FBB Epilogue

With the conclusion of the book, it is clear that Iverson is making a statement about the human condition. While the entirety of the book focuses on just Rocky Flats and Kristens life, in the Epilogue she speaks of Fukashima, and chernobyl, and the effects they had on the rest of Europe. Here she mentions the japanese government "Japanese officials downplayed the accident. Initially assessed as Level Four..." (page 343)  I think this is more evidence supporting the idea that she is speaking about the awareness of the public, and not just about the dangers of nuclear power. Later in the chapter she mentions Japanese protests to nuclear power, maybe we should follow their lead? I think she is trying to show that its not just the American government thats evil, but its that it is human nature to be passive in these situations.

Because her book is more about the dangers of ignorance and denial I cant help but feel that there needs to be some more thought about nuclear energy. Its an incredibly efficient and clean source of energy if its properly handled. While the radioactive waste will never go away safe storage of it is possible. It can realistically power large infrastructure just like coal or oil. Solar, geo-thermal, and wind power are all very far from being capable of that. If we proceed as Iverson suggests, with critical analysis of the governments procedures, then I think sustainable power could be closer than ever.

Reactions to Full Body Burden (and Parable of the Sower) as of 5 a.m. 9/30

I excerpted a mass amount from your blog entries (see below); many intriguing thoughts to discuss today, along with how to move forward with our work on saving Barclay grounds. I've spoken with John Cottage, and I'm in contact with another member of the "Save Barclay Grounds" group, so I have things to report!

Spring

Depression

Laura: “I feel swamped with all of this information. I'm overwhelmed with how awful humanity can truly be. And with all of that, I feel like there is absolutely nothing I could ever do to make a difference. I am aware how day in and day out I am consciously choosing to ignore the problems with the world and I deny that anything is wrong. I choose to close my eyes and everyday my eyes are torn open over and over again. I'll be doing my assignments for class and start crying uncontrollably…. [Now] I show up. I take notes. I sit quietly and smile and nod. I eat with my friends, I hang out, I don't talk about the subjects that bring me to tears. I am doing what Iversen was doing for a long time. I close my eyes and I live.”

What Will Our Future Be?

Loren: “In the epilogue of Full Body Burden Iverson continues to talk more about the contamination and risks of Rocky Flats. She talks about other nuclear disasters around the world, and how the government also kept huge secrets from them in other countries. Overall I really enjoyed this book because I was learning about something I have never even heard of before. It is very interesting and extremely scary to me that the government and the people you're supposed to trust can keep such crucial information from you. I think I liked Parable of the Sower a little bit more than Full Body Burden. I liked that it took place in the future and seemed pretty unrealistic. This made me start to think about if it could actually ever happen or not. Not all of the details of the book seemed logical for the future, but it was just something to get us thinking, and it worked.”                                                                                                                                                       

Kasey: “In the epilogue Iverson writes about other nuclear disasters throughout the world and then talks of future plans for producing more ‘pits’ in the United States. Iverson writes of a plan to build a facility to make 450 pits a year. Luckily Iverson writes, ‘So far, the NNSA has failed to gain full congressional support’ (344). Maybe the government is finally learning from their mistakes and caring about the good of everyone. Probably not.” 

Jacob: “One of the things that I have taken from this class is that we seem not to react to environmental problems until it is too late. Although it was a fictional story, the Parable of the Sower captures this very well. All the problems with water and fuel sources got so bad that they are basically irreversible by the time the story takes place. Today we are facing a growing scarcity of fossil fuels, much research is going it to green energy, but probably not as much as we should. The focus on finding alternative energy sources will likely not increase until another spike in gas prices or electric bills force it to. Rocky Flats is another example. People ignored the problem for years and by the time enough people knew about the problem it was too late. It's impossible with today's technology to clean up Rocky Flats without bankrupting the government, but even with a huge budget a clean-up project wouldn't be able to completely reverse the effects of Rocky Flats.”

Fukushima & The Question of Nuclear Power

Jenny: “I have been very fortunate and haven’t had to deal with a nuclear plant like the people near Rocky Flats and Fukushima had to. I could never imagine living near plutonium and the contamination. [And yet, right now you live 20 miles from a nuclear power plant.]

Rebecca: “It was not until the epilogue that I fully understood the severity of what can happen with a nuclear plant. The Fukushima incident is one of the scariest things I have ever heard about…. Kris states, "In the United States we currently have approximately 25,000 plutonium pits in our stockpile: roughly 10,000 in nuclear warheads, 5,000 in 'strategic reserve' and more than 10,000 'surplus' pits at the Pantex plant near Amarillo, Texas" (344). All of those numbers, to me, are extremely scary. Why should we need any of that in our country? If we saw what happened in Fukushima and in Russia, why would our country want to put ourselves in that same risk? I believe that is very scary and that the government is very secretive. The secretivity of our government is also something I learned more about in this memoir and how real it actually is. I remember hearing my parents talking about it and how there is so much the citizens don't actually know. I believe, if we live in America we have a right to know what is going on in our government and why things are the way they are.”

