"The opinions and observations of people that you do not know are the most interesting, and even the most important, for your own opinions and observations can only, ultimately, fix you, categorize you." (Atwan 22)I chose this particular quote by Jamaica Kincaid because it really stood out to me. At a first glance, I knew that this quote would be something that I could study and analyze in my blog. Jamaica's quote was very powerful. In stating that the opinions and observations of others are most important she is also saying that the writings of others are important. I couldn't agree more with what Jamaica said because, what medium tells the opinions and observations of others better than writing? When someone reads the literature of an author they are really getting a true sense of who that author is. So, when a writer creates a piece of work they are always instilling their own thoughts and opinions into that writing. This is such an obvious concept yet it never even occurred to me. The practical ramifications of this quote are immense. This idea is used everyday in nearly every piece of writing and communications media. The belief that our opinions and observations define us is manifested in my writing everyday. The only way I can let my audience know who I am is to show them through my opinionated writing.
I think that Jamaica's quote brings up an interesting point about the way writing connects us, as readers. She says that the writings of others are most important and that our own opinions define us. So when I read someone else's writing i am getting a sense of who that person is and i now "know" them. If i go on to read someone else's writing i "know" them too. Now, if i were to compose some writing (like a blog) think of all the people out there in cyberspace that could get to "know" me. I just find it very interesting that this woman's simple quote can be analyzed to be something so very profound.
-Jeremy B
