Nature In this world, there are some people who love nature, but there are still some people who misuse and destroy natural resources. Many articles have been written on those themes. Among them, Chief Seattle explains how human beings are destroying nature in his “Letter to President Pierce,” whereas Barry Lopez mentions and appreciates the good of nature in the article “Children in the Wood.” Chief Seattle is from Washington and became the chief of his native people from Dewamish and Pacific Northwest tribes in order to supervise his tribes and protect nature (Seattle 648). In contrast, since Barry Lopez is from New York City, he grew up in dense cities that made him a nature lover. In the world, people are destroying natural resources; although, they can find many useful sources from natural resources if preserved properly. Both essays “Letter to President Pierce” and “Children in the Wood” elaborate the benefits of preserving natural resources for the human kind because Seattle mentions possible adverse …show more content…
Some good similarities between both essays include that both authors are naturalist writer and both authors show their love the nature. In addition, there are also some difference between from this two articles. For example, both articles are written in different styles. “Children in the Woods” is written in narrative style and “Letter to President Pierce” is written in speech style. In addition, both articles are published at different time. “Children in the Wood” was published at 1980 and “Letter to President Pierce” was published at 1855. Author Barry Lopez wrote these articles “Children in the Wood” to public people to show some importance and beneficial about natural resource. In contrast, Author Chief Seattle wrote the article “Letter to President Pierce, 1855” to the chief executive of the United
In writing this letter to Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Banneker, clearly and precisely uses numerous rhetorical strategies to establish his point that the immoral, unlawful and horrid institution of slavery should be abolished in the thirteen colonies of America. Centered on the argument against slavery Benjamin Banneker uses a passive-aggressive, informal, and specific tone throughout the entire letter. His belief that if he can sway Jefferson first, and then the government of the abomination that is slavery, then there is a chance that it may finally be terminated in America. To do this and to truly persuade Jefferson, Banneker demonstrates an immense amount of rhetorical strategies such as analogy, comparison and contrast, hyperbole, allusion,
In Mark Fiege’s book “The Republic of Nature,” the author embarks on an elaborate, yet eloquent quest to chronicle pivotal points in American history from an environmental perspective. This scholarly work composed by Fiege details the environmental perspective of American history by focusing on nine key moments showing how nature is very much entrenched in the fibers that manifested this great nation. The author sheds light on the forces that shape the lands of America and humanities desire to master and manipulate nature, while the human individual experience is dictated by the cycles that govern nature. The story of the human experience unfolds in Mark Fiege’s book through history’s actors and their challenges amongst an array of environmental possibilities, which led to nature being the deciding factor on how
Cronon, William “The Trouble with Wilderness; or, Getting Back to the Wrong Nature” ed., Uncommon Ground: Rethinking the Human Place in Nature, New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1995, 69-90
In “From Notes on the State of Virginia,” Thomas Jefferson includes some proposed alterations to the Virginia Laws and discusses some differences between blacks and whites. First, he describes one of the proposed revisions regarding slavery: All slaves born after the enactment of the alteration will be freed; they will live with their parents till a certain age, then be nurtured at public disbursement and sent out of state to form their own colonies such that intermarrying and conflicts can be avoided between blacks and whites. Next, Jefferson indicates some physical differences between blacks and whites, including skin color, hair, amount of exudates secreted by kidneys and glands, level of transpiration, structure in the pulmonary organ, amount of sleep, and calmness when facing dangers. As he notes, these differences point out that blacks are inferior to whites in terms of their bodies. In addition, Jefferson also asserts that the blacks’ reasoning and imagination are much inferior to the whites’ after he observes some of the art work and writings from the blacks. As a result, based on his observation, he draws a conclusion that whites are superior to blacks in terms of both body and mind. However, Jefferson’s use of hasty generalization, begging the question, and insulting language in his analysis is a huge flaw which ruins the credibility of his argument and offenses his readers.
From the lone hiker on the Appalachian Trail to the environmental lobby groups in Washington D.C., nature evokes strong feelings in each and every one of us. We often struggle with and are ultimately shaped by our relationship with nature. The relationship we forge with nature reflects our fundamental beliefs about ourselves and the world around us. The works of timeless authors, including Henry David Thoreau and Annie Dillard, are centered around their relationship to nature.