Mike W.: “The tsunami that hit Japan wasn't that long ago and it will be something that I will remember because I was alive when it happened. Everything else in this book I was not alive for, so it had less of an effect on me than something I know of would have. [Except that Rocky Flats was recently flooded!] I know that the point of this book was to make me aware that these dangers still exist, but now that Fukushima is mentioned I really feel like everything is real. The fact that Fukushima is worse than Rocky Flats makes me think more negatively about nuclear power plants. I am sure by this period of time the human race can move forward in phasing out power plants and creating alternative energy. This alternative energy is very necessary, for radiation is literally destroying the planet. In the case of a nuclear war, we could very well find the entire world a radiated mess. Before either a war or a power plant failure occurs again the world should work to make nuclear energy safer.”

Alex: “…should [we] even have nuclear energy as a resource[?] Before reading this memoir I was all for it. Anything that would reduce the consumption of fossil fuels was a good idea in my mind. Reading this made me question the way I feel about things a lot and I am starting to come to the realization that the nuclear energy may be just as bad. I understand that Rocky Flats did not produce nuclear energy they produced bombs. However, that is not the same with Fukushima. I do not believe that as humans we are responsible enough to handle nuclear anything yet. We obviously don't know how to react to it. The whole business just ends up being a lot of scandal and I think we are better off without it.”

Perks of Fiction

Ryan: “Full Body Burden was not meant for me…I think I would enjoy a memoir more if I knew who the person was… On the contrary, Parable of the Sower held my attention and kept me on edge… Keeping an eco-focused class is relevant and important in our society. These issues do not get enough attention from my generation. I am looking forward to continuing this class and getting started with our project.”

Risk of Memoir

Shelby: “I was very shocked that Iversen was able to recount such difficult times in her life and share them with the world.”

Abuse

Nicole: “I can relate to Kristin’s mother in a minor way. I was in a toxic relationship this past year (though I was not married with children). In a previous post I said that if I was her mom I would have left a long time ago. The only reason I reacted that way was because of my own personal experience in an abusive relationship. I now have made a promise to myself to always make sure I'm getting the respect I deserve.”

Smoking and Government Secrecy

Gabby: “Is it worth it to risk the lives of thousands, to simply have the ability of protection?  The Epilogue of this memoir finally made me come to the realization of why nuclear weapons are really being made. At Rocky Flats, Hanford, Fernald, and Fukushima, secrets were being kept from the residents around the plants. People can call the residents naïve, but the truth is that the truth is so much easier to recognize when you have a clear view of the entire situation… Throughout this entire memoir, one question that I’ve had is why? Why would the government risk so many lives? Is it really just because they don’t want to take the blame? …It all made sense what once I realized why the nuclear weapons were really being made. The nuclear weapons are our safety, our last resort defense, in case any other country decides to attack us. The weapons aren’t even for now, or for anything concrete. They are for a “maybe” “what if” situation… It all seems like a paranoid sense of needing safety. It’s too sick and cruel to really even wrap my head around. How deep does the deception really go? What other petty tricks and secrets are being kept from the “peasants” of the government’s “medieval” world. 

“The first thing that came to mind was smoking. My parents have been smoking since I can remember. My mother has ‘quit’ so many times it’s like a tradition, but she only ever lasts a few weeks before she’s smoking again. My older sister and I have always hated the fact that my parents smoke, and we’ve tried everything to get them to stop. I’ve been grounded more times than not from throwing my parent’s cigarettes away. I’ve tried playing the pity card when it came to my asthma, because smoke bothers me the most. I’ve even played the pity card when it came to my sister’s dad dying from leukemia. I begged my parents to stop because, ‘Sissy lost one parent to cancer, do you really want to make her go through having to lose another?’  Nothing has worked, and my question was always, why is smoking even a possibility? I can understand why way back when, when we didn’t really have too much of a clue about what smoking did to the body. Yet, now we know every terrible thing it does, and it seems to me that these days, every one smokes. I ask, why wouldn’t the government ban it after knowing what it does to the people? Yes, people may be upset but no one is going to die from not smoking, there is no mistake in that decision. What I failed to realize, was that there is a reason why the government doesn’t ban it. Yes, it slowly kills people, but it brings the government money, especially because of how addictive it is. It’s really just another trick. They know what smoking does, but all the government cares about is money, not the lives of the people. They lie to us saying it’s “free will,” but really it’s revenue; they need more money for their nuclear weapons and what better way to get it than by an addictive product? 

            “This memoir has truly caused me to care and wonder if all of what I know isn’t truly ‘all.’ It hasn’t made me into a conspiracy theorist; I just simply consider the deeper meaning, and will no longer look at the news as the given truth. I accept that there may be things I will never know, but it won’t be for a lack of trying. Iversen has taught me that the thirst of knowledge is an ever beautiful quality. There will always be something I want to know more about, and I should never stop learning. I like to think of myself as young, free, and passionate, but how do you really know? I think you have to be ready for it, realize an opportunity is in front of you and take it.  It’s all about timing, and when it comes to it, rash decision-making. I wish I could thank Iversen for opening up my mind and teaching me about one more subject I didn’t know about.  I’m one step close to passion, and just waiting for the opportunity.”

