From Terry Tempest Williams--

It is morning. I am mourning.
And the river is before me.

I am a writer without words who is struggling to find them.

I am holding the balm of beauty, this river, this desert, so vulnerable, all of us.

I am trying to shape my despair into some form of action, but for now, I am standing on the cold edge of grief.

We are staring at a belligerent rejection of change by our fellow Americans who believe they have voted for change.

The seismic shock of a new political landscape is settling.

Last class and the  electtion results both sent me into a downward spiral of emotions. I began my position in the childbearing discussion with this qute from Richard Wright's 12 Million Black Voices: The American Negro,  His History and Literature  

"Altways our deepest love is toward those children of our who turn their backs upon our way  of life, for our instincts tells us that those brave ones who struggle against the death are ones who bring new life into the world, even though they die to do so, even though our hearts broke when they do" 

[as described by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, in her novel Americanah, 2013, pp. 360-361]:
It felt to her like a bereavement, that she could not vote. Her application for citizenship had been approved but the oath-taking was still weeks away.....
soon they were all seated, on the couch and the dining chairs, eyes on the television.....A graphic flashed on the television screen...and the living room became an altar of disbelieving joy.
Her phone beeped with a text from [her nephew] Dike.
I can't believe it. My president is black like me. She read the text a few times, her eyes filling with tears.

"the Negro is…born with a veil, and gifted with second-sight in this American world,—a world which yields him no true self-consciousness, but only lets him see himself through the revelation of the other world. It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others, of measuring one's soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels his two-ness,—an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder. The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife--this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self.

I want to say that Oreskes and Conway's tale was a powerful warning- but I'm afraid its already more than that. Because, like they say, we do know- but the radical change which might help doesn't seem to be anywhere in sight. The article, as well as the yesterday's election has made me rethink what I said in class, disparaging the usefulness of protest in "All Over Creation". Climate change isn't caused by the actions of individuals, but as Oreskes and Conway acknowledge by societies as a whole. Recycling or changing our consumption patterns isn't enough, the use of fossil fuels is integrated into every aspect of our lives and it would take government policies and funding to fight.

Ugh, how fitting.

Right now I am thinking about how long four years actually is. On the geologic scale, which is sometimes relevant to the scale of climate change, four years is nothing. But this book reminds us that four years is everthing if it means the difference between ramping up carbon emissions and cracking down on climate changes. According to the book, we as a leading nation had a couple last chances to get serious about the environment, and we just didn't. I can't imagine a climate change-denying leader disproving this story line and I'm scared that soon it will be too late.

Upon reading Collapse of Western Civilization I am more fearful for our nation. Despite knowing that we have these problems we can’t solve them. There are many errors that attribute to these points but there are no short term solutions for goals. The issue is too large. Even when broken up into different problems its harder to find a solution. Also, countries continue to emit harmful emissions into the environment despite promising and being part of an agreement to limit that substance. Earning a profit is the priority. Many countries are so absorbed with money and the world will end because of that. Reading the effects in the future is a wake up call but at the same time these events are inevitable because it is so hard for people and businesses to change their ways. 

This book was a less subtle reminder that our environment and its resources will not last forever and that without humans doing their part, we will continue to hurt nature. Compared to All Over Creation, The Collapse of Western Civilization is very direct about issues regarding the environment. I think the setting of the book really allows for some reflection because it is possible to see what we in 2016 did to cause this outcome. It was disheartening to read after watching the election last night. 

First I just wanted to say how ironic the title is as to what is going on the United States right now. Instead of focusing on the political side the book focuses on the environment, and how that is negatively effecting Western Civilization. Now that there is scientific evidence that the planet is deteriorating, people are still indenial for what is actually happening. Instead of actually doing something to make a difference, they sit on the sidelines because they do not truly understand the importance of protecting the enivronment. Once the environment gets even worse, than they will wish they can go back and help.