By: Jim Hight
With recent controversies over appointments to the Oregon Board of Forestry and changes to the US Forest Service’s management plans, logging practices remain sources of conflict in the Pacific Northwest.
As a journalist in Humboldt County, California, I covered the timber wars from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s. Over that time, I learned a valuable insight that I’ve tried to capture in my new novel, “Moon Over Humboldt”: While people on both sides have different visions for how forests should be managed, they share many core values—yet their differences often lead them to overlook what they have in common.
While “Moon Over Humboldt” is fiction, it can provide real-world inspiration for people who want to find some common ground with those on the other side of the political divide that is getting deeper as we approach the pivotal November election.
In the novel, readers meet two people who at first glance couldn’t be more unlikely to be friends. Bill Collins is an old-school logger who raised his son Kenny to work hard in the logging trade and keep his whining to himself. But when Kenny becomes a meth addict, Bill must face the bitter truth that he may have failed at his important job. Jonah Price moved to Humboldt County to save the redwoods. Yet, guilt over his father’s death leads him to get high so often that he walks through life like a zombie, half-dead to his surviving family and floundering as an environmental activist.
After meeting in a 12-step program, Bill and Jonah form a bond that grows as they open up about their struggles. They find in each other a kindred spirit who could help each man rebuild his shattered life—if they can overcome their differences.
Bill and Jonah are fictional characters, but I composed them from many real people I connected with on all sides of the battles over logging, from loggers who’d grown up working in the woods to young activists who put their bodies on the line to stop them. The novel also brings to life other Humboldt County people I interviewed as a reporter and knew as acquaintances or friends: fishermen and scientists, foresters and college professors, ranchers and dairy farmers, small-town mayors and tribal leaders, county sheriffs and cannabis growers.
For the addiction and recovery aspects of “Moon Over Humboldt,” I drew on my experience as a recovering addict and adult child of alcoholics to paint a realistic and engaging picture of the high-stakes drama and transformative healing that occurs in 12-step programs. While these programs are well known, my novel delves thoughtfully into some controversies—Are they cults? Do you have to believe in God to belong?—surrounding 12-step groups.
Like the characters in “Moon Over Humboldt,” I met people in 12-step programs whose political views differed greatly from mine. I came to love and appreciate them as fellow travelers on a shared recovery journey, just as they came to love and respect me.
These experiences as a reporter and a recovering addict in Humboldt County taught me that when we set aside our stereotypes and deeply listen to someone whose views we may find abhorrent, we usually discover common core values and concerns for our community and country. In today’s polarized political climate, finding such common ground is more critical than ever.
It’s my hope that the lessons embedded in the narrative—about resilience, empathy, and the power of community—offer valuable insights for readers and encourage them to apply these lessons in their own lives.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency. The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or medical advice. Readers are encouraged to seek professional guidance for their specific situations. The author and publisher disclaim any liability in connection with the use of this information.
Published By: Aize Perez
