Beacon 2018 by East Texas Baptist University

The A Literary Magazine

2018 - 2019

The

BEACON A Literary Magazine

2018 - 2019

The Beacon is dedicated to publishing creative works by ETBU students in all disciplines.

The Beacon The Literary Magazine for East Texas Baptist University 2018 - 2019 Editor: Dr. Jeanna Fuston White Assistant Editors: Nicholas Bogucki, Luke Jordan, Isabelle Kortegast, Joel McMichael, Christian McNeal, Grace Perry, Hanna Perry, Mark Ramos, Lila Robinett, and Lauran Silas Graphic Designer: Julie Baugus

TABLE OF CONTENTS

06.

LOSS | Hanna Perry

07.

ASHES TO ASHES | Hanna Perry

08.

A PLACE OF DARKNESS | Hanna Perry

09.

A FAREWELL TO JOY | Hanna Perry

10.

NOISE | Makenna Perkins

11.

HOW TO WRITE A POEM | Makenna Perkins

12.

THE WEARY MAN | Makenna Perkins

14. THE WHALER’S SONG | Makenna Perkins 15.

THE SILENT COWBOY | Mpanga Chanda

16.

MOMENTS OF QUIET IN A WORLD OF NOISE | Grace Perry

18.

DEATH’S STING | Grace Perry

19.

PEACE | Grace Perry

20.

GRACE | Grace Perry

21.

RAIN DANCE | Destiny Bradbury

22.

HE IS | Mark Ramos

23.

VIOLIN SOLO | Charlotte Huckestein

24.

SCARLET WALTZ | Chloe Wright

26.

BAND POEMS | Chloe Wright

28.

TECHNOLOGICAL UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE FUTURE IT CREATES Hannah Madden

LOSS By Hanna Perry 1st Prize in Poetry, Era Miller Writing Contest

Your heart for the earth was as strong as the one of Artemis. A virgin to suffering, a doe as quick as light. The glow of the moon on the still, cold water Was the beacon to guide you home. The friskiness of youth kept you grounded. You looked in wonder as the world called out to you. There was little to stand in your way Until industry extended its green, paper hand. You traded the value of freedom for another kind of gold. No longer were you satisfied by preserving the world. You chose to join the side that was winning the tug of war Rather than try to pull the rope back to you. As the battle for your affection raged, a hole opened wide. You stumbled, not understanding the consequences of your choices. In the end, you became impossible to see As you traded your mountains for a den in the dirt. Why did you allow it all to consume you? The world could not provide what nature could. You fell deeper in the pit you had created for yourself As the shining of the moon was no longer enough for you.

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ASHES TO ASHES By Hanna Perry

There is little difference between a plant and a man. They both begin in a realm of darkness, Craving light to someday grace them with its presence. Both receive nutrition from their surroundings; What they get will determine their future. The lucky ones break through their hidden shelters And slowly creep towards the goddess they so desperately Wanted as they were stuck in the land of the lost. Growing upward, there is an obvious improvement. Soon, there is strength. There is power in the way they move And the way they demand the sun focus on them like nothing else. Both the plant and the man get their time in the light. As the torrential rains pelt them back towards their home in the dirt, Both may crumble. They may hit the ground and be broken to bits. Still, the roots stand strong beneath the ground. Yes, there is little difference between a plant and a man, But one major difference remains. While the plant will be reborn without thought, Rising once again because of the strength of its roots, Man may forget that he too has roots and return to the dark forever, Having no hope of another day in the sun.

A PLACE OF DARKNESS By Hanna Perry

1st Prize in Prose, Era Miller Writing Contest The 1896 United States Supreme Court decision Plessy v. Ferguson created one of the most problematic situations in our nation’s modern history. It was then that the concept of “separate but equal” was brought into play. In today’s society, it is a commonly accepted notion that separate but equal is never truly equal. While this court case was related to segregation of the races during a time when tensions were incredibly high, there are illusions of equality today within areas of healthcare, specifically regarding mental health, that are taking place. In reality, society treats those with mental health issues as anomalies far beyond what physical health issues can create. Patients who carry physical burdens are typically taken seriously from the beginning of their sojourn to healing. Those who carry mental health issues have a tendency to be brushed aside, with practitioners saying that routines involving yoga and adding more water to the diet will fix everything. For many, it is not until they hit rock bottom that the spotlight is really placed on the necessity for those who work in the mental health field and their training to remove the stigma surrounding those who need real help. It has become increasingly common for physicians who heal the physical body to ignore the importance of their counterparts who heal the psyche. With the National Institute for Mental Health reporting approximately 44.7 million adults in the United States of America aged 18 and older suffering from mental illness, it is time to recognize that the attention and belief received by those with physical problems needs to be given to those who carry AMI (any mental illness) burdens as well. It must also be considered that even within the separated realm of mental healthcare there is further separation and a separate stigma surrounding ageism. Millennials are typically thought of as those who carry the load of raising awareness about destigmatizing AMIs,

