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Akdom Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary
"Thin Veneer"
"The Thin Veneer of Civilization
The big lesson of Katrina is not about the incompetence of the Bush administration, the scandalous neglect of poor black people in the United States or our unpreparedness for major natural disasters, though all of those apply. Katrina's big lesson is that the crust of civilization on which we tread is always wafer thin. One tremor and you've fallen through, scratching and gouging for your life like a wild dog. You think the looting, rape and armed terror that emerged within hours in New Orleans couldn't happen elsewhere? Think again. "
The author's analogy of the "crust of civilization" being "thin" confuses me. I'm not familar with the metaphor. I see "crust" I immediately think of pies. So, here is what I think he means: The seemingly stable human society is actually very vulnerable and fragile. So it's something like walking on thin ice.
And also, what does the title mean? Veneer means attractive appearance, right?
Does Thin Veneer means the thin surface of our civilization?
Would you be willing to point me to the right direction?
The big lesson of Katrina is not about the incompetence of the Bush administration, the scandalous neglect of poor black people in the United States or our unpreparedness for major natural disasters, though all of those apply. Katrina's big lesson is that the crust of civilization on which we tread is always wafer thin. One tremor and you've fallen through, scratching and gouging for your life like a wild dog. You think the looting, rape and armed terror that emerged within hours in New Orleans couldn't happen elsewhere? Think again. "
The author's analogy of the "crust of civilization" being "thin" confuses me. I'm not familar with the metaphor. I see "crust" I immediately think of pies. So, here is what I think he means: The seemingly stable human society is actually very vulnerable and fragile. So it's something like walking on thin ice.
And also, what does the title mean? Veneer means attractive appearance, right?
Does Thin Veneer means the thin surface of our civilization?
Would you be willing to point me to the right direction?
Top answer
akdom So, here is what I think he means: The seemingly stable human society is actually very vulnerable and fragile. So it's something like walking on thin ice. Yes, that's pretty much it.
- akdom So, here is what I think he means: The seemingly stable human society is actually very vulnerable and fragile.
- So it's something like walking on thin ice.
- Yes, that's pretty much it.
- I don't think the author intended you to think of pies though!
- The use of "tremor" makes me wonder if he had in mind the Earth's crust, but it could just be coincidence.
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1 Answers
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akdomSo, here is what I think he means: The seemingly stable human society is actually very vulnerable and fragile. So it's something like walking on thin ice.
Yes, that's pretty much it. I don't think the author intended you to think of pies though! The use of "tremor" makes me wonder if he had in mind the Earth's crust, but it could just be coincidence.
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