Journal 4 by Mason

1.      For the First Essay I chose to talk about point number 10. I think this really speaks to me more then any of the others. He says "We had accepted uncritically the belief that technology is only good; that it cannot serve evil as well as good." (Berry) I find this very true. I think most people do not understand that there is just as much evil then there is good when it comes to technology. Many people especially in the United States takes this for granite. I myself do, when we think of all the amazing things that have came with technology we do not think about all the evil. We think of cell phones and computers, not guns and bombs. Everything comes with its price and hopefully we don't regret ours.

2.     There are many concepts that seem very fitting to talk about. He talks about how religion effects the economy and how people think politicians can fix everything. He then goes on to explain that they really can't and all they are are greedy people that don't truly care about the life after them.  I find his writing the best on page 16 in his book though. The second to last paragraph it says "And so we have before us the spectacle of unprecedented "prosperity" and "economic growth" in a land of degraded farms, forests, ecosystems, and watersheds, polluted air, failing families, and perishing communities." (16) To me this is very powerful. He is saying that we are giving up Nature, Family, and Communities so that one or two people can make a ton of money. I think Nature is one of the most important things in this world. Without it we wouldn't babel to truly live, and we are giving Nature up every single day of our lives just for money that when you die will mean nothing. But Nature will always mean something not only to you and I but to our kids and our kids kids.

3.     A word that I thought I should know but didn't was Oligarchy. Oligarchy means "A small group of people having control of a country. This word was important because Berry said "Communism and "Free Market" capitalism both are modern versions of Oligarchy". (15) This is important to know so I can understand what his point is and what he is trying to say.

4.     Are we really giving up nature for another dollar? This link is a perfect example of one way we are doing it. http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/threats-to-wildlife/invasive-species.aspx.