Speaking Up

Brittanee: Finishing the last of Full Body Burden brought me to the final conclusion that Kristen Iversen is an eloquent author. Combining a biography and a nonfiction story is extremely challenging but Iversen made it look simple. With her final touch of weaving together the two  most markable themes in her life, Iversen states “Many inescapable decisions have been forced upon us...To speak out or to remain silent is the first and most crucial decision we can make” (344).  A very personally relatable statement, Iversen basically summed up her reason for writing this memoir; to finally speak up. For her whole life she witnessed horrible events that again and again she wished she could just speak up about, but instead she held inside like she was taught. My connection to Iversen is similar, but at the same time different. Being a very independent person, I have always preferred keeping my feelings inside of me. This factor has always upset my mother, making her feel like she could not connect with me or felt like I was not comfortable talking to her. Although this was not true, I never changed the way I handled my feelings. Reading Iversen’s memoir has influenced me somewhat to change and instead of keeping my emotions in and letting them build up, to talk about them. Change is difficult and not always the most favored option, but just because it is difficult does not mean it is not the best thing. It is better to take care of things, avoid procrastination, and speak up when you feel something is not right. Before things approach a level that is more challenging to handle, like the Rocky Flats incident or Kris’s fathers alcoholism, this quote has spoken to me to try and speak out and alleviate the many emotions I hold inside.”

Resolution May Never Come

Chad: “Although I preferred Parable of the Sower, I still was captivated by Iversen’s eloquence and her shrewd ability to blend two seemingly irrelevant narratives into a cohesive story (her father’s alcoholism and Rocky Flats). However, what resonated most with me were Kristen’s family travails, because I experienced a very similar situation during my childhood. Thus, I could relate to her feelings of bewilderment and curiosity at her family’s rapid deterioration. In the Epilogue Kristen concludes her memoir masterfully and the very first page conveys, succinctly, the underlying theme of both narratives. “The serenity of the landscape belies the battles that still wage over who controls the land, how dangerous the levels of contamination are, and what’s to be done about it” (341). This quote personifies both the environmental debacle at Rocky Flats, and Kristen’s family’s own struggle to conceal an increasingly fractious household. Moreover in the Epilogue it is evident that with regards to Rocky Flats that a satisfactory resolution may never be fully realized. Indeed according to Kristen, “The controversy over land surrounding Rocky Flats continues as well. Government agencies claim that the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge is safe and nearby areas are fine for homes, businesses, and recreation (342). Yet the same can be said of Kristen’s estrangement with her father, a rift which may never be completely assuaged. Finally there is also a discernible pessimism in the Epilogue which is illustrated that nuclear disasters are not merely confined to Rocky Flats or the United States even. I found this ending fitting considering Kristen’s style of writing. Rather than tenderly reassuring us that Rocky Flats is nuclear aberration, Kristen assails us with startling facts and statistics which compel the reader close the book with grim uncertainty.”

Comparisons to Parable

Mike G.: "In both the Parable of Sower and Full Body Burden, the main character is part of a community which ignores the dangers that are present and worsening. Everyone in Lauren’s community, except Lauren, refuses to accept the possibility that the community might be overrun and forced to relocate. Since Lauren is the only person who doesn't ignore the true facts, I think the author used Lauren in order to make this theme more noticeable. In the Parable of the Sower, ignorance got the best of the whole town. [In Iversen’s memoir] everybody believed the government when they said that Rocky Flats was safe. Scientists and other educated people began to try to educate the public that Rocky Flats was very dangerous to the community. People started to look into it, and knew that it probably wasn't right, but stayed in the town and were too passive about it… preparing for certain things can make a huge difference."

Barclay Park: Trees

Just so everyone knows, some of the thinner trees in the park can be up to 100 to 150 years old. That means that the really thick ones can even be up to 500. It's rare to see such old trees in this part of the country anymore, with settlers in the past using so many trees for lumber.

FBB: Epilogue Laura Bruce

I know that one time in class, Spring asked us to write about something we've denied. Ever since then, I've thought a lot about the things I try not to acknowledge and it breaks my heart.
Three of my classes this year are on how humans negatively affect the Earth. Going into my freshman year of college, it wasn't at all what I was expecting. I'm not this huge go-green protester that's all about healthy choices and healthy living. I'm a quiet person who recycles and tries not to leave to much of an impact. But now, I realize the way I've been raised and the way I live my life leads me to just see the sunny days and breathe in the fresh air and pretend that all the bad isn't there. I would love to say that now that I've had these classes, I'm much more conscious and I make much more of an effort to be healthy for the environment. Unfortunately, I can't say that. I feel swamped with all of this information. I'm overwhelmed with how awful humanity can truly be. And with all of that, I feel like there is absolutely nothing I could ever do to make a difference. I am aware how day in and day out I am consciously choosing to ignore the problems with the world and I deny that anything is wrong. I choose to close my eyes and everyday my eyes are torn open over and over again. I'll be doing my assignments for class and start crying uncontrollably.
I would love to tell you that these classes have been good for me. And I suppose in some ways they are. They have taught me to think more, and to question things I don't have a clear answer to. But I also feel depression loom over me from time to time. Depression is something I have fought, as I know many others have as well, and for years I was happy to say it was something I had overcome. Now...now I can't always say that. There are other factors that come into play, but everything I've read and learned so far has brought me lower and lower into a black hole that I pretend is not surrounding me.
And thus I show up. I take notes. I sit quietly and smile and nod. I eat with my friends, I hang out, I don't talk about the subjects that bring me to tears.
I am doing what Iversen was doing for a long time.
I close my eyes and I live.

