Reading Response "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift has stuck with me since I first read it in high school, which is why I chose it as the reading for my week. I wanted to see how others would respond to something this provoking. I've always found it impossible to read this article without ceding at least a little humanity in the interest of the greater good. Naturally, it is gross and immoral to conceive of the actions proposed in the proposal actually coming to fruition. Yet, it is that word "naturally" that strikes me so pointedly. Why is it that it is only natural to consider the act of killing babies evil? Why is there a concept of good and evil? It's heartbreaking to think anyone could consider killing and eating babies to be okay, but if it would benefit all of humanity, why do we feel that way? Even if not for the greater progression of our species, but just for ourselves, why wouldn't we be able to consider this as a genuinely viable optio...
