It Matters: Ignorance in the World

As we discussed the ending of Heart of Darkness in class today, I came to see the irony of when Marlow said that Kurtz's last words had been his Intended's name, when really they were "The horror...the horror". I then realized that his Intended's ignorance was representing "the horror". This really got me thinking about the ignorance in this world, especially when it comes to the poor and less fortunate. Heart of Darkness focuses on the ignorance in Africa, but there is ignorance right here in America. Because we live in Northbrook, we are very rarely exposed to the poor, except for maybe on a service project. I have to come to realize that I am very ignorant of the sufferage occuring only 30 minutes away from me, in downtown Chicago. To take that on a much larger scale, like in Africa (the place where Heart of Darkness is set), I have found that I am ignorant when it comes to all of the problems that are facing that continent. For example, I am told every year about the AIDS epidemic in Africa, but have I ever really witnessed it? Have I done anything to help? The answer to both these questions is no. I am sure there are many things occuring in Africa as well as Chicago that I have no idea about. That's the main idea of ignorance. Heart of Darkness has reinstated my desire to decrease my ignorance. One my new year's revolutions was to become less ignorant of my surroundings and to get out there and help. However, while living in Northbrook and being caught up in all of my daily activities, I have not done much to acheive this resolution. However, in January, I did sign up for my church's youth mission trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan this summer. I am hoping that I will become less ignorant and help people. Heart of Darkness matters because it demonstrates the ignorance that people have, especially regarding the problems in Africa, but it also demonstrates it a very interesting way by having Kurtz's intended be ignorant of what Kurtz was doing in Africa. The New York Times published an article titled THE WORLD; An Ignorance of Africa As Vast as the Continent (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502E0DB1131F933A15752C1A962958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1). This article discusses the ignorance Americans have regarding Africa. Basically, the ignorance that was described in Heart of Darkness matters because it still occurs today. Heart of Darkness has re-opened my mind about what I am going to do to become less ignorant and a more aware citizen of this world.