Loren Killian FBB epilogue

In the epilogue of Full Body Burden Iverson continues to talk more about the contamination and risks of Rocky Flats. She talks about other nuclear disasters around the world, and how the government also kept huge secrets from them in other countries. Overall I really enjoyed this book because I was learning about something I have never even heard of before. It is very interesting and extremely scary to me that the government and the people you're supposed to trust can keep such crucial information from you. I think I liked Parable of the Sower a little bit more than Full Body Burden. I liked that it took place in the future and seemed pretty unrealistic. This made me start to think about if it could actually ever happen or not. Not all of the details of the  book seemed logical for the future, but it was just something to get us thinking, and it worked. Both books were of significance to read for this class, and I feel as if I actually did learn a few valuable lessons.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

the last mellon

Full Body Burden to me seemed like a way for the author to pay it forward, for lack of a better term. Kristen was ignorant for so long about what was going on at Rock Flats and even inside her own family that i think her way of making up for that time was writing about it. I don't think this book was terrible, for a nonfiction. I didn't love the book like I did Parable of the Sower, but I did not mind when it was over. I can relate to Kristin’s mother in a minor way, I was in a toxic relationship this past year (though i was not married with children). In a previous post I said that if I was her mom I would have left a long time ago. The only reason I reacted that way was because of my own personal experience in an abusive relationship. I now have made a promise to myself to always make sure I'm getting the respect I deserve. 

Ryan Panko-9/29/13

Full Body Burden was not meant for me. I appreciate the book and the story it tells, however it does not hold my attention well. I think I would enjoy a memoir more if I knew who the person was or had knowledge of the focus before I picked up the book. On the contrary, Parable of the Sower held my attention and kept me on edge. With saying that, I am enjoying class so far. I think the format of posting blogs makes a lot of sense; even if I'm not enthused with the book. Keeping an eco-focused class is relevant and important in our society. These issues do not get enough attention from my generation. I am looking forward to continuing this class and getting started with our project.  

Full Body Burden Epilogue Gabriella Maddaloni

          Is it worth it to risk the lives of thousands, to simply have the ability of protection?  The Epilogue of this memoir finally made me come to the realization of why nuclear weapons are really being made.  At Rocky Flats, Hanford, Fernald, and Fukushima, secrets were being kept from the residents around the plants.  People can call the residents naïve, but the truth is that the truth is so much easier to recognize when you have a clear view of the entire situation.  When you’re on the inside looking out, everything can be much more complicated.  Throughout this entire memoir, one question that I’ve had is why?  Why would the government risk so many lives?  Is it really just because they don’t want to take the blame?  At the end of the day “’many inescapable decisions were forced upon us,’” just as Ruiko Muto stated (343).  The government forced the decision upon all of the residents near nuclear plants, that they simply weren’t going to tell them about or warn them of the danger.  The government didn’t want to freak out the people even though they knew about the risk of living there.  It all made sense what once I realized why the nuclear weapons were really being made.  The nuclear weapons are our safety, our last resort defense, in case any other country decides to attack us.  The weapons aren’t even for now, or for anything concrete.  They are for a “maybe” “what if” situation.  It all comes down to, risk the lives of a few to save many.  Yet, there’s no one to save with the nuclear weapons yet, and we don’t even know if there ever will be.  It all seems like a paranoid sense of needing safety.  It’s too sick and cruel to really even wrap my head around.
            How deep does the deception really go?  What other petty tricks and secrets are being kept from the “peasants” of the government’s “medieval” world.  The first thing that came to mind was smoking.  My parent’s have been smoking since I can remember.  My mother has “quit” so many times it’s like a tradition, but she only ever lasts a few weeks before she’s smoking again.  My older sister and I have always hated the fact that my parents smoke, and we’ve tried everything to get them to stop.  I’ve been grounded more times than not from throwing my parent’s cigarettes away.  I’ve tried playing the pity card when it came to my asthma, because smoke bothers me the most.  I’ve even played the pity card when it came to my sister’s dad dying from leukemia.  I begged my parents to stop because, “sissy lost one parent to cancer, do you really want to make her go through having to lose another?”  Nothing has worked, and my question was always, why is smoking even a possibility?  I can understand why way back when, when we didn’t really have too much of a clue about what smoking did to the body.  Yet, now we know every terrible thing it does, and it seems to me that these days, every one smokes.  I ask, why wouldn’t the government ban it after knowing what it does to the people?  Yes, people may be upset but no one is going to die from not smoking, there is no mistake in that decision.  What I failed to realize, was that there is a reason why the government doesn’t ban it.  Yes, it slowly kills people, but it brings the government money, especially because of how addictive it is.  It’s really just another trick.  They know what smoking does, but all the government cares about is money, not the lives of the people.  They lie to us saying it’s “free will,” but really it’s revenue, they need more money for their nuclear weapons and what better way to get it than by an addictive product? 

            This memoir has truly caused me to care and wonder if all of what I know isn’t truly “all.”  It hasn’t made me into a conspiracy theorist; I just simply consider the deeper meaning, and will no longer look at the news as the given truth.  I accept that there may be things I will never know, but it won’t be for a lack of trying.  Iversen has taught me that the thirst of knowledge is an ever beautiful quality.  There will always be something I want to know more about, and I should never stop learning.  I like to think of myself as young, free, and passionate, but how do you really know?  I think you have to be ready for it, realize an opportunity is in front of you and take it.  It’s all about timing, and when it comes to it, rash decision-making.  I wish I could thank Iversen for opening up my mind and teaching me about one more subject I didn’t know about.  I’m one step close to passion, and just waiting for the opportunity.