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while those belonging to an older age group get placed in mental health facilities without attention and the glow of the media on them. It came to my own attention recently through the example of an older woman, perhaps in her 60s or 70s, who had been hospitalized after her battle with clinical depression had hit its lowest point. Placed in the shadows, few visitors came and she became nothing more than another number in the hospital. There are far too many within the older generation who have been told throughout their lives that the anxieties and depression they have lived with were simply because they were not working hard enough and needed to find something to live for. What needs to be understood is that sometimes the elderly suffering from a mental illness have everything to live for and those things are still not enough. We cannot advocate for more awareness of the importance of the mental health field if we are only going to recognize the future generations; while we are doing that, someone’s grandmother or grandfather might have finally decided that what they have been told to hold onto simply is not enough and end their life prematurely. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines stigma as “a mark or shame of discredit.” Many take this to mean that a physical marker must be present in all healthcare circumstances, but we have a population that needs the removal of this stigma before it is too late. Society seems to believe that simply having doctors specializing in mental illnesses is enough, and they do not focus on the quality of care provided. Those who are diagnosed with AMIs are left to their own devices as a result. In these places of darkness, it is up to people of all ages, races, religions, and more to remember how to turn on the light and unite healthcare across the board. Separate but equal is NEVER equal.

A FAREWELL TO JOY By Hanna Perry Innocence chokes and withers as if falling from a tree on the eve of autumn; Where sunshine once dwelled now exists a coldness that can only be filled by days long gone. Laughter rang through the halls, Tears flooded them. Now this safe haven is filled with the emotions of another. Gone are the days of its solace for me, The days of early sunlight on the dew, The crackling of gravel in the driveway, The days of youth where a little water and a lot of love Could nurse anything from roses to my heart back to life... Where there once was a heartbeat now stands a sign that simply says “Sold.”

NOISE By Makenna Perkins The Noise It strikes me- Like a drop of rain on my nose. And I see The source of the noise is my brother’s saxophone. I laugh at him, Teasing about how he sounds like a dying moose But I’m his antonym, Jealous about his talents, that he got father’s musical fruits.

HOW TO WRITE A POEM By Makenna Perkins The first and most important thing Is how to make your poem sing And in order to make said poem not mainstream You must find, second, a good rhyme scheme. This one, for example, goes “A-A-B-B” Don’t do free-rhyme or try to be artsy Don’t make a lone line stick out very way really much too long It’s (not quite but almost) as simple as writing a song. The third thing to stick to always remember And this is what’s hard for all poetry members Is to pick a topic that’s not overdone So these topics will not be overrun. The following list is to what pertains The subject of a poet's baines: You are not to write about hopes and dreams No matter how close or far they seem. Do not write about love Do not write about stars Do not write how you’re earth And your lover is Mars. And, the last and most important advice- If slumps should come, don’t take vice You shouldn’t stop writi- … Actually, that space thing seems pretty cool.

THE WEARY MAN By Makenna Perkins He has climbed many a mountain and foraged many a wood He has encountered more beasts and frights that no other man should; The weary one will not sit; the weary one will not wait Instead, on he goes, refusing a dismal fate. After a moment the weary one pauses and looks back He’s fighting the urge to go home, return, and lay down his travel-pack But then he shakes his head and sighs, knowing the journey has just begun; Maybe in some other life he would give in; but on goes the weary one. The weary one moves on through the snow and heat and rain, He has become all too familiar with this all too dark terrain He knows that this winding path is drawing to a close But on he goes, knowing it was his own path he chose. The weary one finally stops his long trip far away, The moon has risen, and the sun will set, on his own life’s day He lies down, exhales a breath, and gives into eternal sleep, And his soul goes on to heaven, where the Lord he knows will keep. They say his whistles echo in the ethereal foggy forest, And all the beasts, from birds to deer, know his fateful chorus; And on it goes, the weary man’s song, and hasn’t ended since And that faint whistle, on it goes, is the last journey’s evidence.

