from the late 1700s to early 1900s. According to the broadcast announcer, all the information contained in the show was true history with only dialogue added that was probably what was said between the historical figures.

Romance of the Ranchos told the story of the immense ranches that were granted to Mexican citizens when Mexico controlled Southern California. It told of the beauty and fertility of the valleys. Frank Graham, the narrator, told of how the Dons lived peaceably amongst themselves and the Indians of the area. These ranchos were not small. Land grants were given for anywhere from twenty thousand to sixty thousand acres with one person as owner.

It was when the Americanos went to war with Mexico and took over the area that things changed. The peaceful hills and valleys that had been used for cattle, horses, vineyards, grazing, etc. started to change. The pueblos and missions were still there, dotting the countryside but now, with the money-hungry Americanos there, the ranchos were in serious trouble. They had never worried about proving who owned what, everyone knew that. They had wealth, not in money, but in livestock.

The Americanos moved in, squatted on land not theirs, put money before honor, and the Dons got into financial trouble. All ended up being forced to sell their beautiful homesteads to the Americans.

What happened then? What always happens when greedy American businessmen get involved? Industry, growth, destruction. The ranchos were divided up, towns sprouted and grew. The lush green valleys and fields turned into dirty construction sites. The towns turned into cities. The harbors were crowded with ships. California was no longer the peaceful, beautiful area it once was.

You look at southern California now. Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, etc. have taken over the grazing lands and open beaches. Where once was green fields is now desert. America has struck again! Destroy all the beauty to create huge metropolises for millions of people. Drain all natural resources for the millions to be comfortable. Mother Nature won't care. All that matters is making money and destroying all beauty.

I've said this for years: Humanity is the bane of the Earth. I don't know what the good Lord was thinking when he put mankind in charge over the Earth. All we do is destroy. John Denver said it in Rocky Mountain High: we tear down the mountains to put in a couple more. It isn't just California that we've destroyed. Colorado was once a beautiful state with clean air and beautiful scenery. The last time I went to Denver I couldn't breathe because of the smog. It's probably 40 miles out of the LA area that the air starts getting yellow with pollution. NYC is the same. Chicago, Detroit, Philly, etc. all polluted.

When are we going to get it through our heads that Mother Earth is the one that lets us live? When are we going to start to understand that we can't keep destroying the planet? I'm far from a pine needle junkie or a fresh air freak but I do believe that we need to take care of this ball of rock we call home. Instead of trying to find an Earth-like planet somewhere else in space or to industrialize Mars or the Moon, why don't we start to clean up this planet? If we can't take care of this one, what makes anyone think we can do it somewhere else? Or is it that greedy industrialists and elitists just want to exploit the natural resources of every other planet like they have this one?

Think about it. Get back to me.