It is generally agreed that modern environmentalism begins with ‘A Fable for Tomorrow’, the first chapter in Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962). The fairytale-like opening to the book begins with the words, ‘There was once a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings’, painting a classic pastoral picture where she describes civilization far from modern ills coexisting with nature yet away from the perceived danger of the wild. However pastoral peace swiftly gives way to destruction- 'Then a strange blight crept over the area and everything began to change. Some evil spell had settled on the community: mysterious maladies swept the flocks of chickens; the cattle and sheep
Douglas considered the United States to be “nature’s nation” (Sowards 170), with so much depending on its abundant land and its wilderness, the preservation of which is the responsibility of those who have a “meaningful relation” (Douglas 356) to them. This is a key idea in his conservation politics (Douglas was fighting for public access to decision-making throughout his career) that also supported the belief that the American system at the time was favorable to the interests of the industry rather than the public interest. Even “"public interest" has so many differing shades of meaning as to be quite meaningless on the environmental front” (Douglas 375) he claims; thus he gives the impression that authorities responsible for public well-being often confuse their personal interest with what is communally beneficial. This suggests that even spokesmen in favor of the inanimate objects might actually be manipulated by agencies who care to promote industrial sort of interests. (One such interest was the building of a ski resort in Mineral King which Douglas’ dissent cared to obstruct.) It is those injustices that Douglas tries to eliminate by supporting the idea that nature should be granted legal personhood, in a similar way to Walker’s attempting to awaken environmental
“Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening”, by Robert Frost and “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe are very different but yet similar in some ways, for instance how they took life situations and turned them into poems was very different and similar. The tone of both poems was different. They both had a similarity in meaning. The biggest difference and similarity was the two poems themes. Robert Frost and Edgar Allen Poe just two men
A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold is a detailed primary source that offers the reader an extensive viewpoint on the relationship between humans and nature. Aldo Leopold’s desire in his thesis is to present his infamous theory on Land Ethics, which states the preservationist viewpoint about the obligation humans have of protecting the land in which they inhabit. Specifically, Leopold makes an observation about the harm of recreational activities and the impact of human nature that he wants his readers to note. Even though the relationship between humans and nature has been conjoining, society continues to do more harm than it does good. While nature works with humans in order to survive, humans attempt to dominate what they can control and
William Cronon’s “The Trouble With Wilderness” signifies the separation between ourselves and nature and also displays it through the distant and remoteness of its location, which also reminds us that we our a part of this nature, even though we are active in civilized society. We also forget that one of the fundamental tenets of environmentalism is the holiness of the wilderness. Through William Cronon’s introduction, we can garner that there is danger lurking in the idea of wilderness, the habitat is undisturbed, left alone by civilization. The foundation of this perspective is derived from a human notion, however, it is the most recent display of society's developing interaction with the wilderness. Hundreds of years ago, humanity's perspective
Leopold’s view is a glorified dream at best. While most people do acknowledge the need for some type of ecological consciousness, the one illustrated by Leopold is far from probable. Today’s society is overrun with the desire for speed and convenience, and driven by competition. Asking the busy world to stop, step backward, and work the concerns for such things as soil, rocks, or oak trees into its contracts and agreements is a foolish notion. It has come to be that to most individuals, the sight of a city skyline that is bustling with business and life is just as pristine as the sight of a natural forest.
In A Conservationist Manifesto, Scott Russell Sanders discusses his beliefs on how one can live a more satisfying and enjoyable life. More specifically, Sanders explains how this lifestyle is a more beneficial way of living by improving America’s problems of consuming, building a sense of community, helping the environment and appreciating nature. He argues that settling roots in a community and becoming involved are essential to living a pleasurable life. The best way to live out your days in Sander’s view is to absorb the natural spaces by using them as a way to relax rather than replacing the area with concrete buildings. His intentions are to persuade the reader and hopefully change their way of living to resemble a more humble existence like himself. Sanders has ambitious goals and provides favorable cases
Throughout history in North America, the indigenous peoples culture, tradition and religion have always differed from the western way of life. In this essay, I will explore three views of nature-indigenous people’s view of nature, western science view and the economist view. Second, I will take a look out how a more ecocentric view can be formed by amalgamating western science with traditional ecological view of nature. I believe that understanding why conservation of our natural resources is important will go a long way in helping us understand why our individual action affects the ecosystem.
Though Leopold’s “Thinking Like a Mountain” was published over a half century ago, his message stands the test of time. Now, at this critical period of environmental fluctuation, humans have no decision other than to alter the way in which we interact with the Earth. The process of thinking like a mountain simply asks society to take a step back and think ecologically. By distancing ourselves from the self-centered perspective we currently operate under and adopting a social atmosphere that allows the environment to prosper free from our oppressive tendencies we ensure a habitable future for the next generations. For as Thoreau dictum states- In wilderness is the salvation of the world.
Oldenburg, R. (1989). A forest of voices: Conversations in ecology. In C. Anderson & L. runciman (Eds.), The problem of place in America (pp. 94-109). Mountain View: Mayfield.