Apocalypse: What Disasters Reveal - Reaction by Jake Pozin

Of all the insights that Junot Diaz offered in his piece, the most interesting and thought provoking idea was of how we perceive disasters. Whenever a disaster occurs, the first thing we think of is that the disaster was a natural cause. Diaz offered the idea that the disasters in reality are caused socially. The idea itself is mindblowing! People often assume the apocalypse is the end of the world and will occur naturally, but by the way Diaz explains it, these disasters, in reality, are caused by us. We take for granted the small chances of problems that our actions may cause. For example, the United States government's decision to sell hundreds of square miles of wetlands to developers sets up a prime opportunity for accidents to occur. This insight by Diaz allows for thought-provoking reflection upon how our actions affect the world around us. It brings up the importance of sustainability and makes us think of our true impact on our surroundings. Diaz's ideas are so often overlooked, but after reading his work it truly makes one reflect about his impact on the world and the possible apocalypse.