Let There Be Light

Lighting is a dicey subject. Some like blinding globs of it, while others prefer the dim dark. I am sort of in-between on the subject, but my bark today is that light is largely ignored. Within one's abode, the subject is not an issue; there are a million choices. And they affect only who is under that roof. Outside is another matter. Street lights emblazon our ways and ugly up the landscape but nobody sees the wires and poles for some reason. They will put up a fight for a mail box or a sign that bothers them, but completely ignore the bevy of lighting that disallows a glimpse of stars at night. If you asked an urbanite what planets it could see from its high-rise balcony, it would look at you as though you were insane. Stars?  You only do that in the country, not here. Oh yes, we have a lovely view of the moon, but stars? Nope. To see the gorgeous array of diamonds in the firmament, you need a dark sky. The milky way is something most children have not been introduced to. It is a shame because it is a sight that makes us know that our little world, this planet, may not be the only one in the galaxy. It is space space for dreaming and imagining. We disallow ourselves in cities, the pleasure of this stress relieving activity, by having not just too much light, but light of the wrong kind. One of the small places where I once lived, passed a bylaw in their seaside town, that  lighting was not to be the white, harsh glaring street lighting but that which is soft-toned and beamed downwardly to not offend. Some towns have street lighting that goes on only if there is human movement below. Some places have by-laws that prohibit lighting that is too bright and appears uninvited in someone else's yard. Where I live  in a complex, there are very pleasant garden lights that shine on pathways and not upwards. All lighting has what we can call "switches". Some are automatic and set to go on when needed. Others are manual. Why lighting at all?  On the farm in the good-old-days, we used oil lamps. We children were given the job by our farm grandparents of carrying lanterns in the farmyard at night. It was a big responsibility and we took it seriously. There were full milk pails to consider and farm dogs weaving amongst people's legs to avoid. Furthermore, there was real fire to be careful of. And that is ominous to youngsters. But the best times were star gazing when the lights were not on and constellations could be seen. Later, flashlights replaced the lanterns and then, those horrid garish gas lamps were introduced, the ones that some inconsiderate folk use in campsites. But it is progress and that's okay. Progress, however, should be harnessed for control, before it controls us. Every kind of lighting has its purpose, even the horrible gas lamps occasionally in some situations. Security lighting is essential because thieves and their ilk don't like to carry on their miserable trade under spotlights.  But even lighting placed to protect the honest people from those who aren't, can do its job without offending the good guys. Work spaces where residential neighbours can't see the offensive shine are fine, but they should be directed where they need to be, not into the upper sky. That isn't hard to do. People in residential districts can keep their lighting in their own yards for security but be respectful of others.  Let there be light, and let it be put there with careful thought.  Lighting is to help see, not offend.