Remember when we were kids? When we thought we could be anything in the world? When we thought anything was possible?
"I want you to paint a mural something that unifies us as a school." Said Principal Harding.
She stared at the yellow lines, orange strokes, and blue with a light pinkish tinged of purple colors. In tiny meticulous strokes Jen had written the words "Possibility" over and over a thousand times to create a large sunrise over an endless sky. Her hands and overalls were covered in blue and purple from the recent additions to the mural. She hummed to the music of her headphones as she painted in the hallway. She had been working on it for two months and it was almost done.
When we believed that we could do anything in the world?
What happened to that?
"Do I have to say something?...Isn't the artist supposed to let the art speak for itself?" she asked.
Her best friend, Jack, laughed. "Yeah, well when the school board let you paint something in the hallway of a public school; I think they expect a little public ceremony in return."
"Is it terrible of me if I confess I'm scared out of my wits just thinking about it?"
"Of course you're scared. You poured your heart and soul into that thing. Who wouldn't be?"
"Its just there. You know, for the world to see. To judge."
She put her hands to her face. "Crap, and that feels so scary. It makes me feel vulnerable."
"You know what; I think it’s brave what you're doing."
"What exactly is that?"
"This." He waved his arm at the painting. "Look, Jen. All you can do is do what you like and care about. You can't really control the public opinion, and how good you are is history's business. But, being able to create something like this; it’s beautiful. Even attempting it is admirable in its own right and if other people can't see that, it’s their loss."
"Thanks. I feel better now."
"I'm just telling you what I think."
“Well, thanks for doing that.”
She stood in front of the crowd of students, before the unveiling. The mural was covered behind a dark blue cloth taped securely to the wall.
“And now, the last of our Beacon High murals. I'd like to ask Jen Parker to step up, and share with us a few words about her creation.”
"Well, Principal Harding asked us to paint something that unified us and when you think about it, nothing really unifies us. I mean we’re all off doing our own thing most of the time. So the only thing that I could think of that unites us all, that we all have in common is...that we all start off in kindergarten thinking that we can be anything that we want to be, and by the time we get here, we… we've somehow lost that feeling. We've all started to believe whatever our parents or friends have told us about what we can achieve and who we can be in life, and... and we've forgotten about that possibility we had when we were younger. And that's what I think we all have in common, and that's what the symbol in my painting means - possibility. I painted it because I thought we could all use a daily reminder that, if you believe in yourself, even when the odds seem stacked against you, anything's possible. So I hope you like it." (Potter)
Applause.
She lifted the tape, and the covers fell, revealing the mural. The light shown from a window onto the sunrise made out of the words possibility and it gleamed from the wall as if it had its own light. The effect was one of those serendipitously striking moments. The students clapped loudly when they saw. Jen smiled when she saw Jack. He was clapping with them and smiled.
Anything is possible..
"You know what Jack? I think you're the coolest person I know."
"Huh, you must not get out much Parker."
She laughed. "You're the coolest one and you don't even know it. All this was able to happen because of you."
"As much as I'd like to take credit for this, it was all you Jen. You drew the mural."
"That’s just it Jack. That’s what you always do. You inspired me in a way that you inspire everybody. You're the quiet hero. The one who always steps in at the right time, lending your efforts, never asking for a reward in return. Like with the mural, I didn’t think that it’d turn out this good but it did and it makes me feel like anything is possible. That’s what makes you so cool too. You don’t do all that to get something in return; you just do it because you do.”
She took a deep breath.
“Basically, I just wanted to say thanks-- for being there for me.”
He laughed. “Anytime Jen, you would do the same for me anyways.”
"Heck yeah.”
Possibilities
The end.
