Response 28: "Heading Off The Trail"

“For Raglon and Scholtmeijer, the linguistic turn led to a reductive approach to writing about the natural world, one where historically situated human paradigms impose an understanding upon that which is fundamentally autonomous and independent of human existence or control…In fact a binary opposition structures this extract: language versus literature” (759).

This passage got me contemplating not so much about a binary opposition between language and literature, but kind of about a binary opposition or perhaps more accurately a power hierarchy structure between nature and humans (since they aren’t exact opposites defining them as binary may not be the right description). While nature has existed for millions of years before humans ever did, we have been successful in damaging the earth and causing the extinction of so many species of animals. I had to read a book for a biology class in high school (I forget the name), which from a scientific perspective observed that humans are the parasites of the earth. It is true enough to the extent that films that “turn the tables and show nature rebelling against human dominance” are something “we enjoy watching” and that “These days, it is not even necessary that humankind triumph in the end. We feel sufficient guilt over our relations with the environment that a victory for nature now and again is not only tolerable but welcome” (763).

In addition, going back to the human/nature power hierarchy, while humans have been able to master technology, we don’t have a way to fight against large scale natural disasters. In addition, the mention of the termite queen on 746 also got me thinking of nature/the earth and how “she is helpless to evade the consequences of her power”, and because the earth has still been able to provide resources, humans have been able to keep living (764). I also do agree with the discussion in class that while talking about and raising awareness for problems the environment is facing are important, it is also important to take proactive steps, however small they may be.