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THE WHALER'S SONG By Makenna Perkins

The sailor grapples onto his rope over the edge of the massive boat, Swinging down over the edge. Perhaps he’s shocked at how the baleen can float But then remembers he’s here to collect what makes dead whales Buoyant. His feet land on the soft blubber, and he works between its swales To collect the oil. He’s whistling as he stands on the skin And collecting his pay. His face presents a large and prideful grin. The whale-roads can be dangerous, the youth Will understand, standing on the macabre buoy and pailing the vermouth Income into a bucket, sending them up to the sailors on the deck. The man works, knife weaving, collecting goods from tail to neck. Through his lips, coming from his throat and lungs Exits a song he learned among what seasoned sailors sung: The king of the sea is lulled to sleep From the harpoons of us men- Yet he sinks into the ocean’s deep And is ne’re again seen. With these final lines, he grabs his rope and climbs to the ship’s freeboard And the crew is ready to hunt. The crew shoves off, cheering in their fortune in accord.

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THE SILENT COWBOY By Mpanga Chanda The silence of the cowboy is so selfish. It makes me to carry the weight of the conversation, while he smiles silent and stoic. Conservatively careful about his time. Never staying longer than he needs to and never going where he's not called. It makes me wonder what it takes to make him act out of character. His boots bear no marks of labor, yet he still wears them with pride. I find they have no place in this world, as they echo down the hall reminding us of a time long past. His laugh, when triggered, is always loud. It's commanding for all the world to hear. I prefer the silence, but the silence scares me. Proudly he ignores the world around him and freely makes up his mind about what's in front of him. Me. I just keep talking, hoping somehow he'd see past the divide and take a chance. I keep coming back. Who knew I loved cowboys?

THE SILENT COWBOY By Mpanga Chanda

MOMENTS OF QUIET IN A WORLD OF NOISE By Grace Perry 2nd Prize in Prose, Era Miller Writing Contest

The whole house was asleep, the only sound the soft spinning of the ceiling fan directly over my head. It was dark, the only light coming from my laptop screen and the small lamp on the table next to my grandfather’s couch. It was New Year’s Day in Jacksonville, Florida, and I was the only one awake in the house currently sleeping eight. I whispered goodnight to my brother as he left the room, and the quiet settled over me. Like a warm blanket it encircled me, and I exhaled. I was writing, dreaming, and planning about my hopes for the new year. What did I want from this year? How could I grow? Who did I want to be? There was just quiet. No loud boom from heaven, no soft whisper in my ear, just quiet. But, maybe, that was the answer. Maybe instead of being so focused on all the things I wanted to do in the year to come, I needed to just take a moment and be quiet. And so I did. And I heard more in that moment than I had in weeks upon weeks of noise. In a world full of noise, sometimes quiet is uncomfortable. Like a blank page, it offers a world of opportunity; it’s an invitation to dream, to imagine, to create. But also like a blank page, it can be intimidating, uncertain, and awkward. Quiet invites us to think, to reflect, and sometimes reflection can be uncomfortable and thoughts can be unwelcome. So often, in the rare moments in which quiet sneaks

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up on us, we fill it with noise. Not necessarily audible noise, but mental noise. We cloud the quiet with our social media feeds, our various hobbies, and our insatiable desire for gossip. We block it out with our YouTube videos, our Netflix addiction, or our FaceTime calls. In doing this we misunderstand the purpose of the quiet. We think the purpose of the quiet is to be filled with noise. Instead of seeing quiet as something in itself, we see it as a lack, an emptiness. But it is in these moments of quiet that we, as Christians, are given the priceless opportunity to remember who we are as creatures of God. It’s so easy to fill the quiet with something easy. But my challenge to you is that the next time you find yourself with a moment of quiet, you use that moment to seek God. Stop what you are doing and listen. Take a deep breath and pray. Reflect on what God is doing in your life and read His Word. Listen. Be reminded that you are a finite human being, and that you cannot complete all the various tasks lying before you that day apart from the sustaining grace and mercy of God. Take a moment to rest in His sovereignty over your life and His love for you that is based not on what you do, but on who you are: His beloved child. Even Jesus had to take a break from the busyness of his ministry to stop and be

