5.09

In every culture, every scenario, every aspect of life, there are two sides to a story. One side that favors a certain group of people, and another that favors the other. In Wilson's two passages, he shows the viewpoints of the environmentalists and of their critics. By composing these pieces, Wilson illustrates his negative opinion on such arguments. He makes it obvious that fighting about the issue does nothing to solve the issue. To further emphasize his view, he uses many means of satire. This includes humor, irony, and ridicule to criticize the two groups' social stupidity.
In the first sentence of each passage, Wilson humors his audience by using similar wording. The first passage starts off with, "Environmentalists of conservationists is what they usually call themselves." and, similarly, the second one begins, "“Critics” of the environmental movement? That may be what they call themselves, but we know them more accurately as anti-environmentalists…". By using these almost identical lines, Wilson shows how uniform these two groups think, although they are social-enemies. In addition to adding satirical humor to his writing, this example shows our society something important; we are all human and therefore, all think alike. In other words, what we think about other people is most likely what they think about us, too. The whole concept mollifies the fuming hate we have for some people, while providing us with somewhat lighthearted joke of our own distaste.
After reading both passages, the most prevalent taste left in the reader's mouth is one of "irony". The intention of Wilson's work is to show two views. One is of environmentalists who are upset with the critics because they are not conserving enough and are only inte...

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...t they are in opposition to each other irrationally. The two groups are "supposed" to be against each other socially, so they climb aboard without thinking for themselves. Our society is so over-ruled by what we supposedly should and shouldn't be that we forget that, if not always, sometimes, social standards are wrong. Wilson pokes fun at this situation because it happens so often.
Wilson's two passages show clearly that he is using satire. He uses it to mock our social society, and uses it to prove that we need to look at things from other people's points of view, because usually, it isn't what we think it is. He is extremely successful in conveying his message and further adds to it by throwing in irony and humor. His writing forces the reader to look at two sides to an issue that is widespread and notice the similarities and how unnecessary the separation is.