Beverly Hollberg - Feet Forbidden Here

     In class, we've talked about dwelling as "conducting oneself in accordance to a habit that draws meaning from the particularities of the environment" (Solar of Fierce Landscapes, 9). In order to draw meaning, you must have a good understanding of the environment. Part of building this understanding is existing in close proximity to the environment. As Prof. Redick argues in 'Feet Forbidden Here', driving alienates humans from their environment. From this alienation, people are unable to truly dwell because they aren't close enough to the environment to draw meaning from it. 

    A particularly powerful statement from 'Feet Forbidden Here' is "we transform our world as we couple with its flesh. Authentic transformation is cooperative and rooted in encounter; alienated transformation is isolating and rooted in experience" (Feet Forbidden Here, p. 11). Humans collectively have transformed the world by building and using major highways and interstates. This has isolated ourselves from nature by enabling us to move independently in a car too fast to take note of the environment we're passing through. But highways and interstates have also isolated nature from itself. Animals have had to alter their usual paths about the countries. Animals are also hit trying to cross roads. Additionally, cars and rumble strips are loud. Humans coupled the land with concrete into interstate systems have been isolating for humans and the ecosystem. 

    Another point that resonated with me is that we've replaced God in the Creation story as we've created a new world out of machines. This furthers the alienation we feel since we are "separated from the primary life-world though an immersion in the secondary world which is becoming increasingly autonomous" (Feet Forbidden Here, p. 14). The creations that humans have made now, like cell phones and automobiles, now sit on a similar pedestal as indigenous people probably put nature on.

     Part of the reason why humans are so centered around and focused on technology is because it is a symbol of humans overtaking God as the Creator. I think cell phones have had a similar impact as automobiles as removing us from our environment because cell phones have changed the way our brains process things and give us something else to focus on besides our relationship with each other and the environment.