Brittanee Schaible Full Body Burden Epilogue

Brittanee Schaible

9/29/13

Full Body Burden: Epilogue

Finishing the last of Full Body Burden brought me to the final conclusion that Kristen Iversen is an eloquent author.  Combining a biography and a nonfiction story is extremely challenging but Iversen made it look simple.  With her final touch of weaving together the two  most markable themes in her life, Iversen states “Many inescapable decisions have been forced upon us...To speak out or to remain silent is the first and most crucial decision we can make” (344).  A very personally relatable statement, Iversen basically summed up her reason for writing this memoir; to finally speak up.  For her whole life she witnessed horrible events that again and again she wished she could just speak up about, but instead she held inside like she was taught.  My connection to Iversen is similar, but at the same time different.  Being a very independent person, I have always preferred keeping my feelings inside of me.  This factor has always upset my mother, making her feel like she could not connect with me or felt like I was not comfortable talking to her.  Although this was not true, I never changed the way I handled my feelings.  Reading Iversen’s memoir has influenced me somewhat to change and instead of keeping my emotions in and letting them build up, to talk about them.  Change is difficult and not always the most favored option, but just because it is difficult does not mean it is not the best thing.  It is better to take care of things, avoid procrastination, and speak up when you feel something is not right.  Before things approach a level that is more challenging to handle, like the Rocky Flats incident or Kris’s fathers alcoholism, this quote has spoken to me to try and speak out and alleviate the many emotions I hold inside.

Kaitlyn Weston- Epilogue

I’m going to agree with the majority of the class and say that I definitely did enjoy the parts of the book the reflected on Kris’s life and how she dealt with every day struggles, but the parts about Rocky Flats were boring and I struggled to read through them.  While reading about Rocky Flats, I knew the basis of what was going on and I understood the dangers of the plutonium, but it felt as though the details given about Rocky Flats were repetitive and unnecessary.  Although the information was informative, it was a lot to take in and very confusing at times.  I couldn’t keep up with which group was which.  But the memoir part of the book was truly interesting.  To learn about how she grew up and what her family was like reminded me of the way that Butler wrote Parable of the Sower. 
All in all, I did enjoy the book and found it very helpful and informative.  I am now more aware of what can happen and how to prevent it from happening again.

Jacob Brown FBB final post

    One of the things that I have taken from this class is that we seem not to react to environmental problems until it is to late. Although it was a fictional story, the Parable of the Sower captures this very well. All the problems with water and fuel sources got so bad that they are basically irreversible by the time the story takes place. Today we are facing a growing scarcity of fossil fuels, much research is going it to green energy, but probably not as much as we should. The focus on finding alternative energy sources will likely not increase until another spike in gas prices or electric bills force it to. Rocky Flats is another example. People ignored the problem for years and by the time enough people knew about the problem it was to late. It's impossible with today's technology  to clean up Rocky Flats without bankrupting the government, but even with a huge budget a clean up project wouldn't be able to completely reverse the effects of Rocky Flats .

Epilogue - Shelby Gallant

While I didn't enjoy the parts of this book about Rocky Flats, I did enjoy the memoir aspect of it. I feel as though it was nice to hear from someone who had first hand experience with it. I was very shocked that Iversen was able to recount such difficult times in her life and share them with the world. As far as the Rocky Flat's part of this novel, I did learn a lot. I had no idea just how serious the nuclear powerpoint issue was. While I may not have always enjoyed reading it in the moment, looking back it was very educational. My final thought on this book was just how fitting the last paragraph of it was. "Many inescapable decisions have been forced upon us- decisions about nuclear weapons and nuclear energy that will have far-reaching consequences with sometimes dangerous and unintended results. To speak out or remain silent is the first and most crucial decision we can make" (Iversen 344). I think that there could not have been a more appropriate last thought for Iversen to leave us with. It ties everything together so perfectly. 

Rebecca Gold Epilogue

       It was not until the epilogue that I fully understood the severity of what can happen with a nuclear plant. The Fukushima incident is one of the scariest things I have ever heard about. Although I hated half of this book, I did really enjoy the other half. I found myself becoming distracted while reading the parts strictly about Rocky Flats. Those sections of the memoir did not catch my attention. However, the parts about Iversen's life had me very intrigued. The topic of Nuclear Plants and Plutonium is not really used in books often. Up until my freshman year of college, I have not read a book/ memoir about this topic. When I would read the parts about Kris' life I found myself relating to her all to often because of our childhoods. Even though they were extremely different, they were incredibly similar at the same time. Her childhood with her horse was just like mine. I was given a horse as a gift and it still remains my best friend, just like Kris. Also her parents getting divorced was much like my own life.
      The epilogue was when I fully understood how severe Nuclear plants have on our environment. Kris states, "In the United States we currently have approximately 25,000 plutonium pits in our stockpile: roughly 10,000 in nuclear warheads, 5,000 in 'strategic reserve' and more than 10,000 'surplus' pits at the Pantex plant near Amarillo, Texas" (344). All of those numbers, to me, are extremely scary. Why should we need any of that in our country? If we saw what happened in Fukushima and in Russia, why would our country want to put ourselves in that same risk? I believe that is very scary and that the government is very secretive.
     The secretivity of our government is also something I learned more about in this memoir and how real it actually is. I remember hearing my parents talking about it and how there is so much the citizens don't actually know. I believe, if we live in America we have a right to know what is going on in our government and why things are the way they are.