quiet. Frequently during his ministry Jesus withdrew from his disciples to spend time praying and being with his Father. If Jesus needed these moments, we certainly do as well. I know that the moments of absolute quiet like the ones I experienced on New Year’s Day come to us rarely, and that most days we feel as if our heart is not quiet until it is asleep, and sometimes it is restless even then. And that is okay. Though the quiet is good and peace-giving, it is not our natural state. We were not created for the quiet. We were created to live, to work, to go. It is in the busyness, in the daily working out of our salvation that we get to serve and honor God and proclaim His goodness to the world. I am not suggesting we forego our responsibilities in favor of self-imposed isolation. No, what I am suggesting is that we see the moments of quiet that God gives us as a gift of grace, and that we make good use of them. I am suggesting that we carve out time for quiet, even just ten minutes a day, and that we come to those moments without an agenda, just willing to listen and be with God. So, stop, take a deep breath, and be quiet.

Death’s Sting By Grace Perry

Parched, our broken cisterns have let us down, Without living water, we’re afraid we’ll drown In the lies of the enemy, the weight of our doubt; Our burdens pile up, we know not their amount. For God is just, and sin makes us debtors, In our flesh our iniquity chains us with fetters. So we listlessly shuffle through a series of days Enslaved, it is to idols we offer our praise. Yet they leave us empty, their promises fail, Between us and God hangs a thick, dark veil. Lost, we lose our voice, we forget how to sing, In our minds the lies of darkness ring, Our hearts haunted by death’s certain sting. But God in His love did not leave us this way, Upon His only Son our sin He would lay. So for the joy set before Him He came, Put on flesh, humbled to render powerless my shame. His life was perfect, no iniquity found In the Faultless Lamb who made no sound. His body was broken, His blood was shed, A crown of thorns he bore on his head. The King of the World laid bare on that tree, Paid the price for our debt, set our captive hearts free. The dark veil torn in two, the earth shaken in place As life left the eyes of our dear Savior’s face.

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But the grave was not his dwelling for long, No, heaven was soon to break out in song. Eyes are opened, light pours in our hearts Healing comes to the heart once poisoned with darts. To all who believe, life abundant arriving! Rest to the weary, to the soul sick of striving! For His burden is easy, His yoke is light; He’ll restore your joy, renew your sight. Now reconciled to the One seated above, Our hearts overflow in praise and in love. For Jesus arose, all hearts now to sing! So all your pain, all your sorrows now bring With joy to the One who silenced death’s sting.

The waves rage, the sea screams, the water rises. The flames consume, the heat burns, the houses crumble. The earth shakes, the winds roar, the sky darkens, Life rages, my mind screams, fear rises. Doubt consumes, suffering burns, plans crumble. Security shakes, my heart roars, my hope darkens. But, “PEACE,” You say, “Be still.” You command the waves, calm the seas, my faith rises. You put out the fire and rebuild my life anew. You steady my heart, silence my questions, slay darkness with light. Where there is chaos, You speak peace.

GRACE By Grace Perry Grace, God’s unmerited favor for us When we don’t deserve it, when we violate trust. He gives and He gives and it overflows Into my heart, like a strong wind it blows. I have no right to existence, no claim to living All I have and am is an evidence of His giving. In the very act of creation, grace is there. From grace He created each cell, each hair. You see, in the beginning there was grace. From the making of the garden, the birth of the human race, All that is is because of grace. But His grace is more than the first creation, For grace sent God to a lowly station. As a human being, Jesus lived and died, Calling all who would follow to be crucified With Him and to raise to newness of life— One abundant, free of our present strife Against God. He offers a second birth A new creation, a redeemed earth. To all who believe, grace creates again Wiping us clean, erasing all sin. Though still we struggle and wrestle within, We have hope that finally grace will win The battle against evil, the war with death, That victory was purchased with Christ’s last breath. So daily we live, because of His grace Our eyes set upwards on His glorious face, Our feet on the path, ready to run the race, Our hearts swept up in this glorious chase. Our sustenance, our strength, in God’s great grace.

RAIN DANCE By Destiny Bradbury There’s a rhythm a–stirring deep in my soul; It rumbles and grumbles with the thunder’s toll. I sway my hips to the pull of the wind. I stomp my feet as the drums begin. The wind picks up his pace As we start the race. I clap my hands to the flash of lighting. The sounds are deafening and frightening. I twirl and glide, Slip and slide Through the silver storm. I perform. Then with the final clash The skies lash, Releasing the pent-up rain. My work won’t be in vain. As I complete my dance, I get the chance To whisper the last goodbye.