(Some of the things/ideas said in that paragraph is said by Joey Potter, a character from a TV alongside with some of my own thoughts) Ahh…I feel the cornball factor is high in this story, even for me. So I’ll admit parts of it are highly idealized. These are some of my ideas of what “cool” is. I think it’s cool if you are able to comfort your friend. I wish I always knew what to say or do, but I don’t, so when I do and when I’m able to, I’m pretty happy to be able to make someone feel better. I think it’s cool to be a good friend. I think it’s cool to support the people you care about. I think that’s what people need from each other, support, because in this world we can always find critique, but support is harder to find. I think….showing you care, even in simple ways is cool.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Religious Beliefs
"Do not believe a spiritual teaching just because:
1. it is repeatedly recited,
2. it is written in a scripture,
3. it was handed from guru to disciple,
4. everyone around you believes it,
5. it has supernatural qualities,
6. it fits my beliefs anyway,
7. it sounds rational to me,
8. it is taught by a respectable person,
9. it was said to be the truth by the teacher,
10. one must defend it or fight for it.
However, only when it agrees with your experience and reason, and when it is conducive to the good and gain of oneself and all others, then one should accept the teachings, and live up to them."
-The Buddha
1. it is repeatedly recited,
2. it is written in a scripture,
3. it was handed from guru to disciple,
4. everyone around you believes it,
5. it has supernatural qualities,
6. it fits my beliefs anyway,
7. it sounds rational to me,
8. it is taught by a respectable person,
9. it was said to be the truth by the teacher,
10. one must defend it or fight for it.
However, only when it agrees with your experience and reason, and when it is conducive to the good and gain of oneself and all others, then one should accept the teachings, and live up to them."
-The Buddha
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Comments to Other Final Essays
-To Rachel J.-
I thought your essay was interesting. I agree on the part where you said that everyone has their own definition of a good and meaningful life because we're all different. I think that's why religion is such a contreversial topic because different people have different beliefs and alot of them feel strongly about it so it maybe a touchy subject. I thought the advertisement of a jewish ipod was an accurate example of how corporate media works, since it'll target a more specific group. I also think part of it may be our culture's political correctness since advertising to one specific religious group of people might get them under fire from people of other groups. I agree that, it would limit the target range since they want to be available to as much people as they can so more peope would buy it.
-To Kate D.-
I liked your perspective on the meaningful life and I agree, simple is best :). I think friends and family are worth alot more than wealth. I'd take a day at the park over a day in front of the tv or computer any day. I think it gets very boring sitting home all day watching tv. I guess according to that, the tv doesn't function me very well, so its not meaningful for me to sit at home. I think its more meaningful to get outside and experience things, so I like your idea of going to the beach or park alot. I think you will hold alot of the same values you have today, like, I think being healthy to you now will still be important to you 10 years from now, and friends and family (cats included) as well. :) some things may change because we change as we experience new things but that's apart of life right?
-To Gavin-
Longboarding seems very important to you, that's pretty great to have something that makes you happy I think. I thought one point you brought up was interesting, that a good life means your not detracting from anyone's happiness because it actually gives it more definition than just saying whatever makes you happy since murder may make someone happy but that's not neccessarily a good life. I wonder if the same thing applies for a meaningful life. Is your life meaningful if it detracts from someone else's happiness?
I thought your essay was interesting. I agree on the part where you said that everyone has their own definition of a good and meaningful life because we're all different. I think that's why religion is such a contreversial topic because different people have different beliefs and alot of them feel strongly about it so it maybe a touchy subject. I thought the advertisement of a jewish ipod was an accurate example of how corporate media works, since it'll target a more specific group. I also think part of it may be our culture's political correctness since advertising to one specific religious group of people might get them under fire from people of other groups. I agree that, it would limit the target range since they want to be available to as much people as they can so more peope would buy it.
