we need computer

WHY I AM GOING TO KEEP MY COMPUTER

In Wendell Berry 's essay , why I am not going to buy a computer (1987 he cites rather entertaining reasons why he opts not to own the newest piece of hardware that IBM or Macintosh produces . He prefers , when writing his work , to use the age-old combination of pen--wife Although his essay was very well written (he must have a very vigilant editor , I am unconvinced and remain quite to my computer . I am , however , a firm believer in freedom of speech and definitely , Berry

br is well within his right to put forth his ideas . No matter how far-fetched and reminiscent of `tree-hugging ' activities his opinions are , we all must respect , if not agree , with his . Be that as it may , in the following paragraphs , I wish to rebut Berry 's three main arguments And I will do so with the aid of this beautiful piece of machinery and I find that my soul is not any more stained with each keystroke I make

Berry 's arguments for not owning a computer may be summarized as (1 ) he would hate that his work be dependent on strip-mined coal (2 ) owning a computer would threaten the place of his wife who held the position of his only assistant as she diligently typed and edited his work for years and (3 ) He does not want to delude himself by thinking that a computer as opposed to pen and method , would make his writing any better

Berry 's first argument is heavily rooted in the fact that computers use electricity and thus using one would turn him into a rapist of the environment . While this does show his admirable commitment to the plights of nature , this sweeping comment overlooks a few things Everything that is man-made in this world is a product of environmental resources . The s and pens , which he lovingly uses when articulating his ideas , are also by-products of `raping the environment ' How then would he distinguish which was more of a rape In the field of law , unlike murder , there is no such thing as frustrated rape . There are no gray areas between the attempt and the consummation of the act . If one were to apply his sweeping logic to every man-made product in the world , a nuclear weapon would just be as destructive as a toaster . And we all know that it isn 't an army of breakfast appliances that makes the United States so nervous about North Korea

His second argument about how a computer would disrupt the working relationship between him and his best-oiled machine (Mrs . Berry ) is just downright ridiculous . I speak not of the issues of female subservience that some of his readers took offense to . I speak of the fact that a marriage is something more than a piece of , and definitely should not be hinged on a piece of machinery . I do not doubt the fact that his wife is as supportive...