HE IS By Mark Ramos Creator, You’re making all things beautiful; Your glory remains wonderful. Your love stays the same always. We move because You are provider. We inhale, exhale, knowing our days are not promised. Forgiving, You hold us closely, saving us from sin, we have You, redeemer, who went on a cross to die, and rise, to offer life eternal.

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VIOLIN SOLO By Charlotte Huckestein 3rd Prize in Poetry, Era Miller Writing Contest The solo of the violin Soft and soothing and warm Reverberates deep within Healing the soul that is torn She gazes with rapt attention As a symphony joins in Such beauty in every note Surely, this time, her hope will win She can feel his warmth on her skin The way he once felt in her heart The echo of the vibrato washes over her like a chill And all at once the outside world goes dark The musician plays on With his love in a trance And he knows she is listening Playing on in pain—this is his last chance The world disappears The notes in her ears And suddenly he’s there Playing only for her Here comes the crescendo Musician and spectator joined in song And ever so softly it ends With sweat and tears and awe He looks up to find her But she is already gone His heart breaks in two As the applause goes on

SCARLET WALTZ

1916 - 1942 A DEVOTED WIFE AND MOTHER A Fictional Epitaph By Chloe Wright 2nd Prize in Poetry, Era Miller Writing ContestÂ

My beloved hero of twenty-eight Taken from me with troops Gone five months straight. With no connection to others I was naught but a disconnected phone cord. I dread treading home For the echoing apartment. He won’t walk in the door. He won’t be waiting. No one was. No one will. I caress My Darling Slumbering Four month old’s tinted gold hair In the hovering fireball As it bent to kiss Earth’s weeping surface. You weren’t denied income Unless you’ve no one you know To mind Your Darling Little Lydia. Feet ached Arms ached Core ached Heart ached No answer In Haunting Silence No relief for the question: How do I provide for My Darling Little Lydia? ~ Which shrill screamed louder Sudden splitting sirens or startled babe, I’ll know not. No Time to reach home

I dash insanely for the subway. Entry denied. I’m shoved out of the way. No Time to scramble beneath As terror shocks stricken heart. No Time against the merciless post office. We are crushed in the alleyway I and My Darling Little Lydia ~ Over crumbling Earth Pierces a squinting sun. Sleeping in the bed of ash Lay we two, Coated beneath Robby’s letters Blood soaked and forever sealed. ~ Time Oh where was it sent? Why was it sealed? Too late Were response teams. Too late was I Providing for My Darling Little Lydia Time is precious Time is Darling Time is yet an enemy. Whatever or Whomever Time represents for you, Hold it close Guard it wisely Before it’s Lost Slipped through one’s arms Away into infinity.

BAND POEMS By Chloe Wright

In the sky heavy clouds thickened and threatened. Knuckles and joints grasping instruments tightened. The air was dense and humid; The air smelled of rain. Sharp intonation drove us all insane. The anticipation was intense. How could the band stay still, standing? Did administration have a misunderstanding? First a sprinkle, next a downpour. All chaos and confusion set the audience in an uproar. Bodies stiffened in uniforms of pride, Everyone ran for cover becoming drenched as they tried. Plumes and flags wilted leaving behind an odor. They were caught vulnerable and bare without cover. Shiny shoes now squeaked caked in mud, Leaving a grassy, greasy trail from the field with each thud. After it let up Deep puddles remained, Bright fabrics stained, And color guard makeup strained.

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Had the day of competition gone down the drain? In the sense of despair Tender love shined through. The quick, kind care of band boosters Came to the rescue. Raising spirits high, they aided drum majors While band directors sought for info and procedures. Winds, color guard, and percussion stood tall, Pumped and ready to fight through it all. With determination shown in spins and straight spines, They pushed forward with the desire Of success on each mind. Though with rigid tons of weight, It felt like tip toeing around a mine field In effort to survive. At the end of their show they gasped in relief. Lungs controlled, as though locked, Can now freely breathe. But the excitement isn’t over yet. There’s still a chance to get even more wet. Desperately they load up Working together Trying to beat the next sheets