-To Kate D.-
I liked your perspective on the meaningful life and I agree, simple is best :). I think friends and family are worth alot more than wealth. I'd take a day at the park over a day in front of the tv or computer any day. I think it gets very boring sitting home all day watching tv. I guess according to that, the tv doesn't function me very well, so its not meaningful for me to sit at home. I think its more meaningful to get outside and experience things, so I like your idea of going to the beach or park alot. I think you will hold alot of the same values you have today, like, I think being healthy to you now will still be important to you 10 years from now, and friends and family (cats included) as well. :) some things may change because we change as we experience new things but that's apart of life right?
-To Gavin-
Longboarding seems very important to you, that's pretty great to have something that makes you happy I think. I thought one point you brought up was interesting, that a good life means your not detracting from anyone's happiness because it actually gives it more definition than just saying whatever makes you happy since murder may make someone happy but that's not neccessarily a good life. I wonder if the same thing applies for a meaningful life. Is your life meaningful if it detracts from someone else's happiness?
Course Essay- Looking back on the Unit
When I saw the question, "what is meaningful in life?" I immediately thought people. People make things meaningful. I mean this in two ways; we endeavor to create meaning, and we are something meaningful to someone else. I think, for a person, life without people in it would be very dull because people need people, without the stimulation of another person or another animal like us then I think life would not be very meaningful. Also a part of it is mentality, to think life is meaningless, would make it that way. It is hard to derive any joy from life with that mindset and those who enjoy life and "live it to the fullest" would have a more meaningful life because they appreciate it. Something is inherently meaningful from just being alive, from feeling, and experiencing it. I don’t mean when we just act like zombies, wandering from place to place because that’s not living, I mean when we actually decided “I want to live and enjoy this while I have it”. There was part of class when we were talking about death and some people wondered what the point of living when we just die, I think that it’s the more reason to live all the more reason to live. We know there is an end; it adds meaning to life because we know we won’t be here forever. If we were, would we appreciate it as much?
I think it’s meaningful to find your own way of living, even if that way of living is apart of other ways. I happen to feel that meaning is personal. For me, meaning is personal because it is something that we feel is fitting for us. Even though a lot of what we want is the same as any other person, what it means for us is different.
We talked about many different units that we thought was important to know in living a meaningful life. In the health unit we did in class, we talked about different aspects of health, which including mental, emotional, and physical. We thought it was meaningful to be healthy because it’ll help us live more meaningful lives. I think if you’re healthy, in all aspects you can enjoy life more.
In this unit we explored a lot of the different parts to what people think is meaningful. We interviewed different people on the street and asked them what they thought was a meaningful life. Kate said that family and friends are important, and this was an opinion held by many people of the people in the class as well as many of the people that we interviewed later on. I think because those people give us a purpose in being here, they're someone we share life with, and can laugh about it with when things get hard, they're someone to lean on and to have lean on us. It’s a sense that there is a reason why we are here. I also think that when people have a passion for something then they have something meaningful in their life. It’s not necessarily about the amount of money they make; it’s about how they feel doing it. Some people are passionate about their jobs and they really give it their all in it. I think that's admirable because I'm not sure what I'm passionate about yet. I think though, when you are doing something you really love, and it challenges you enough, it’ll be very meaningful.
I think we do incorporate what we see and experience into our belief systems. In our Corporate Culture many different values are shoved at us, which makes people more susceptible to their marketing because they believe it. Like the magazines we read in the Library, magazines like Glamour or Vogue focus a lot on beauty, and they try to say to women, that if you buy the products you see on the pages, you’ll become beautiful. That’s part of corporate media because they are trying to sell you their products. Even technology is focused on being updated so people always want the newest and the best, it is a status symbol, like the brand of water you buy or who you wear. Part of what Corporate Media tells you are that you can buy meaning. But I tend to agree more with the folk message, that we get from the people we come in contact with and I don’t care if its cliché but I think that you can’t buy meaning but if you enjoy life and have a passion for something then you’ll live a meaningful life because it lasts longer than a the cheap thrill of getting something new.
