Lawrence and Brower

I chose to read Jacob Lawrence's story because I wanted to hear the opinions of an artist and how he interpreted the century. I still have not read an artist's story, so I wanted to learn something different. I also chose to read David Brower's conversation because I was curious to read how an environmentalist viewed the century. None of the other chapters seemed as appealing to me because I wanted to read how two different people were affected by the same events.

Lawrence offers good advice for the future by describing what really benefited him while growing up. Programs that were established during the Great Depression through the Roosevelt administration proved to be life changing for Jacob when he was young. Lawrence believes, "It's too bad we don't have more of that today-government support of the arts. In schools, the first programs cut are music, dance, the arts. If we don't realize how much these things contribute to the quality of life, we'll lose it. I see these youngsters on the street, never exposed to this experience-they've lost it, their chance at that life". He views programs such as art, music, and dance as vital to a child's development and important to upkeep in schools. An key lesson learned from the past century is the positive impact the arts have on children, which is something that should be continued in the future. Lawrence provides evidence to his opinion, "If it weren't for these federal programs, I probably would have been lost and drifting like so many young people were, without any sense of belonging. I dread to think what would have happened to me. Today I go out on the street and I look at these children, twelve, thirteen years old. Where will they be five years from now? Our society today doesn't recognize what potential may be in them". He would be lost without the programs and he worries that is what happening to todays society because everyone underestimates potential. Students need to be pushed and art helps keep kids out of trouble. Jacob warns society but also advises it to realize the importance of each individual and establish art programs in order to enlighten students.

David Brower also offers advice to future generations about the environment. He is worried about the environment and the impact people have on it. It is important to take action and help prevent any further damage. He explains that it is important to look ahead to the future and plan for it. Brower advises, "We have to have a sense of the future. The only thing that is real is Now. The Nows to come are going to be as real for the people living in the next year, the next century, the next millennium as the Now of this moment. The indigenous people were thinking seven generations ahead. They were too conservative. They didn't know the capability of the human species to damage their stamping ground the way we do. So we have to think further ahead. What is the earth going to be like in a thousand years from now? What do we do with the nuclear stuff?". The most important thing we can do it look ahead into the future and be prepared for it. We have to answer major questions and young people have the power to do it. We basically have to put everything together in regards to generations ahead of us. David's focus in to help the environment and this job is in the hands of the young.