They know won’t hold forever. The slippery wheels of Pit equipment rolling, The strength called back to muscles cramping. Section Leaders direct The “Loading Symphony,” Yelling: “Watch those caddies and treasured battery!” Underclassmen watch, Seeing raindrops fall like tears. They don’t realize They’ll be the leaders in a couple of years! The tires skidding home, They dread the long path. But at least the buses and box trucks Receive a free bath. Dripping still dripping, Taking a long rest. Can’t wait to get to bed, can’t wait for dry dress. Upon arrival, all there is to see Is water, water, water. Peeling open the box trucks, We’ll need a doctor. As a graveyard the band hall’s littered by the tons. You can’t see the ground

Past horn coffins and xylo-skeletons. ~ Our tenth set of sets we’d just been through. How many more for us will there be given to? Mistakes were made We weren’t quite as prepared. Too much exhilaration proven As apologies amongst sections shared. This day was sticky, This day was dreary, But it was memorable, And also quite funny. This was a day to learn from; It was a challenging experience. From now on we should strive To work with due diligence. We’ll perform drills much better than before, At the very least to rank at Box 4. Spirit, Unity, Trust, and Attitude Is our motto. Please let’s not forget this tomorrow? SUTA!

TECHNOLOGICAL AND THE FUTU By Hannah Madden

I am sure that almost everyone has at least heard of the Hunger Games, even if they have not read the book or watched the movies. The name “Panem” is not simply a word created by Suzanne Collins; it came from an old Latin phrase that originated in Rome “panem et circenses” or “bread and games.” A world where “Panem” is a real nation seems to be so unrealistic, but what if isn’t? What if we are quickly approaching the day when all we have to do is sit around eating while others entertain us? The issue I am referring to is technological unemployment. Technological unemployment is the foreseen occurrence where technology completely replaces the need for human labor. Some say this will create better and more enjoyable lives for humans, while others say technology will take over and we will be miserable without employment. Although this prediction of the future can sometimes seem like a sci-fi movie, with technological advances slowly causing more unemployment of humans, it could become a reality faster than we think. This brings me to the question, “Should technological unemployment be feared or avoided by workers today?” Many look forward to a day when no one has to work, but that is not the only change that will occur. Life as we now know it will no longer exist. Although technological unemployment could be seen as having many benefits, less human interaction is a bad thing; without work there is no purpose or meaning in life, and unemployment leads to a change in culture and community. The first concern with the idea of technological unemployment is that less human interaction is a bad thing. The article “Eliminating the Human” by David Byrne, from the MIT Technology Review, tells how we

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are slowly moving towards a world in which there is almost no human interaction. He gives many examples of things that are making this possible. Some of these are automated checkout, online ordering, driverless cars, MOOCS, social media and a robot workforce. Today, human interaction is often viewed as an annoyance and people are striving to do away with it. Byrne says, “For us as a society, less contact and interaction—real interaction—would seem to lead to less tolerance and understanding of difference, as well as more envy and antagonism” (10). Technological unemployment will do away with the need for workers. Although interactions may still be common among family members and friends, there will be no interaction at local stores or a daily job. Everything will be automated and nonpersonal. This could cause one to be less understanding of others and their problems; it could result in many people who are self-absorbed and indifferent. Byrne also provides the fact that, “We’re a social species—we benefit from passing discoveries on, and we benefit from our tendency to cooperate to achieve what we cannot alone” (10). Doing away with much of our regular communication and contact with others seems to be so simple, but when you think about how things will change, it is really quite remarkable. Since we are a social species, if we do away with the social aspect of our lives, we can’t remain the same. How many microscopic things (when compared to everything in our lives), are affected by human interaction? Our thoughts, opinions, learning, and health are examples of things that would instantly change without socialization. Think of all the discoveries and advances that would not have been possible if several people had not talked together and used their

