Journal 10:Amanda Gifford

The essays In the Presence of Fear were eye opening in bringing attention to what we have normalized in our society. One of the points I agree with is number seventeen in the essay Thoughts in the Presence of Fear. Most of our representatives in the House of Representatives and Senate are of the Elite class. Their collective voices in the divided majorities determine what happens in our common lives. “Since September 11, far too many public voices have presumed to “speak for us” in saying that Americans will gladly accept a reduction of freedom in exchange for greater “security”. Some would, maybe. But some others would accept a reduction in security (and in global trade) far more willingly than would accept any abridgement of our Constitutional rights”(pg.6). Upon reading this, I automatically thought of the tragic event of the Parkland shooting. Of how the students are having their rights limited such as being made to carry a clear backpack. The current media frenzy of gun owners being upset by the students protests for stricter gun reform laws. These issues have been highlighted in the media more than the trade restrictions between the US and China. This highlights our American pride in our Constitutional rights more than our economic international standing. I feel this is imperative to the uninformed consumers of buying without second guessing what the purchase impacts.
After reading The Idea of a Local Economy, I have more questions on what is hidden from the consumer. “I assume that the first thought may be a recognition of one’s ignorance and vulnerability as a consumer in the total economy. As such a consumer, one does not know the history of the products that one uses. Where, exactly, did they come from? Who produced them? What toxins were used in their production? What were the human and ecological costs of producing them and then of disposing of them? One sees that such questions cannot be answered easily, and perhaps not at all”(pg.29). I find this concerning as we have just normalized the drive to consume products without really processing through its production method. I’m guilty of being apart of this normalized consuming. Due to a recent development of a metal allergy in 2016 it was informative to learn what the irritants were comprised of.  From furniture and clothes to foods such as broccoli, coffee, chocolate the list goes on. It makes one aware of what they’re consuming how it might have been grown, and what resides in the soil that grows our food. It also raises question to what body issues could develop from these toxins that we’re exposed to. Being aware helps us to make conscious choices that make a small difference in our lifestyles and possibly improvements for communities and individuals.
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