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5 comments:
Its very interesting what he is saying about the railroads. I can agree with him, if people stay home and mind their business there is no need to build railroads. But in a way he is contradicting himself, if we do not complicate our lives, then how will we be able to enjoy the happy moments when we don't suffer? We wouldn't be able to enjoy life and its distinct and unique inventions. If a person is simple and cold, then he should stay home and mind his own business. Otherwise, if your a person that wants to get involved in excitement and adventure, then keep building the railroad.
Thoreau’s paradox is that there are more lives being lost toiling to provide expediency than there are lives benefitting from the expediency of the creation. “We do not ride on a rail road; it rides upon us.” The paradox is that we think we are getting ahead, but in reality, we are setting ourselves back. In the next paragraph, he states it clearly: “we are in a big hurry to waste life.”
I agree with what Danica said about Thoreau's paradox. People really are setting themselves back without even realizing it. It is good to be focused in one thing but when a person gets caught up in that one thing, they get lost in the present. By this, a person starts wasting their life and forgetting about how important life is when it is there.
I also agree with Danica. The paradox about the train perfectly matches the contradiction in our thoughts. Even though we may think we are making a progress, we are actually taking back-steps. The people benefit the train, not the train to the people. Without anyone going to work, there would be no trains or railroads, not the other way around. Although trains were created by and for the humans to facilitate their everyday trip to work, the train depends on those people and otherwise, there would be no trains in our lives.
As mentioned before the railroad is another way for Williams to explain us getting caught up in the future. We build the railroad thinking it will lead to many places, bring new things, but we are not sure. We plan ahead but are just setting ourselves back because we miss out on the present, that could end up affecting the future.
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