UNEMPLOYMENT RE IT CREATES knowledge in different areas to produce something great. Honestly, anything man-made at this point has been achieved through collaboration. Byrne goes on to say, “Our random accidents and odd behaviors are fun—they make life enjoyable…’We’ do not exist as isolated individuals. We, as individuals, are inhabitants of networks; we are relationships. That is how we prosper and thrive” (10) One of the main reasons why technological unemployment is overpowering human labor is that using technology can often be way more efficient and less expensive. I really like this quote though, because the author is saying that humans aren’t perfect, well-oiled machines. We make mistakes and cause accidents, but that is part of what makes life enjoyable—being able to learn from them and move on. Often when we get over our anger at making a mistake, we look back and laugh at the thought that we could be so ignorant. Although there are pros and cons to less human interaction, the cons are more upsetting. While the idea of never having to talk to anyone else may be appealing to some, to me it would be a strange and lifeless world.  The second concern with the idea of technological unemployment is that without work there is no purpose or meaning in life. John Danaher explains this point in his article "Will Life Be Worth Living in a World without Work? Technological Unemployment and the Meaning of Life.” He says that if we come to the point that we don’t have to work, technology will be doing all of the most important jobs. The only areas we could hope to apply ourselves and be productive in are “private,

ludic or aesthetic activities” (Danaher 59). In other words, all there will be left to do is play games or sports, have hobbies and create works of art. After reading this quote, one might think that “a world without work” doesn’t sound too bad if all we must do is whatever we want. However, one must also realize the true importance of work. Danaher says, “There is a widespread view that work is virtuous and the absence of paid employment could lead to vicious forms idleness, boredom, and depression. Working for a living confers a certain level of well-being and individual ﬂourishing that would be absent if one did not work for a living” (qtd. in Danaher 47). Have you ever worked really hard at something and when you were done, stepped back and admired what you accomplished? Often when we do this, it causes us to be proud of what we have completed, along with feeling capable, confident, and competent. Without working hard to earn what you have, you may take it for granted or may not fully experience what it is like to see the results of hard labor. Technological employment is threatening to keep those moments away from workers. Danaher also states that, “Income is not the only good we derive from work in the modern world” (51). Work is usually viewed as something we “must” do to make money and provide for ourselves. Although this fact is true, there are many different advantages of being given the opportunity to work. Danaher goes on to explain how it has been argued that there are four benefits workers are striving to receive from employment besides money. He sums these up in the following quote: “People want to be good at what they do; they want to make a difference to the world in which they live; they want to engage in collective enterprises; and they want to be recognised and validated in the eyes of their social peers” (51). These are goals that everyone can relate to because they

are a part of our human nature—just as work is. Another source that proves this point is “Technological Unemployment, Leisure Occupation, and the Human Project" by Luciano Floridi. This article focuses on the idea that a leisure society is essentially what everyone is working towards. However, with technological advances, it is approaching faster than anyone imagined, and we are unprepared. Floridi states, “In the leisure society, the risk is that there will be countless people bored and demotivated, undecided about what to do with their free time, their days at school, their weekends, their vacations, their bank holidays and their retirement” (147). If no one must work, then there is no need for school or higher education.

When you remove these from the schedules of most people, there will not be a lot of obligations left. Because of this, people might feel that they have no purpose; they have no desire to accomplish or work towards achieving anything. He goes on to say, “Those of us who enjoy some free time are often awful investors of it. We waste it or kill it, seemingly oblivious of the titanic efforts and sacrifices made by past generations in order to place us in such fortunate circumstances” (146). This is something that

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most of us can relate to because we have done it at one time or another. Have you ever been working, but wanted to do several other things instead? When you finally get some time off, instead of finding something meaningful to do with your time (the things you wanted to do while at work), you go sit down and stare at a TV instead. In theory, we see a life without a job as an opportunity to get higher education, develop and invent fantastic things, and grow closer with other people. In reality, we may just sleep all day, or binge watch Netflix, or spend all our time on social media. The author reiterates this point by saying, “As idle creatures, we may transform a potential ‘liberal and leisure society’ into an actual ‘illiberal lazy society’, in which the Biblical ‘painful toil’ is replace by shallow entertainment as the ultimate source of existential distraction” (148). Today, there are lazy people just sitting around, but for the most part if you look at a town or community everyone has a job or goes to work. If there are no jobs, everyone will become indifferent and uncaring. Technology has the ability to do away with employment, which in essence causes humans to feel a lack of purpose and meaning in life. The third concern with the idea of technological unemployment is that unemployment leads to a change in culture and community. Derek Thompson agrees in his article "A World Without Work.” This article is based on a loss of jobs that occurred in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1977, due to the closing of steel mills. Thompson explains how this went on to cause not only problems in the economy there, but also “a psychological and cultural breakdown” (51). Not only will technological unemployment change our lives as individuals (by giving life no purpose), but also as members of a group. Thompson goes on to tell how mental health issues, such as depression and suicide, quickly increased in the town—a change that was triggered by the rise in unemployment. He explains by saying, “Most people want to work, and are miserable when they cannot. The ills of unemployment go well beyond the loss of income; people who lose their job are more likely to suffer from mental and physical ailments” (56). Everyone wants to feel like a productive member of society; like they are valuable enough to be employed. When they become unemployed and there is nowhere else to find a job, they can start to feel completely useless. Thompson also tells about a group of people who are known as the “post-workists.” They believe that when people are unemployed, they will find great uses of their time and have a better experience of life. He goes on say that, “…this vision is problematic: it doesn’t resemble the world as it is currently experienced by most jobless people” (55). Those who visit Youngstown, Ohio, can see first-hand the effects of unemployment, and they look nothing like the idealized future that the “post-workists” have dreamed up. There is very little hope that technological unemployment will create a different fate for workers. An interesting point made