Epilogue: Chad Renner

            Although I preferred Parable of the Sower, I still was captivated by Iversen’s eloquence and her shrewd ability to blend two seemingly irrelevant narratives into a cohesive story (her father’s alcoholism and Rocky Flats). However, what resonated most with me was Kristen’s family travails because I experienced a very similar situation during my childhood. Thus I could relate to her feelings of bewilderment and curiosity at her families rapid deterioration. In the Epilogue Kristen concludes her memoir masterfully and the very first page conveys, succinctly, the underlying theme of both narratives. “ The serenity of the landscape belies the battles that still wage over who controls the land, how dangerous the levels of contamination are, and what’s to be done about it” (341). This quote personifies both the environmental debacle at Rocky Flats, and Kristen’s family’s own struggle to conceal an increasingly fractious household. Moreover in the Epilogue it is evident that with regards to Rocky Flats that a satisfactory resolution may never be fully realized. Indeed according to Kristen, “The controversy over land surrounding Rocky Flats continues as well. Government agencies claim that the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge is safe and nearby areas are fine for homes, businesses, and recreation (342). Yet the same can be said of Kristen’s estrangement with her father, a rift which may never be completely assuaged. Finally the is also a discernible pessimism in the Epilogue which is illustrated that nuclear disasters are not merely confined to Rocky Flats or the United States even. I found this ending fitting considering Kristen’s style of writing. Rather than tenderly reassuring us that Rocky Flats is nuclear aberration, Kristen assails us with startling facts and statistics which compel the reader close the book with grim uncertainty.

Michael Weiss Epilogue

   
 "Many inescapable decisions have been forced upon us--decisions about nuclear weapons and nuclear energy that will have far-reaching consequences with sometimes dangerous and unintended results." -Kristen Iverson

        The epilogue of the book gave more examples of the dangers of nuclear power plants. The entire book was a cautionary tale, but seeing her talk about the Fukushima disaster made this more real to me. The tsunami that hit Japan wasn't that long ago and it will be something that I will remember because I was alive when it happened. Everything else in this book I was not alive for so it had less of an effect on me than something I know of would have. I know that the point of this book was to make me aware that these dangers still exist, but now that Fukushima is mentioned I really feel like everything is real. The fact that Fukushima is worse than Rocky Flats makes me think more negatively about nuclear power plants. I am sure by this period of time the human race can move forward in phasing out power plants and creating alternative energy. This alternative energy is very necessary, for radiation is literally destroying the planet. In the case of a nuclear war, we could very well find the entire world a radiated mess. Before either a war or a power plant failure occurs again the world should work to make nuclear energy safer.  

Epilogue Full Body Burden- Alex Parkinson

"Many inescapable decisions have been forced upon us- decisions about nuclear weapons and nuclear energy that will have far reaching consequences with sometimes dangerous and unintended results. To speak out or to remain silent is the first and most crucial decision we can make."

This is the last paragraph in Full Body Burden. I find it interesting that Butler ended the memoir like this. After sharing all of her experiences with the nuclear power plant she really left us with some food for thought. I feel like she is almost asking more than just if we should speak out but if we should even have nuclear energy as a resource. Before reading this memoir I was all for it. Anything that would reduce the consumption of fossil fuels was a good idea in my mind. Reading this made me question the way I feel about things a lot and I am starting to come to the realization that the nuclear energy may be just as bad.
I understand that Rocky Flats did not produce nuclear energy they produced bombs. However, that is not the same with Fukushima. I do not believe that as humans we are responsible enough to handle nuclear anything yet. We obviously don't know how to react to it. The whole business just ends up being a lot of scandal and I think we are better off without it.

FBB Epilogue Kasey Gould

                I really enjoyed reading Full Body Burden. I enjoy reading nonfiction more than fiction so I enjoyed this book more than Parable of the Sower. Iverson’s way of telling two stories simultaneously was an interesting way of writing to me.

                In the epilogue Iverson writes about other nuclear disasters throughout the world and then talks of future plans for producing more “pits” in the United States. Iverson writes of a plan to build a facility to make 450 pits a year. Luckily Iverson writes,” So far, the NNSA has failed to gain full congressional support” (344). Maybe the government is finally learning from their mistakes and caring about the good of everyone. Probably not.  

Epilogue/sum up entire class-Mike Giolli

The books that we have read so far have made us think about different many different themes. Reading books can be a way of thinking about real life problems that you don't realize without the real life examples. After you read a book, you can start to compare things to your own life.
In both the Parable of Sower and Full Body Burdon, the main character is part of a community which ignores the dangers that are present and worsening. Everyone in Laurens community, except Lauren, refuses to except the possibility that the community might be overrun and forced to relocate. Since Lauren is the only person who doesn't ignore the true facts, I think the author used Lauren in order to make this theme more noticeable. In the Parable of the Sower, ignorance got the best of the whole town. Everybody believed the government when they said that Rocky Flats was safe. Scientists and other educated people began to try to educate the public that Rocky Flats was very dangerous to the community. People started to look into it, and knew that it probably wasn't right, but stayed in the town and were too passive about it. In my own life, I can see this theme as relevant. Sometimes when there is something stressing me out that I know I could prepare for, I ignore it and pretend everything is okay because I don't want to deal with it. An example is studying for a huge test. After I do my regular studying, I sometimes feel like I need to do more to be fully prepared, but I ignore the stress and hope that everything will be okay. Sometimes this is a good thing to be able to do because it can allow your anxiety to go down, but other times, such as in the Parable of the Sower, preparing for certain things can make a huge difference.

