Personal response to Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front by Wendell Berry

I find this to be a very powerful form of writing. He uses commands to grab the readers attention and convince them to live in the manner he is advocating. He wants the reader to appreciate what is all around them and live their life to the fullest, loving and caring for nature, appreciating all of its wonders. I think it is a very effective way of conveying this point because he essentially calls people to action, yet the action he desires is not as obvious and stated as you would think. I like how he ends the poem with the statement about the fox and how it lays down tracks in many direction so you can pin it down,and catch it. But he doesn't just suggest that this is a good way to live, he commands it. "Be like the fox, who makes more tracks than necessary, some in the wrong direction." I think there is something very bold and strong about this piece. I think the right way to explain it would be to say that he employs Ethos to convey his message and grab the readers attention. It works well.