During the Health unit, we talked about the many different aspects of health. Being physically healthy was not all there was to it. We studied emotional health, mental health, and moral health. I think a lot of interesting points were brought up in this unit. Looking back on it now I think the different aspects of health that it is also connected to the way we are brought up. As kids we probably have someone we look up to or are around a lot, and we imitate them. There are probably moments when each of us thinks that we just acted like our parents and get freaked out. Just the other day, my little brother repeated something I said in a way I would say it which made me realize that he was probably paying a lot of attention to me and what I do affects him in a big way. So I don’t want to say anything careless simply because I’m annoyed because he’ll probably try to imitate it. Gavin said that Emotional health and physical health were connected, because after exercising you would get endorphins and feel better. When we were running in Madison Park, we did feel happier and we were getting exercise. I thought about it and thought all of them were connected in some way.
We also studied, an animal unit. There was a time where we got more exposed to how we are like animals. When we went to Madison Park we got to play tag and which was a lot of fun. We're oftentimes cooped up during the day and I really enjoyed the break in routine and appreciated going to the park and seeing everyone have fun. The rush of adrenaline that occurs when we're on the run or chasing someone is probably similar to what animals must experience in the wild. In a way it reminded me of the game we played in school, the rabbit and the tiger, it was like a hunt in some aspects, we were the "tigers" chasing the "rabbits". Society oftentimes represses that side of us as we get older telling us we are "civilized", not animals, we sit on stools, we read books, we're different--better. The way we're taught emphasizes the mind rather than the body because that's "human" and it is yet another way for us to be separate from the animals. We forget that we have this side to us that is not based on rationality and it creates a disconnect to that side of us. Realizing that we are animals makes life more meaningful because we will be more in touch with ourselves because that is a part of ourselves.
Throughout this unit this is what we have been talking about “what does it mean to live a meaningful life?” For me it’s simple, just enjoy it. Live it in a way that you think will give you meaning because you’ll know what that is. I think that’s what all the units are related to. Being healthy physically makes us emotionally healthy since we’re happier and being emotionally healthy, is better for our mind and makes us mentally healthy as well. Knowing we’re animals’ gets us more in touch with our physical side and be less in the world of books and knowing where the different sources that our belief comes from for some may give them a sense of peace. When we do what we think is right, then we’ll be true to ourselves and our life will be more meaningful for it. For some, it may be to stop eating meat because they oppose the way the animals have been treated, for others it may be to stand up for someone, because no one stood up for them, and we do what we think will make us healthy, morally, emotionally, to live a meaningful life. In the end, we'll be the ones deciding which is which and what choice makes our life meaningful.
I think it’s meaningful to find your own way of living, even if that way of living is apart of other ways. I happen to feel that meaning is personal. For me, meaning is personal because it is something that we feel is fitting for us. Even though a lot of what we want is the same as any other person, what it means for us is different.
We talked about many different units that we thought was important to know in living a meaningful life. In the health unit we did in class, we talked about different aspects of health, which including mental, emotional, and physical. We thought it was meaningful to be healthy because it’ll help us live more meaningful lives. I think if you’re healthy, in all aspects you can enjoy life more.
In this unit we explored a lot of the different parts to what people think is meaningful. We interviewed different people on the street and asked them what they thought was a meaningful life. Kate said that family and friends are important, and this was an opinion held by many people of the people in the class as well as many of the people that we interviewed later on. I think because those people give us a purpose in being here, they're someone we share life with, and can laugh about it with when things get hard, they're someone to lean on and to have lean on us. It’s a sense that there is a reason why we are here. I also think that when people have a passion for something then they have something meaningful in their life. It’s not necessarily about the amount of money they make; it’s about how they feel doing it. Some people are passionate about their jobs and they really give it their all in it. I think that's admirable because I'm not sure what I'm passionate about yet. I think though, when you are doing something you really love, and it challenges you enough, it’ll be very meaningful.
