Homeplace

3 Pages 636 Words

The Downfall of Modernization
“The grass is always greener on the other side” is a common quote spoken by many. What most people don’t know, is the full concept of what that saying means. In “Homeplace”, Sanders explains just the opposite of the quote’s definition while preaching about the pleasures of the confines of one’s home and homeland. With numerous exemplifications, Sanders tries to stress the concept that remaining in one area throughout a person’s life makes the world a better place, and an individual more respectable.
Sanders says that “people who root themselves in places” are much more likely to “know and care for those places” than are “people who root themselves in ideas.” But are not ideas just figments of our imagination waiting to be carried out by their creator? Ideas can and will change, and it seems as if this is what Sanders is emphasizing. Perhaps Dickens, a famous author, best reinforces this theory when he wrote, “An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself.”
There are many methods that Sanders uses to oppose his reader’s opinions to moving. One of the most convincing ways is how he relates living in one area to religiousness. He states, “I cannot have a spiritual center without having a geographical one.” This can be interpreted literally and signify that someone cannot be in touch with God if they do not have a permanent residence. Or, it can mean that one will not be able to feel that they have a physical state of being or sense of belonging if they do not have a lasting homeland. This can change people’s minds about moving by giving them a sort of spiritual awakening. For the first time for them, being settled takes on a greater meaning. The positives of moving to newer, fresher, and lusher land are jaded by the darker, more depressing side of moving.
Another tactic utilized by Sanders is using the nation’...