An elementary student of mine wrote the following essay, which was supposed to be about an imaginary trip. It could be read as a depressing reflection of shallow values and crass materialism and at least a small dosage of racism thrown in, to boot… but I've decided instead to read it as a satire in the vein of Swift's Modest Proposal. Hereforthwith I present her writing, unedited:
I will go to Africa with small boat just by oneself.
At first, I will go to African's village and give lots of money
and play with them.
Second, I will go to the diamond mine and dig many diamonds
with African children workers and take it to Korea and sell
at a high priceㅋㅋ
Third, I will go to national park and photographing all of the
animals and plants and I will take small and cute animals put in
the small case.
Then I will go back to home and sell diamonds, cute animals, and
I will be very very rich person in the world.
finish..
Think of it as a perfect description of the modus operandi of contemporary global capitalism. As explained from the mouths of babes…. Even if it's utterly presented at face value, there are lessons to be taken here.