I think we do incorporate what we see and experience into our belief systems. In our Corporate Culture many different values are shoved at us, which makes people more susceptible to their marketing because they believe it. Like the magazines we read in the Library, magazines like Glamour or Vogue focus a lot on beauty, and they try to say to women, that if you buy the products you see on the pages, you’ll become beautiful. That’s part of corporate media because they are trying to sell you their products. Even technology is focused on being updated so people always want the newest and the best, it is a status symbol, like the brand of water you buy or who you wear. Part of what Corporate Media tells you are that you can buy meaning. But I tend to agree more with the folk message, that we get from the people we come in contact with and I don’t care if its cliché but I think that you can’t buy meaning but if you enjoy life and have a passion for something then you’ll live a meaningful life because it lasts longer than a the cheap thrill of getting something new.
During the Health unit, we talked about the many different aspects of health. Being physically healthy was not all there was to it. We studied emotional health, mental health, and moral health. I think a lot of interesting points were brought up in this unit. Looking back on it now I think the different aspects of health that it is also connected to the way we are brought up. As kids we probably have someone we look up to or are around a lot, and we imitate them. There are probably moments when each of us thinks that we just acted like our parents and get freaked out. Just the other day, my little brother repeated something I said in a way I would say it which made me realize that he was probably paying a lot of attention to me and what I do affects him in a big way. So I don’t want to say anything careless simply because I’m annoyed because he’ll probably try to imitate it. Gavin said that Emotional health and physical health were connected, because after exercising you would get endorphins and feel better. When we were running in Madison Park, we did feel happier and we were getting exercise. I thought about it and thought all of them were connected in some way.
We also studied, an animal unit. There was a time where we got more exposed to how we are like animals. When we went to Madison Park we got to play tag and which was a lot of fun. We're oftentimes cooped up during the day and I really enjoyed the break in routine and appreciated going to the park and seeing everyone have fun. The rush of adrenaline that occurs when we're on the run or chasing someone is probably similar to what animals must experience in the wild. In a way it reminded me of the game we played in school, the rabbit and the tiger, it was like a hunt in some aspects, we were the "tigers" chasing the "rabbits". Society oftentimes represses that side of us as we get older telling us we are "civilized", not animals, we sit on stools, we read books, we're different--better. The way we're taught emphasizes the mind rather than the body because that's "human" and it is yet another way for us to be separate from the animals. We forget that we have this side to us that is not based on rationality and it creates a disconnect to that side of us. Realizing that we are animals makes life more meaningful because we will be more in touch with ourselves because that is a part of ourselves.
Throughout this unit this is what we have been talking about “what does it mean to live a meaningful life?” For me it’s simple, just enjoy it. Live it in a way that you think will give you meaning because you’ll know what that is. I think that’s what all the units are related to. Being healthy physically makes us emotionally healthy since we’re happier and being emotionally healthy, is better for our mind and makes us mentally healthy as well. Knowing we’re animals’ gets us more in touch with our physical side and be less in the world of books and knowing where the different sources that our belief comes from for some may give them a sense of peace. When we do what we think is right, then we’ll be true to ourselves and our life will be more meaningful for it. For some, it may be to stop eating meat because they oppose the way the animals have been treated, for others it may be to stand up for someone, because no one stood up for them, and we do what we think will make us healthy, morally, emotionally, to live a meaningful life. In the end, we'll be the ones deciding which is which and what choice makes our life meaningful.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Assignment 2- The Collapse (Revised)
I think from observing the mentality of most of my classmates and myself, that it is human nature, or the nature of people in this society to try to push things off that do not seem of immediate concern. Like this assignment for example, most of the people (so far) have not started because we tend to think the deadline is Friday, that's not that close, we can still get to it later on. This analogy is very similar to the train of thought people have with a collapse. In oil, we have been going on a decline. But because it is not imminent (or so we think) we think that it can be pushed off and dealt with later. That is why when gas prices were high; there was an onslaught of articles concerning the decline of oil production and peak oil because it was impacting America in an immediate way. When the prices fell once again, we thought that it can be pushed off, the deadline isn't that close. But like this assignment and assignments in general, the further we push it off to deal with later, the direr the situation becomes. People have to scramble and use a great deal more energy in trying to fix the problem or coming up with an alternative answer. Sometimes, it is all too late. The deadline has passed and we have written nothing and done nothing to deal with it. If this is how oil is dealt with the US will scramble for quick fixes, to keep the illusion that this is going to last forever when its not. According to Hubert, the US reached its peak in 1971, and the US and other countries have been on a decline since then.
