Editor’s Note
na·ture:
: the physical world and everything in it (such as plants, animals, mountains, oceans, stars, etc.) that is not made by people
: the natural forces that control what happens in the world
: the way that a person or animal behaves
: the character or personality of a person or animal
~Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary
This DoveTales is uncharacteristically large. Our journal includes the most imaginative, beautiful, and challenging of hundreds of submissions, so clearly the “nature” theme struck a chord.
Our natural world is under attack by corporate interests. As artists, we see the evidence all around us, and feel that pain acutely. But we also feel the insidious presence of another kind of assault, an attack against our private natures. We are only now beginning to comprehend the oppressive qualities of this near-omniscient surveillance state. As Glenn Greenwald put it:
“The mere existence of a mass surveillance apparatus, regardless of how it is used, is in itself sufficient to stifle dissent. A citizenry that is aware of always being watched quickly becomes a compliant and fearful one.”
As writers, artists, and activists, we make a decision to stand when told to sit, and to cry out when silence is expected. Artists speak truth to power. That’s not to say that we are fearless, just that fear is irrelevant.
In this edition of DoveTales, our contributors explore the meanings of nature. We lift up their vision, and thank them for their courage.
Pax, Carmel
