Patrick Jones Approximately 200 Words
INTD 105-19: Science Writing
The Curb
When I looked at the parking curb separating the path and the grass behind Milne Library, I saw a clear division between the civilized and natural worlds. Cronon’s view, however, is that the division I saw is a fallacy due to the expectations society has created for what is considered natural. As Cronon himself says, “By teaching us to fetishize sublime places and wide open country, these peculiarly American ways of thinking about wilderness encourage us to adopt too high a standard for what counts as ‘nature.’”, meaning that the sublime and frontier aspects of nature has created high expectations for the wilderness that most of nature, including the grass on the other side of the curb, does not meet. I agree with Cronon’s idea about our expectation for natural and after reading “The Trouble with Wilderness”, my view of the curb as a divide has changed. I feel we’re starting to change our ways, and this curb is an example of us beginning to protect the less sublime aspects of nature.
Patrick, I’m glad Cronon’s ideas have got you thinking about this curb! I can see what you’re saying about the fact that this line between curb and grass is not actually a dividing line, and I’d like to see you think more about that. In addition, though, it seems to me that the line between curb and grass would offer new ideas to Cronon’s system that he would not have considered. I’d like you to think more about what “gap” in Cronon’s thinking this line may offer.