In addition, Full Body Burdon has a theme of secrecy. The government doesn't tell people what is really going on at Rocky Flats. When people finally begin to learn more about what they're producing, the government lies. They say that the amount of radiation is completely harmless to the community, meanwhile almost every family in Kris's neighborhood had a problem with cancer. When they went to court, the outcome of the trials were very questionable and seemed corrupt. I understand that national security was a problem, but they could have produced the triggers in a better spot and stopped lying about it. I think the author wanted people to realize what the government was doing, and how careless they were with peoples lives. We may think that things like this aren't going on in the world today, but I believe Iverson accounts for that as well. I never heard of the Rocky Flats situation at all before reading this. I think she meant to show people that weren't familiar with the situation that government corruption is happening, and most people don't even hear about it. So many people trust the government and believe that if we were being lied to, it would be a big deal and everybody would hear about it. Iverson does a good job of showing how government secrecy plays a part in our world today and how people react.

Full Body Burden Epilogue Jenny Pollack

                 In the end I decided that I like half of this book. The part about Kris’s life wasn’t bad to read but the part about Rocky Flats I found myself having trouble reading it. I liked Parable of the Sower better because I find it easier to read a fiction novel rather than a memoir.

                The epilogue talks about Fukushima. Iversen explains, “It was the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. More than 100,000 Japanese residents in surrounding communities were forced to flee” (342). Thinking about the struggles Japanese residents had to endure makes me upset. I have been very fortunate and haven’t had to deal with a nuclear plant like the people near Rocky Flats and Fukushima had to. I could never imagine living near plutonium and the contamination. The stress and unknown of what could occur would scare me and cause me to live in fear. I think that this book ended with Kristen Iversen being in a good place because she rekindled her relationship with her father and seemed happier towards the end of the book.

FBB Chapter 8 - Kasey Gould

                In chapter 8 of Full Body Burden a few things Iverson wrote really caught my attention. Iverson writes, “Mike Norton testified for the defense, but, surprisingly even he concurred that serious environmental crimes occurred at Rocky Flats” (315). I thought this was a very bold decision considering he was testifying for the defense. When Iverson writes, “It turns out Peter had a heart problem, a birth defect. His heart is four times the size it should be” (329), I connect this to him being such a loving father and husband and being such a loyal man. He spent 20 years fighting for the defense and the truth. I find it inspirational that he would do this especially when he tells his children that no one, not even the government, is above questioning. I try to live by this motto too, nobody is above anyone. We should be on a level playing field. 

FBB#8: Laura Bruce

Despite everything that happened with Rocky Flats, and then everything else that has happened in her life. I feel that writing about her dad and talking to him after starting the book must have been the most difficult thing for Iversen. Yes, Rocky Flats is a scary idea and it affected her life a lot. But, it's the things close to the heart that have the largest impact, and to think that she was able to go back to her father like she did, rather than abandon him completely shows a lot of courage. And I'm glad she put that in there. It's courage that we need. She supplied us with knowledge, which is something we can find, but she showed us courage and that is what is important.

fbb ch 8

This chapter had a lot to do  with lawsuits and compensations. No matter how much proof is given to the court and to the individuals, they still ignore it. The facts are literally right in front of them but most people keep telling themselves there are other explanations. The woman that Kristen is introduced to says, "They're hoping we'll just forget about it. If we can't see it, it can't be real, right?"(White, 302). This is the way everyone thinks about Rocky Flats. Because they can't actually see the contaminants, they're telling themselves that it isn't even there. There are very few people who accept the facts. I know if I had cancer, along with many others in my community, I would want some reason behind it. Sampling and testing is done over and over throughout this chapter,  and so many people are getting sick and dying. Iverson says, "We don't talk about plutonium. It's bad for business. It reminds us of what we don't want to acknowledge about ourselves." This reminded me of Kristen's entire life. Her mother was constantly telling her not to speak of things. All of their family issues were quite obvious, but they thought ignoring them would some how make them go away. In the end Rocky Flats was opened to the public despite the dangers. I still can't believe that anyone would buy or build a house there after all of the events that occurred.

Brittanee Schaible Full Body Burden Chapter 8

Brittanee Schaible

9/26/13

Full Body Burden Chapter 8

In the chapter What Lies Beneath, one interesting quote particularly stood out to me.  During Kris’s reuniting with her father at Starbucks he begins to tell her a story.  Explaining to Kris about a woman who made him drive 40 minutes away, he states that the woman said “...take me back” (312).  At first as her father’s story came to an end I was confused on multiple accounts.  First, I was unsure of why her father, after not seeing his daughter for so long, would bring up such an odd story.  Secondly, I began to wonder why Kristen Iversen included this in her memoir.  After thinking for a few minutes, I realized that most authors include strange things in their stories or books for a reason.  To get the reader questioning and thinking for answers.  No doubt, Kristen included this in her memoir because she came to a point where she understood that her father had a deeper meaning to his story.  Kris‘ father brought up this story as a way of admitting to her that he was sorry.  He was sorry for all the time he was not there.  Sorry for not showing as much affection as he could throughout her childhood.  When the woman said “Take me back”, Kris’s father was also taken back.  He finally came to say sorry...”it’s the first time he’s ever apologized to me for anything” (311).     

