Thursday, November 13, 2008
Moving Violations
Gravity affects us all. It does not discriminate based on age, gender, race, or morality. We are all bound by its power and can do nothing to reverse it, so it is with the world. In John Huckenberry's memoir Moving Violations, he sees how the unstoppable forces of life afflict all people, and they cannot be resisted by an individual or by a nation. Hockenberry is an American journalist whose legs were paralyzed at the age of nineteen in a tragic car accident. When he recalls the incident in his book, he remembers the feeling of weakness and helplessness as was being thrown by gravity in a speeding metal machine and off the road. He compares the will of nature to wolves: "The wolves in my imagination didn't care if I was a good boy or about any of the other little-kid cliffhangers of grades and chores and the judgments of grown-ups. A wolf would presumably find me just as nutritious if I said my please's and thank you's as if I had omitted them" (19). Basically, he is saying that nothing about who he was or what he did could've prevented him from being in the accident. Not only does gravity overpower people as individuals but also as a nation. The book opens with Hockenberry in the Middle East among the Kurdish refugees, and one of the Kurds after learning of his disability demands, "'They send you to us. You who cannot stand? You are American, what is America now? Why are you here?' ...To him my presence was an unsightly metaphor of America itself: able to arrive but unable to stand" (7). He and the refugee both recognize that as much as America would love to think that they are in control of the problems plaguing people all over the world, there are places their arms simply can't reach. The power of gravity will always surpass them. Throughout history, man has always tried to conquor the universe. They experiment with new philosophies, innovations, and lifestyles, but mankind will never have complete control. We are all at the mercy of the power of gravity.
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4 comments:
This book sounds like an interesting book. It is true that humans always try to surpass the universe by trying to understand it more and trying to find ways to beat it. However, by doing this, we start disrespecting it and when the power of it hits us back, we don't even know what hit us. Most of us don't learn to respect the power of gravity until we are dealt with such a power. He also tells us that we are unable to change what happens in our lives because of the unstoppable forces. This is true because no matter what humans try to do, we will always be hit with new problems. A nation can try to stop a problem, but in the long run, the problem will overrun them. Most nations may think they are strong, but they are not if compared to power of gravity. To end, I believe that John Huckenberry's memoir, Moving Violations proves to be an interesting book since it talks about some of the forces of life that are unsurpassed.
I find this post very interesting. There is much truth to many of the things you and the author write about. I completely agree that man will, by whatever means possible, try to conquer the universe. This will not be possible. Yes, in the past man has done some pretty remarkable things like space travel and exploration. However, the universe is a force too strong for any one civilization (because there may be other forms of life out there)to conquer and because of this, it will never happen and we will always have to act in accordance with the universe.
Narah!
This sounds like an interesting book that explores prejudice and other touchy subjects. I really like the quotes you used, they added a lot of meaning to what you were explaining. Although I'm a little confused why he's in the Middle East. I think another point that might go well with the Huckenberry's arguement is, that we are all human, and humans all have the same properties in the universe.
This book sounds interesting. There are many truths that the author has said. For example the truth about humans trying to control the universe. Every time we try to control it, we just end up hurting ourselves. I think John Huckenberry's memoir is truthful and he has found the truths that not everyone sees.
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