How did we come to this situation? Fossil Fuels come from fossils and are a non renewable resource and at the rate we are exploiting it will not last for long to sustain the way we are living. Back then before we had all this technology we operated from solar energy, everything was connected to the sun. The hunter-gatherers ate plants and hunted animals that ate other animals that ate plants, the plants they ate grew from photosynthesis and the ground. We now are operating on fossil fuels. Even fossil fuels are called ancient sunlight.
When I was talking to one of my friend's friends about the collapse, they were really interested and when I told them about oil being part of the reason our society would collapse they said that I should include capitalism and that oil should just be part of the reason, which is true when you think about it. Looking at it as the big picture the reason our society operates and depends on oil the way is does is because of it being a capitalist society. Our culture is all about business and selling to the consumer. That’s why we use up so much oil because we have so many products and there is always a new product to be had. Most Americans don’t make their own products any more because things like clothing and food can be bought instead. There is also the mentality that new is better.
Knowing this, is there any way to delay the collapse or make it less bad? I think we can have more earthfriendly practices that doesn't use up any more fossil fuels than necessary. Like coming into popularity recently are clothing swaps for women, where women have a get together and swap clothes, jewerly, bags, and/or shoes (Today show) and men have been having swaps as well. People even trade services, like one woman who works as a haircutter would trade that service for something like getting her house clean by another person. Sites like freecycling lets people trade things they no longer use and these swaps are like a form of bartering and instead of using money, its with clothes or services. We can make our own things instead of buying them and using up oil for the product and start growing our own food or foraging. Will this help? There's no guarantee, but continuing the way we have, extensively using up all our resources doesn't
How did we come to this situation? Fossil Fuels come from fossils and are a non renewable resource and at the rate we are exploiting it will not last for long to sustain the way we are living. Back then before we had all this technology we operated from solar energy, everything was connected to the sun. The hunter-gatherers ate plants and hunted animals that ate other animals that ate plants, the plants they ate grew from photosynthesis and the ground. We now are operating on fossil fuels. Even fossil fuels are called ancient sunlight.
When I was talking to one of my friend's friends about the collapse, they were really interested and when I told them about oil being part of the reason our society would collapse they said that I should include capitalism and that oil should just be part of the reason, which is true when you think about it. Looking at it as the big picture the reason our society operates and depends on oil the way is does is because of it being a capitalist society. Our culture is all about business and selling to the consumer. That’s why we use up so much oil because we have so many products and there is always a new product to be had. Most Americans don’t make their own products any more because things like clothing and food can be bought instead. There is also the mentality that new is better.
Knowing this, is there any way to delay the collapse or make it less bad? I think we can have more earthfriendly practices that doesn't use up any more fossil fuels than necessary. Like coming into popularity recently are clothing swaps for women, where women have a get together and swap clothes, jewerly, bags, and/or shoes (Today show) and men have been having swaps as well. People even trade services, like one woman who works as a haircutter would trade that service for something like getting her house clean by another person. Sites like freecycling lets people trade things they no longer use and these swaps are like a form of bartering and instead of using money, its with clothes or services. We can make our own things instead of buying them and using up oil for the product and start growing our own food or foraging. Will this help? There's no guarantee, but continuing the way we have, extensively using up all our resources doesn't
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Easter Island, Collapse- Parellisms and Differences
What I found interesting was the people's surprise and lack of comprehension that the statues was able to be comprised without the machines and technology that we have come to rely on. Since machines are a fairly recent development when we take in the whole of human life on earth. After all the eygptians were able to build the great pyramids with tons of slaves a statue can work the same way.
