Summary
The text talks about how people cannot live without taking the lives of other beings and benefitting from the resources humans receive from them. Throughout the work, Leschak ponders about survival, the consequences of humanity’s actions and a so-called “existence tax”. Meanwhile, the author reviews the sense of supremacy human beings have as a biological species. This leads him to debate how people tend to feel superior to other creatures while the latter does not acknowledge it. Moreover, Peter then discusses how in spite of said sense of superiority, humans are reluctant to acknowledge individual responsibility. To prove his point, he uses individual inaction during COVID and denying the responsibility for cases like mass extinction as examples. Leschak expands on the topic of inaction even further, acknowledging the various justifications people use to pardon it. The text is then concluded with the writer’s dislike of having to kill to live, knowing that he may just gaze at the white pine or cut it down with a saw. The last sentence raises an open question as to whether humanity deserves COVID vaccines. (182 words)
Analysis of a quote
The depiction of the forest features this line: “One is rooted next to the trail and here I often pause to offer my respect” (3). The quote depicts the location of an old pine in the forest, where the author stops to respect it. In the context of the article, Peter emphasizes the value of nature and how valuable it is. Nature has a strong impact on humanity’s lives and the ways in which it can support its prosperity or lead to its demise are numerous. Leschak mentions the pines to demonstrate how easily one can either leave the world unharmed or cause damage to it with just one action. I think the author wanted to praise nature’s beauty and majestic essence, thus discussing how humans can be both superior and inferior to it. He is mesmerized by the beauty of the forest and the age of the trees. That way, Peter accentuates the commonly underestimated superiority of nature. (161 words)
Connections
While I do think that the discussion of whether humans deserve the things they want is rather complicated, I do relate to some of Leschak’s points. I agree that the beauty and might of nature are commonly underestimated due to humanity’s sense of superiority. Sometimes, I enjoy looking at the beautiful scenery surrounding me, regardless of the seasons. Just pausing for a moment and understanding how minuscule I am compared to a large forest is an indescribable but special experience. It really makes one question whether humans are as perfect as we think we are and whether there are things that are more powerful than us. (106 words)
Evaluation
I think that the text has revealed many interesting topics for discussion. What I appreciate about the way Peter presents his opinions is that he uses vivid comparisons and reasonable examples to accentuate the role humanity plays in the world. Meanwhile, he criticizes people’s sense of superiority and how they are reluctant to face individual accountability. What I dislike about the way Leschak presents his viewpoint is that he sometimes seems to lack a sense of compromise when discussing rather valid concerns for people not wanting to take responsibility for their actions. I believe a person should have a more flexible mindset when discussing such complex issues, which is why I did not appreciate this harsh criticism. In conclusion, this text makes me realize how people underestimate the value of nature and the consequences of their actions that may come back to haunt them. (146 words)
Work Cited
Leschak, Peter M. “Making Ourselves Worthy of Our Vaccine.” Star Tribune. 2021.