Article Review and Summary: I, Pencil
I, Pencil
Summary:
This was an article written from the aspect of a wooden pencil. The pencil first starts out talking about how no one knows how to make him/her. It states that it is a mystery even more so than a tree or a sunset. It goes on to talk about even though it might look like a simple object, it is much more complex with creation. Referencing each piece used to create the pencil, then tracing its genealogy to those who made objects used for transportation, manufacturing, texturing, etc of those pieces. The pencil then talks about how no one really wants it, but many rely on it. How no one had a big hand in creation, yet each step is more important than the last. The pencil this whole article was working off the idea “If you can become aware of the miraculousness which I symbolize, you can help save the freedom mankind is so unhappily losing.” When it comes down to it, the pencil was talking about the freedoms of humans. Without that, things such as pencils would not exist. Its final message that it was presenting was “Leave all creative energies uninhibited.”
Opinion:
I thought the article was very amusing, and did make me think a bit. Both from the point of view about the economics of a pencil and all that is behind the creation, and how its example can be applied to many facing the economic issues in the world. Going back to the pencil itself, I never really gave a thought before about everything it takes to get a normal, ordinary pencil in my fingers. All the people, money, and skill involved to create it. Something that as first glance, seems so simple, yet is so complex. How one pencil in Arizona, can be traced to so many other locations is astounding. It was a neat way to tie the beliefs of freedom and government involvement in trade together. I liked how it presented that you do not need a mastermind, yet just a bunch of tiny know it alls to make things work in the economy. You do not need Government or anyone else
Summary:
This was an article written from the aspect of a wooden pencil. The pencil first starts out talking about how no one knows how to make him/her. It states that it is a mystery even more so than a tree or a sunset. It goes on to talk about even though it might look like a simple object, it is much more complex with creation. Referencing each piece used to create the pencil, then tracing its genealogy to those who made objects used for transportation, manufacturing, texturing, etc of those pieces. The pencil then talks about how no one really wants it, but many rely on it. How no one had a big hand in creation, yet each step is more important than the last. The pencil this whole article was working off the idea “If you can become aware of the miraculousness which I symbolize, you can help save the freedom mankind is so unhappily losing.” When it comes down to it, the pencil was talking about the freedoms of humans. Without that, things such as pencils would not exist. Its final message that it was presenting was “Leave all creative energies uninhibited.”
Opinion:
I thought the article was very amusing, and did make me think a bit. Both from the point of view about the economics of a pencil and all that is behind the creation, and how its example can be applied to many facing the economic issues in the world. Going back to the pencil itself, I never really gave a thought before about everything it takes to get a normal, ordinary pencil in my fingers. All the people, money, and skill involved to create it. Something that as first glance, seems so simple, yet is so complex. How one pencil in Arizona, can be traced to so many other locations is astounding. It was a neat way to tie the beliefs of freedom and government involvement in trade together. I liked how it presented that you do not need a mastermind, yet just a bunch of tiny know it alls to make things work in the economy. You do not need Government or anyone else