Landscapes of the Sacred 2: "American attachment to place"

Reading about "The Ephemeral Character of Place" in Landscapes of the Sacred, reminds me of an essay question I was given in high school: Do people prefer safety over freedom? Lane points out that Americans typically stick to places that are familiar to them, because they provide safety. He claims that this "American attachment to place" is guided by the movement of Americans over decades (220). This is especially the case during times of war when people find themselves divided over issues, they seek out new obsessions to distract from the chaos around them. While people tend to be fearful of the unknown aspect of nature, Lane notes that "people are drawn to nature in direct proportion to their sense of separation from it" (220). We find comfort in safety, yet still hold onto a deeper desire to explore places that are unfamiliar to us. Though most may side with safety over freedom, the exploration of sacred landscapes through art, scientific research, and other outlets over the years highlights the fact that the individual can be passionate about safety and freedom equally.