As
I scrolled down my Twitter feed yesterday, I could resist letting out a yelp of
triumph upon reading the school cancellation announcement. However, my joy soon disintegrated as I thumbed down to the next tweet: “Death toll rises,
thousands without power.” A wave of guilt swept over me as literal waves crushed
homes just a few hours away; who knew such powerful juxtapositions existed
outside of literary world? As Hurricane Sandy tore up more and more of the
coast, my frustration increased proportionally. Reading posts about how great a
hurricane seemed solely because it caused a school cancellation proved extremely irritating,
and I found myself wanting to lash out at anyone praising the storm. But I
never did. I realized the issue and never did anything about it until it proved
too late. Consequently, while watching “the Sound Machine” today, it occurred to
me that Klausner and I share this trait. Klausner acknowledges the plants’
pain, but continues to wound them and ruins the potential of his machine before
it can truly make an impact. Moreover, I discovered a clear connection between
the unsympathetic tweeters and the doctor. Both parties realize the pain and
destruction; however, rather than acknowledging it, they choose to ignore the
damage and focus on their own lives. As much I wanted to dismiss and judge
Klausner and the doctor, I often act identically, and I assert that everyone
does. The vast majority of humans prove guilty of this apathy and society even
ignores this simple fact. Although I believe this issue necessitates amelioration,
in reality, not all aspects of it stand as detrimental. Humans have inherently
selfishness tendencies, and I believe the act of ignoring major issues exists
as just another mechanism by which people allow for their own happiness. If
everyone could feel the terrible pains of others, society would reduce to
shambles. Generally, humans have the deepest and most intense reactions to the
events that directly affect them or that they directly caused. Similarly, the
most influential of the plants’ cries proves the one Klausner internationally
generates. Yes, he sympathizes with roses cut by his neighbor, but the tree he stabs
himself evokes unavoidable guilt and devastation. Not only does Dahl’s work
highlight society’s tendencies to ignore its effects on the earth, it illuminates
the overall tendency of people to disregard other’s issues for the sake of
their own contentment. As with all generalizations, exceptions do occur, and I
believe everyone needs to become one of these exceptions in order to truly
sympathize with one’s neighbors. However, the troubles of the world recognized
by all would lead to destruction and mass devastation.
