Knowing When To Let Go

          The theme of this week's reading revolves around rejecting common practices and ideas. Writers like Kincaid, Raymo, and Wilson use their literary skills to escape from conventional thinking in today's society.
          In "On Seeing England for the First Time", Jamaica Kincaid contemplates her childhood home and its constant infatuation with English tradition. She admits to being initially awestruck with the sophisticated, exotic country when she claims "We understood then...that England was meant to be our source of myth, and the source from which we got our sense of reality" (Paragraph 1, 23-26). Kincaid was hypnotized by the power and wonder England exuded because English culture was infused entirely into her up-bringing. Later, she acknowledges harboring resentment toward England as its impositions overwhelmed Antigua's culture. This piece emphasizes Kincaid's ability to realize the detrimental effect of English legacy and to disassociate herself from its captivating imperiousness.
          Likewise, in Raymo's "Measure of Restraint", the author conveys his vehement disgust of genetic manipulation, a monumental breakthrough in science that many approve of. While Raymo concedes that gene engineering has the potential to save several people, he insists the overall effect will cause more harm than help. Instead of appreciating the quick benefits of the process, Raymo agitates over the long-lasting effect of how "a gene is potentially immortal" (Paragraph 10, 20). His conviction that humans must stop meddling with nature links to his belief that they should relinquish scientific control and understand their limitations.
          E.O. Wilson is yet another writer who advocates sacrificing tradition. He penned two journal entries that capture the stereotypical cognition processes of environmentalists and those who oppose them.  The satire-laden first piece suggests leaving endagered land to its rightful owner, therefore hinting to environmentalists to refrain from typical conservation. By doing this, Wilson is able to mockingly resist normal ways to deal with environmental issues, and provide a different option that could still potentially be useful. He attempts to dissuade the tendency to clutch at power obsessively, so he can express to environmentalists that backing down can lead to good.
          In this way, these authors stress the importance of letting go of well-defined notions and creating fresh opinions that enhance independent thinking, untouched by familiar establishments.