by the author is that “…widespread joblessness shatters neighborhoods and leaches away their civic spirit” (58). Not only will technological unemployment change our lives as individuals (by giving life no purpose), but as members of a group. Thompson even goes as far as to say that it affects “community pride” (59). This claim makes sense when you think about it. How can you be proud of being part of a community, when you don’t have the opportunity to work to improve and further it? Thompson says, “Technological progress on the scale we’re imagining would usher in social and cultural changes that are almost impossible to fully envision” (59). This is why something such as technological unemployment is often demonstrated in a sci-fi manner with a utopian feel. Since the Bible days (the very creation of earth) work has played a role in every society, accomplishment, invention, and leader. Adam and Eve were truly the only individuals to ever experience both ways of life. However, because of their sin, work was implemented by God as a necessary part of existence. There is no way that we can accurately imagine “a world without work”, because work has always been here. Thompson also says, “…one pursues a calling not only for pay or status, but also for the intrinsic fulfillment of the work itself” (61). As crazy as it seems, people really do have a desire for work; the drive to work is just human nature. Work is necessary for surviving, but it is also essential for thriving. The most significant point that Thompson gives is the following: “Industriousness has served as America’s unofficial religion since its founding. The sanctity and preeminence of work lie at the heart of the country’s politics, economics, and social interactions” (52). Our forefathers created the opportunity to forge a new nation by working hard for what they wanted, and they made work a basis upon which America has stood until today. If no one works, how can we still call ourselves Americans? I know progress has happened and we have formed better and new ways, but I think that if we come to the place where America is part of “a world without work,” we will have evolved into a nation that is completely different. The path to technological unemployment, which we are currently headed towards, leads to a transformation of the characterization of our communities and cultures today. Compared to the days of our predecessors and the way they had to work to provide for themselves, we have a come a very, very long way. They could not even begin to understand a world such as ours today. Maybe the future will be the same for us. We don’t understand it now, but maybe our descendants will view us as uncivilized because we must actually work at jobs, instead of letting technology do everything for us. Even so, technological unemployment will create a future where there is less human interaction, no purpose or meaning in life, and major changes in cultures and communities—all of these being undesirable characteristics of life. Because of this, I think workers should be wary of technological employment, although it does not necessarily have to be feared. Technology is

a wonderful tool. It has already improved many various aspects of an innumerable number of fields. However, if it continues to replace the current human workforce, there could be problems. Even if it all worked out and a new political system, distribution of wealth, and society were established, how many people would lose everything before we reached that point? We need to start paying attention and figuring out how to discern whether technology is helping or harming the future of the workplace and the lives of all the workers involved.  Works Cited Byrne, David. "Eliminating the Human." MIT Technology Review, no. 5, 2017, p. 8. EBSCOhost. Danaher, John. "Will Life Be Worth Living in a World without Work? Technological Unemployment and the Meaning of Life." Science & Engineering Ethics, vol. 23, no. 1, Feb. 2017, pp. 41-64. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1007/s11948-016-9770-5. Floridi, Luciano. "Technological Unemployment, Leisure Occupation, and the Human Project." Philosophy & Technology, no. 2, 2014, p. 143. EBSCOhost, media. etbu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db =edsgao&AN=edsgcl.373886518&site=eds-live. Thompson, Derek. "A World without Work." Atlantic, vol. 316, no. 1, Jul/Aug2015, p. 50. EBSCOhost, media.etbu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/ login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=103194669&site=eds-live.