Comments by The Honourable Jack Goebel Most recent public comments by The Honourable Jack Goebel https://nowcomment.com/users/130451 Needed https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964599 https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964599 These campaigns to promote egalitarianism feel a little disingenuous. I think that these companies are just pandering to the societal attitudes at the time instead of promulgating morally correct messages out of intrinsic motivation. Mon, 05 Dec 2022 22:00:19 -0500 Moral ambiguity https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964592 https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964592 This situation does not satisfy any aspect of the categorical imperative. Therefore, Dana is in a situation where her existence is reliant upon the execution of a morally depraved task. I wonder if committing this task is inherently self-serving. Fri, 02 Dec 2022 13:12:05 -0500 Spoiler https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964585 https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964585 Just a little discretion is advised here. DONT READ ITS A HUGE SPOILER!!! Fri, 02 Dec 2022 13:09:26 -0500 Networks of Kin https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964582 https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964582 The author here introduces an interesting concept - networks of kin. Kin can be interpreted beyond biological relation in Kindred. For example, Kevin and Dana can be related through epochal networks of kin, but they differ in their racial network of kin. Therefore, a conflict between familiarization and opposition takes place. Dana and the other slaves share a racial network of kin, but their epochal differences present more complex conflicts. Dana and the Weylands' also share educational networks of kin, but obvious racial and hierarchical differences persist. Each relationship is magnified under a duality of kinmanship and stark constrast. Fri, 02 Dec 2022 13:08:22 -0500 Parallelism https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964571 https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964571 I find it interesting in how Butler used these communal ties to shape the heroine, Dana. Outside of educational superiority and literacy, Dana brings more progressive societal ideals back with her to the past. This allows for a more complex and nuanced relationship between historical and contemporary characters. Fri, 02 Dec 2022 13:03:53 -0500 Willful Ignorance https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964561 https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964561 It is convenient for white people to willfully ignore past abuses in the light of uplifting modern-day successes. The abhorrent actions of the past have stained white history, and have the capability of ruining eurocentric history. But beyond this embarrassment, willful ignorance is exercised to keep African-Americans out of power. By pointing out the seemingly egalitarian nature of today's society, white people can use tropes like "not working hard" or "innate stupidity" as arguments for contemporary black plight. Of course, this is not the case. Rather, it is that forgotten history that puts racial minorities at a present-day disadvantage. Fri, 02 Dec 2022 13:00:25 -0500 Discernable institutional power https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964547 https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964547 This concept of "discernable institutional power" is interesting. It begs the question: How have marginalized communities developed our contemporary societal framework? How do the losses and legacies of slavery permeate our lives today? To what degree have African-Americans influenced popular culture? Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:55:16 -0500 I find this linkage of commercial culture and historical culture to be profound. Perhaps the materialistic culture of 1970s provides a distraction from the historical hierarchies that still subliminally constitute this society. It is hard to explain this https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964539 https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964539 thought, but throughout history, fleeting distractions have prevented societies from seeing abuse. Fri, 02 Dec 2022 13:07:13 -0500 I continue to find it interesting to see how Butler links two incredibly disparate disciplines: science fiction and history. In history, there is no room for misconstruing history, unlike science fiction. But with a literary background as developed as https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964531 https://nowcomment.com/documents/335213?scroll_to=2964531 Butler's, these two disciplines are able to harmoniously blend together. Fri, 02 Dec 2022 13:20:36 -0500 I'd be interested to read this poem and see if any significant similarities appear. https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956731 https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956731 Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:39:02 -0500 Exactly what I thought. https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956729 https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956729 I completely agree with this connection, and I highlighted a similar comparison in my response. But also, to a child, I would suggest that the outstretched arms of a mother also appear interminable to a young child. Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:39:02 -0500 I agree. https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956716 https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956716 I agree in the sense that this poem serves as a call to action, and uses the mistakes of Hurricane Katrina as a basis for societal reform. Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:39:02 -0500 Rolling down the side of the cheek appears significant. https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956708 https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956708 Of course, this relates to the act of crying, but this is dispelled by the following lines. I would rather contend that rolling down the cheek serves a protective action, where the water doesn't linger, doesn't insert, and doesn't harm the boy. The drop is just an ephemeral object, one that withers away as fast as it appears. Perhaps, in an egalitarian society, catastrophes would wither away from the community's cheek as swiftly as the lake water. Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:39:02 -0500 I am struck by how much Smith weaves the theme of water into this collection of poems. Perhaps water has a collective, deeper meaning that I am failing to comprehend. https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956688 https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956688 Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:39:02 -0500 Perhaps, if expound the idea of droplets as the federal government (or the nation's fabric, for that matter), actions of intervention would not be met with conflict, but with seamless assistance in a perfect society. https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956677 https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956677 Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:39:01 -0500 The interconnectedness of the droplets in these lines suggest there is complete fluidity between the separate children. Perhaps this shows that while subcommunities within the US are distinct, they should be brought together under a fluid federal umbrella https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956656 https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956656 Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:39:01 -0500 The metaphor of "outstretched arms" as a way to describe the vastness of the lake is intriguing. Perhaps it seeks to exude feelings of childhood innocence, where a mother's outstretched arms were enveloping and comforting. https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956642 https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956642 Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:39:01 -0500 These lines evoke messages of embrace and care - traits devoid of the US's response to Katrina. https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956631 https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956631 Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:39:01 -0500 With these reoccuring dichotomies (and obvious references to the government's neglectful response to Katrina), is Smith trying to suggest a utopic alternative if institutional racism was not present? https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956594 https://nowcomment.com/documents/334246?scroll_to=2956594 Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:39:01 -0500