Ecotopia

“Hawks who want to retake ‘lost lands of the west’ by force seem to be growing stronger—need neutralizing. Ecotopian ideas are seeping over the border more dangerously—can’t be ignored any longer, might be detoxified by exposure. Etc.”

This section of the first entry in Weston’s journal introduces us both to the more informal style of his private writing (sometimes dropping the subject from sentences, using abbreviations like “etc.”), as well as to the prevailing American perceptions regarding Ecotopia. The general feeling of hostility and distrust at work in this quote provides important context that colors Weston’s first impressions of and interactions with Ecotopians and their country.

“My assignment for the next six weeks, therefore, is to explore Ecotopian life from top to bottom—to search out the realities behind the rumors, to describe in concrete detail how Ecotopian society actually operates, to document its problems and, where that is called for, to acknowledge its achievements. By direct knowledge of the situation in which our former fellow-citizens now find themselves, we may even begin to rebuild the ties that once bound them to the Union they so hastily rejected. 

This last paragraph of Weston’s first column gives us a good sense of the more formal writing of his articles, as well as makes us aware of how he bends his rhetoric toward his American audience. This passage reveals a rather overt bias against Ecotopia by not qualifying the idea that there must be “problems” inherent in Ecotopia and only begrudgingly admitting there could be “achievements.” However, even if begrudging, this paragraph also reveals that Weston is at least somewhat open-minded heading into this assignment, an important character trait. This quote also reveals his underlying mission: floating the idea of renewed ties and possible reunification, which becomes important especially later in the novel, when he meets with President Allwen.