gems and minerals

Yes, they're beautiful. Yes, we like to possess them.

But here's my question. Should they stay in the earth? In Gaia? Do they belong there?

Or do they belong on our shelves and in our pockets? On our sandals and handbags?

Are they responsibly harvested? Do they jump to the surface of the earth and say, "Take me home!" or are they blasted out with dynamite, hacked out with metal spikes, chopped, sawed, or clawed?

I'm all about crystals. But I feel guilty. Shouldn't we leave them where they are? Why do we destroy and destruct our planet?