Green World Sherman Alexie Analysis
In the text “Green World” by Sherman Alexie, windmills were built outside of a small town on a Native American reservation. The windmills were responsible for killing birds and the tribe hired a man to go out to the twelve windmills and pick up the mangled bodies of the birds. At first, the man could not complete his job without being physically sick at the sight of the disfigured bodies, but as the job progresses, the man becomes desensitized to the situation. One day, an elderly Native American man approaches the windmills and threatens the man with his shotgun. The elderly man winds up shooting one of the windmills in an attempt to purge his anger at the destruction the windmills have caused. The author ends the text with the man kneeling in prayer. In “Green World,” I
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When people join the “green” community, are they truly worried about the conservation of the earth or are they trying to fulfill their need to make themselves feel better about themselves through a charitable act? Some people may feel that if they “go green” in one way, like buying energy efficient light bulbs, that they can justify it within themselves to turn around and not “go green” in other areas, like throwing away recyclables because in the end the two acts will balance each other out on the pollution scale. It is like people are using the excuse of safeguarding the environment to purchase their moral superiority against others because they are working to save the environment by buying energy efficient light bulbs even though they have helped to worsen the situation by throwing away recyclables. “Going green” has been turned into a status symbol and is growing into a fad. However, what is going to happen to the environment once the fad fades away? Some people will step up, but there might not be enough to keep up with the damages that others are
When people join the “green” community, are they truly worried about the conservation of the earth or are they trying to fulfill their need to make themselves feel better about themselves through a charitable act? Some people may feel that if they “go green” in one way, like buying energy efficient light bulbs, that they can justify it within themselves to turn around and not “go green” in other areas, like throwing away recyclables because in the end the two acts will balance each other out on the pollution scale. It is like people are using the excuse of safeguarding the environment to purchase their moral superiority against others because they are working to save the environment by buying energy efficient light bulbs even though they have helped to worsen the situation by throwing away recyclables. “Going green” has been turned into a status symbol and is growing into a fad. However, what is going to happen to the environment once the fad fades away? Some people will step up, but there might not be enough to keep up with the damages that others are