Jacob Brown chapter 8 FBB

    One of the striking things about this chapter was the information on the lasting effects of the plutonium. It will 240,000 years until the plutonium at Rocky Flats will near the end of its lifetime (Iverson 333). Unless new technology arrives that allows it to be cleaned up, Rocky Flats will continue to be a health hazard. Despite the governments claims, it seems apparent that Rocky Flats is still radiating energy that is causing serious harm. It is crazy to think that hundreds of generations could be exposed to radiation due to our Cold War policy. 240,000 years from now the Cold will war most likely be forgotten, but the effects of Rocky Flats could still be felt by the areas inhabitants. Government officials are concerned about how to communicate, to future people, the dangers of Rocky Flats and areas like it. We certainly don't communicate the same way as people 240,000 years before us. "Linguists are working to develop symbols or pictures that will warn of contamination and can last hundreds and thousands of years" (Iverson 333).

Final Chapter of Full Body Burden Gabriella Maddaloni-my own personal "writing about what scares me" triumph

            This chapter was definitely the most insightful one, and the most meaningful one to me.  One quote that really struck me because I can admit to having thought it myself, except as referring to both parents instead of one in particular, was, “What is a daughter’s responsibility to a father?  Is a child obligated to love, care for, and respect a parent in the face of indifference?  Indifference that is perhaps more devastating than conflict or anger?  He has been absent, tormented, darkly destructive, angry, sometimes threatening.  I am invisible to him, yet my father looms so large in my memory and imagination that I can’t seem to knock him loose from my head or my heart”  (Iversen, 309).    This struck me so strongly because I can admit to feeling, at many times, abandoned by my parents. 

            I was, for lack of a better word, “trained” at a very young age by my parents to be strong and independent.  It was an unspoken rule in my house that crying was weakness, while suffering in my bedroom alone in silence was strength and respected.  I always knew that my parents loved me, I just didn’t understand their lack of needing to express it.  I’m not an overly emotional, constantly crying, hugging type by any means.  Yet, I do express my feelings of love towards those I care deeply for.  That wasn’t the case for my parents, and while I knew they loved me even without saying, I was almost positive they didn’t love each other and I still am.  They constantly fought and I can remember from as young as three years old, hearing them scream at each other downstairs in the kitchen.  Four years ago, I was sick of the lack of emotion.  I was holding everything in to keep them happy, and they had an unattainable sight of perfection for me.  I had to do everything that everyone else was doing, but more and better.    I had to sing, play violin, piano, guitar.  I had to run cross country, track, swim, and play field hockey.  Anything other than number 1 or varsity was unacceptable.  I was never good enough, with grades or school, even though I had a 104 overall percentage.  Then the knowing of their love for me ended.  I became the object of their hatred, and starting then all we were ever able to do was fight.  The screaming matches at each other became bonds for them because they were screaming at me, the common enemy.  I was lost beyond all hope, and I couldn’t hide from the fighting anymore because it was directed at me; if I tried to run they’d follow me.  It all became too much for my 14 year old self to handle.  Soon I had unknowingly unleashed a deadly habit, cutting.  I was great at lying and keeping it from everyone simply by cutting areas no one would see.  The only time I made it at all obvious was at home, but my parents ignored it.  Years later, after overcoming my habit, my parents admitted to having known the entire time.  It was no surprise to me that they knew because my parents had only asked about it once in the three year span of me all but waving my cuts in their faces.  They asked and my less-than enthusiastic response was that I dropped my razor in the shower, a pathetic cover-up because all I really wanted was for them to care.  Eventually I realized that I couldn’t make them care for me and I had to care for myself, but this happened in a much more dramatic manner than needed. So I forced them to admit my problem, there was no more hiding in my room, or hiding my cuts in places covered by clothing.  They made it clear that I would receive professional help.  They were supportive and sought me treatment.  Now, looking back, I wonder why I so badly wanted their acceptance and love when all I ever really needed was my own.  Therapy actually helped me overcome my own insecurities, which turned out to be at the root of the whole problem. 

            The reason I chose the quote I did, was because I can empathize with feeling invisible.  I was never enough of a shining star for my parents to notice and congratulate me.  I can empathize with feeling frustrated by knowing they have forgotten me, but not being able to forget them.  I suppose I have finally reached the point of where my parents wanted me to, strength.  No amount of criticism from anyone can harm me, I only care about what I think of myself, and what those whom I deeply care for, love, and trust think about me.  I don’t concern myself, anymore, with people who haven’t proven to me that they deserve for me to care what they think.  I am finally truly strong, independent and most importantly happy.  This quote could sum up a good 17 years of my life, but I no longer let those thoughts define me. I put myself through too many years of forced silence behind closed doors, just to make my parents happy.  Yet, I’ve made the conscience decision to break that silence because “the cost of silence and the secrets it contains is high, but you don’t learn the price until later” (Iversen 300).