Crossing Quote by Kendric Neal
““Crossing the line, that's what the Highway Patrol woman said. Neely was on a gurney, his injuries deemed non-life-threatening, she was taking her initial report, just pad and pencil, he was surprised they still used those. She'd made her observations based on the skid marks and the impact. The young guy in the Jeep spun round, crossed the line, straight into the path of what remained of a tree that had stood since the days of Columbus. God's wrath . . . ? Mother Nature's fury . . . ? But had it been meant for one of her native sons or a heretic like Neely? Checking scores while unscrupulous lumber companies took cowardly bites of ancient forbidden forests—turning history into fast food wrappers as poor boys from the tribe died gruesome deaths—a proud people devolving into alcoholism and dissolution while white men chased straights on their sacred burial grounds?””
About This Quote
Source Short Story: Unpublished Narrative, unknown date
A chaotic scene questioning divine wrath, nature's fury, and historical injustice, highlighting human suffering and cultural loss
In simple terms: A violent accident raises questions about fate, nature, and colonial history
Key Takeaway
Reflect on the interplay of fate, nature, and history
Themes
history
justice
environment
colonialism
fate
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
narrative
critical
When to use this quote
- disaster response
- environmental activism
- cultural preservation
Key Concepts
moral responsibility
historical trauma
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we assign meaning to random tragedy?
- What role does history play in present suffering?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex causes into divine or natural wrath