The people of Easter Island developed agriculture and with it social ranks. Eventually over exploiting the soil and creating their own ruin. The people of Easter Island made large stately statues that weighed a few tons solely from man power. The Europeans who came did not understand how it was possible from their lack of technology. Our society is much like the system of Easter Island's. Except I think its done on a much larger scale. Having a greater amount of people and the technology to speed up the rate of which our soil is exploited as well as the discrepancies between the rich and poor. Most Americans are middle class. That of course is also one of the key differences between our two societies. I imagine that even if our agricultural system collapses we will turn to science to try to get us out of it. When we were talking about a collapse in class I imagined how it'd be. the ozone layer is depleted and we no longer have that layer of protection over us, the rate of cancer increases, we further depend on sunscreen/sunblock and that industry explodes in different markets. The markets get to advertise the benefits of different kinds of sunscreens developing more blocking agents. Afterwards, the soil is depleted as well and the agricultural system collapse like Easter's Island did when it used more trees than could be sustained on the Island. Over-farming and wanting to accumulate wealth was their downfall. Which we are in the process of doing. But there is another difference, that is they didn't really know about soil depletion or the consequences of what they were doing. Surely, they saw it by the end, when food was scarce and the island was bare of trees. But they continued what they were doing without a thought to the consequences because they didn't know what they were. We can argue that this is what the US is doing and that isn't completely true. We know what the consequences are, we just choose to ignore it. Since we are aware of this then we can choose not to repeat past mistakes. By conciously choosing to follow the same path, nothing is changed. If we continue our course we'll eventually have a collapse like the one Easter Island encountered. I find though that even if the collapse of a civilization occurs a new one will take its place, because even without a system people still exist and eventually a new system develops to replace the one that was lost. So if this one collapse like the one on Easter Island did, I reckon that either new one would take its place or a developed variation of it.
The people of Easter Island developed agriculture and with it social ranks. Eventually over exploiting the soil and creating their own ruin. The people of Easter Island made large stately statues that weighed a few tons solely from man power. The Europeans who came did not understand how it was possible from their lack of technology. Our society is much like the system of Easter Island's. Except I think its done on a much larger scale. Having a greater amount of people and the technology to speed up the rate of which our soil is exploited as well as the discrepancies between the rich and poor. Most Americans are middle class. That of course is also one of the key differences between our two societies. I imagine that even if our agricultural system collapses we will turn to science to try to get us out of it. When we were talking about a collapse in class I imagined how it'd be. the ozone layer is depleted and we no longer have that layer of protection over us, the rate of cancer increases, we further depend on sunscreen/sunblock and that industry explodes in different markets. The markets get to advertise the benefits of different kinds of sunscreens developing more blocking agents. Afterwards, the soil is depleted as well and the agricultural system collapse like Easter's Island did when it used more trees than could be sustained on the Island. Over-farming and wanting to accumulate wealth was their downfall. Which we are in the process of doing. But there is another difference, that is they didn't really know about soil depletion or the consequences of what they were doing. Surely, they saw it by the end, when food was scarce and the island was bare of trees. But they continued what they were doing without a thought to the consequences because they didn't know what they were. We can argue that this is what the US is doing and that isn't completely true. We know what the consequences are, we just choose to ignore it. Since we are aware of this then we can choose not to repeat past mistakes. By conciously choosing to follow the same path, nothing is changed. If we continue our course we'll eventually have a collapse like the one Easter Island encountered. I find though that even if the collapse of a civilization occurs a new one will take its place, because even without a system people still exist and eventually a new system develops to replace the one that was lost. So if this one collapse like the one on Easter Island did, I reckon that either new one would take its place or a developed variation of it.
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