My wife wrote a great review a book about green pregnancy yesterday and tilted the scale at Guy Goes Green a bit to the feminine side. In response and to create balance, I present to you a topic I will be covering on occasion called “Manly and Green.” I decided to write about this because I grew up having a preconceived notion that a typical conservationist was like the hippie teacher from Beavis and Butthead. Well, I do not think that is the case now, but want to show other men that the stereotype of a green man may not fit into their possible preconceived notions. This will be an exploration of any person (real or fiction) that exemplifies what it means to be green and manly. This week, I profile Teddy Roosevelt.
First, I am going to go straight to the amazingly manly scenario that qualifies Teddy Roosevelt for the Manly in Green and Manly. Although there are many reasons that he could be considered manly, the following takes the cake in my book. In 1912, just prior to giving a campaign speech while running for President, Theodore Roosevelt was shot by a would-be assassin. Fortunately, it did not kill him. Instead of going to a hospital though, he went on to give his speech. To be clear, the man gave a campaign speech with a bullet freshly lodged in his body. That, my friends, is one tough dude and earns him many titles in my book… including Manly.
Now, on to some of the awesome things he did that would qualify him as Green. Roosevelt, a naturalist and sportsman, understood that our natural resources needed to be protected. The Newlands Act of 1902 was signed into law by Roosevelt and allowed the government to have a larger role in water management and reclamation. He also created numerous national parks that preserved (and continue to preserve) over 170 million acres of natural land.
Teddy Roosevelt created these parks and recreation areas where many of us bring our families on vacation. I believe he set a tone that is the foundation of the environmental movement today. Roosevelt’s work on these green agendas are really what make him both Manly and Green, but that he gave a speech after getting shot makes him one bad mofo in my book. Please let me know in the comments area if you have any suggestions for profiles in Manly and Green.
