The Unsettling of America -- Jessica Schwier

In "The Unsettling of America," Wendell Berry discusses victimization. He says that everyone is bound to a future of victimization. However, there is one such escape from this destiny. The only escape is to "succeed." In this sense, he means to make it into the class of exploiters in order to survive. Once in this special class, they must remain specialized in exploiting as to not fall out of this class. Basically, you must stoop down to a level where you do not want to be in order to make it at all. Once you are in the exploiting class, you must become so "mobile" that you are unconscious of its effects on both you and others. Berry then talks about how the escape is illusory because in order to escape a life of victimization, you must become trapped in a life of exploitation. I find this section of Berry's chapter to be very interesting. I agree with him one hundred percent. In order to make it in the real world, you must only look out for yourself and no one else, because that it what everyone else does. So, no one is looking out for your best interest but yourself. However, if you do not take this path, people will walk all over you and you will become a victim. I do not believe there is a balance between the two either. I feel like in order to make it or to not make it you have to be either extreme. There really is no middle road between these acts. I feel like Berry captures the essence of real life, and this section made me realize how tough it is in the real world. You either eat or be eaten.