Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Response to Bird by Bird
“We are a species that needs and wants to understand who we are. Sheep lice do not seem to share this longing, which is one reason why they write so very little.” Anne Lamott opens her piece Bird by Bird with this telling line, off which she bases much of the book. She tells us that we write to learn about who we are, which sounds pretty easy at first. She goes on to tell us though in this piece that it is not that easy at all. Our thoughts on ourselves come out in incoherent blurbs that often have no distinct beginning, end or logical timeline. Our writing starts off confused, Lamott says, and that’s ok. This piece goes on to tell us how to refine that confusion into something that is logical and understandable, and does in fact tell us who we are. It is often a long and arduous process, but it is one worth completing.
Two American Monsters: Consumerism and SUVs
American culture is strongly rooted in consumerism. One might argue that culture in this powerful nation, rich in resources is not just rooted in consumerism, but is consumerism. Americans tend to take all they can get and more, at the expense of anyone or anything. This trend covers everything from Big Macs to blue jeans, and possibly most importantly automobiles and the precious “Texas gold” that makes them go. Americans love their cars and love to drive them. From moms running errands in their full size SUVs to dads burning rubber in their BMWs Americans drive their cars. Little do they know that their frivolous energy consumption comes at a far greater cost than the $1.90 per gallon of gasoline; it costs the health and well being of planet earth and the people in it. It is imperative that Americans come to their senses and start driving more efficient cars, accepting economic implications of energy conservation, and mimicking other nations in their use of public transit. Actively seeking to achieve these simple goals will drastically improve the global environment, and the quality of life for those living in it.