Ryan E. Galt
Department of Human and Community Development
University of California, Davis

I never thought I would identify with Bermuda grass. But there I was in Las Vegas, staring at a tiny grass patch near my feet and thinking about the similarity of our situations. I felt a strong connection, despite my opposition to the dominance of the lawn in the western U.S. and that of other people-environment geographers (Robbins 2007). The connection was this: if that grass had emotions, I think they would be similar to my own at that moment, marginalized and unwanted in this environment, but still struggling to thrive. I realize as a white male with a tenure-track position at a good university it seems very difficult to be marginalized and unwanted in the U.S., but I ask my readers to bear with me.