Rockets, Boomb!

It really is quite remarkable what our species has achieved. To develop the knowledge to transform base elements enherent to the planet into rockets, computers, plastics etc. is pretty mind blowing when you sit and ponder it. Burke's satire within "Towards Helhaven: Three Stages of a Vision" helps to illustrate the reality that we rarely see all of what we invent, when we are inventing it (Ulmer in EM, via Virilio pg. xii).

"And any thought of turning back, of curbing rather than aggravating our cult of "new needs", seems to us suicidal, even thought the situation is actually the reverse, and it is our mounting technologic clutter that threatens us" (19).

It makes me wonder how, even now, we fail to recognize what Burke sets up above. The entire piece, probably due to my more pragmatic side, helps me to recognize the significance of rhetoric in attempts to break from the "Cult of 'new needs" such as  the Freshkills "Park," in New York City for example (link below).

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/fresh_kills_park/html/fresh_kil...

Here is a quote from the website:

"The transformation of what was formerly the world’s largest landfill into a productive and beautiful cultural destination will make the park a symbol of renewal and an expression of how our society can restore balance to its landscape. In addition to providing a wide range of recreational opportunities, including many uncommon in the city, the park’s design, ecological restoration and cultural and educational programming will emphasize environmental sustainability and a renewed public concern for our human impact on the earth."

Do we really need a monument, and powerful rhetorical statements such as this to generate cultural changes? I guess so. Good thing this is what we are studying!