Article Review

Change – the only permanent thing in life they say. People, things, and circumstances change. It may be for the better or for the worst but still change is the only thing constant. Everything changes, from a single person to a populated country. However, most of the time, people seek change for the betterment of the majority. And the change that will take place will eventually affect one way or the other. Change is a way for development and development plays a major role in competing in a fast changing global setting.

When Anna Quindlen said her statement “It’s about changing the way we all live now.”, she means one thing: renewal. American life was fast paced; everyone is busy making their lives the best possible, accumulating wealth, getting more, and more, and even more. It is all based on material needs on the expense of other things. I must admit that I myself stick to that idea. But, I would agree to her idea that everyone need to transform. In reality, people are too busy preparing for their life and for their future. They spent almost half of their lifetime to settle on things that can make their life comfortable. Then, here comes tragedy. This is only the time when they realize that they are neglecting something. With the emergence of natural disasters inflicting human lives, people operationally think who is to blame and what was the cause of the problem?

Then, Quindlen wanted to reiterate the balance of man and Mother Nature. Nature was the greatest provider of the humanity. With the advent of globalization and modernization, people place Mother Earth at stake. Nature was originally helpful and pristine but with the emerging concept of progress, it desecrated and downgraded by industrial and commercial development. It is not bad to dream of development but it is always best to think for the possible end-product or circumstances of our human actions. "Man…cannot rise to the full development of his higher properties unless brute and unconscious nature be effectually combated, and in a great degree, vanquished by human art." We need to change and consider that every single thing never last. I was struck with the line: “…when we do high-stakes battle with Mother Nature, Mother takes all?” This is the question and at the same time a statement to be considered for the existing situation of the whole world. When she said we need to change, she is envisioning the future of the Mother Nature. There is a strong sense of negation on environmental abuse and excessive utilization of the gifts of nature. She is afraid that natural destructive forces like the Hurricane Katrina will once again inflict suffering to the lives of every person. The consequences brought out by natural calamities are connected with the abuse of man to nature. Quindlen was absolutely right. We need to change the way we live. Now, we give importance to the biological needs of everyone. Besides, we only have a common place to live in – Mother Earth. If we mess with Mother, we will be despised. I suppose, we need to get back to where we started.

John C. Sawhill, the late president of Nature Conservancy once said: "In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we have created, but also by what we have refused to destroy." Indeed, a fact. With the contemporary American consumption, people risk other things in exchange to some other things. Lifestyle statistic shows "Americans have apparently run out of room, even though the average house now has 2,330 square feet, up 55 percent from 1970...The insatiable race for space is fueling a $15 billion self-storage industry that dwarfs Hollywood's annual $9 billion." To supplement, the facts presented in the article is significant. “Easy credit. Fast food. A straight shot down the interstate from point A to point B. The endless highway is crowded with the kinds of cars large enough to take a mountain pass in high snow. Instead they are used to take children from soccer practice to Pizza Hut. In the process they burn fuel like there's no tomorrow.” These alone are evidences of excessive American consumption. American people spend a lot of resources in order to live the life they wanted. Based on my personal observation, the overall culture shows that when people have the money, it is natural to consume more. But in the end, they are the one put into hazard.

Quindlen objects American “consumption”. She firmly believes that American “consumption” is excessive and to the expense of Mother nature. Quindlen perception was based in her environmentalist or natural perspective. She put emphasis on the aspect of environmental factors because she believes that the Mother Nature plays the biggest factor in human existence. Regardless of some aspects of human life, Quindlen reflect on the role of nature to the life of every person. The excessive usage and mass consumption of Americans brings deteriorating effect to natural resources. The effects of development to nature are just a part of a larger counter story of the lost of an evolved, earthly abundance and human equality. She wanted people to be aware and caring to the gifts of nature. However, I suppose that the extent of my agreement to Quindlen’s idea was ambivalent because I believe that at any given point in time, development goes hand in hand with the inevitable change. It might not be always that good for the majority but the consequences are unavoidable. "Man, should become a co-worker with nature in the reconstruction of the damaged fabric." Humanity could cooperate with nature to repair the human damage and restore the lost harmonies. Human consumption is necessary but excessive consumption is no longer good for everybody. Will people wait the moment in which the world will suffer another great scarcity of resources and hunger?

References

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Quindlen, A. (2005 September 19). “Don’t Mess with Mother”.