Cooper V. Anderson: The Sex Tape Casejared Walker

Cooper v. Anderson: The Sex Tape CaseJared Walker

Science in the future

Refuge/ Civil Disobedience Review

What is Right?

In Terry Williams' book Refuge and David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience essays; readers were challenged to read between the lines and fully grasp the world around them. Thoreau's argument demonstrated the results of conflict is between an individual's morality and among government, hierarchies or institutions. Williams' piece also dealt with morality, but more so man's positive/negative impacts on nature. It seemed quite clear responsibility was the overarching theme within both of the readings. They review the responsibility of man within his government, society, belief systems, and nature when responsibility is absent. They further explore impacts can one expect to occur in both institutions and in nature.

Terry Williams presented several themes throughout the book. Among these particularly addressed were the issue of responsibility and the effects when it is/isn't present. The first of which was the divide between man and his lack of intimacy for nature. This theme can be seen all throughout the book anytime when Williams speaks about the bird refuge. One particular example is when she sees construction workers completely disregarding animals, even when they are on the brink of extinction. She goes on to say men have not only lost their connection with nature, but they simply lack intimacy for it, "The swallows tirelessly fly to the mudflats on the edge of the pond, load up their bills, return to the construction site, vibrate their heads as they pour the mud onto the nest (pg 144)." For one reason or another, women are blessed with characteristics that enable to be understanding and become one with nature intimately, "Many men have forgotten what they are connected to," my friend added. "Subjugation of women and nature may be a loss of intimacy within themselves (Williams pg10)." Her conclusion from this is that men are unable to appreciate nature as women, and therefore will ruin it simply for self-gain. Williams affirms that men have a conceived notion that they're unsatisfied and have to "fix" their environment to suit their particular needs. This goes back to the government active attempt to control water levels of the Great Salt lake by means of pumping (pg 157). By the government performing such things, it forced the birds out their natural habitat and migrate elsewhere. Williams describe the birds as almost being refugees in their own right, after being forced away from their "home (pg 122)."

The last point concerning nature Williams discussed was on the balance and power of it. Williams was indeed a wholehearted naturalist, so to her everything in nature should being happening and occurring in a natural way. To Williams, the world must work in balance; but when that balance loses its equilibrium, undesirable things that otherwise wouldn't have happened often do. After Williams mother was diagnosed with cancer, she assumed it was due to the unsafe factory protocols at the time. I believe the point Williams was trying to make by telling the story of her mother, was indeed that the factory's negligence not only affected her mother, but her entire family. This was one of the consequences she feared when man decides to take things into his own hands and interrupt the balance of nature. As though initial problem wasn't enough, because of man's intervention she was forced to face yet another difficult decision. That decision very well may have contradicted her entire position on the balance of nature. The cognitive dissonance occurred because she believed her mother's cancer was caused unnaturally. As a result she was torn between treating her through chemotherapy versus simply letting nature run it's course. How should a naturalist like Williams respond to such a issue? In some cases, Williams pointed out that man, even naturalist, intervened with nature when they felt it was the only option left to save it. However, she affirms the power nature will almost surmount that of man and therefore we cannot "win" against it. Williams felt because the illness was "unnatural" then it was only "natural" to intervene, yet her mother felt as if her life was lived to the fullest and didn't want therapy.

Terry William's presented a number of themes throughout the book, but I felt these really demonstrated the positive and negative effects man has on nature whether he decides to intervene or waits to see what come from it. I believe Williams overall message in the book was one's search from some sort of refuge. We all try to live our lives in light of our beliefs whether they be religious or a personal standard. However, the actions we take in spite on these beliefs may at times be interrupted through natural or unnatural occurrences. These shortcomings can and most likely will take a serious toll on a individual unless they are able to retreat to something that allows them to recollect themselves. For Williams, at first her refuge seemed to be the birds and all of nature. Later on she understands that her refuge actually lies in her capacity to love; a refuge that can never be taken away from her.

Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience was a collection of essays that were written to enlighten readers about their role and loyalty not only in society, but to themselves. Thoreau's primary argument throughout the essays seemed to consist of two things: government power and morality. Should an individual