Today’s Prompt: Write a post based on the contrast between two things — whether people, objects, emotions, places, or something else.

Remember those “compare and contrast” essays in composition class, in which you’re forced to create a clunky juxtaposition of two arguments? Just because that particular form was a bore doesn’t mean that opposition has no place in your writing.

Bringing together two different things — from the abstract and the inanimate to the living and breathing — creates a natural source of tension, and conflict drives writing forward. It makes your reader want to continue to the next sentence, to the next page. So, focus on your two starkly different siblings, or your competing love for tacos and macaroons, or whether thoughts are more powerful than words, or…you get the idea.

Today’s twist: write your post in the form of a dialogue. You can create a strong opposition between the two speakers — a lovers’ quarrel or a fierce political debate, for example. Or you could aim to highlight the difference in tone and style between the two different speakers — your call!

Earth day is Wednesday, April 22. NASA gives us a way to celebrate our home:

http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/on-earth-day-show-nasa-how-there-s-noplacelikehome#

Use #NoPlaceLikeHome on other social media or tag NoPlaceLikeHome on your blog.

The above was posted by Rainman on his blog Quertyness

https://iamrainman.wordpress.com/2015/04/18/no-place-like-home/

Below was partially my reply, in his comments section. With much thanks to Rainman for raising the topic. It elucidated these thoughts, used to illustrate the Writing 101 exercise, around Black and White.

So I deleted the comment, to post it here. Where it is more relevant. With regard to why should I use Rainman’s comments section. For what amounts to my diatribe.

Earth Day

True enough, Earth Day is a chance to recognize how much we need the planet to survive.

At the same time, there is a type of cynicism by authority. A type of smoke and mirrors if you will? Around the notion of Earth Day. Why should it be limited to 1/365th of a year?

Corporate greed and the way with which they integrate, with authority. Strip mining our planet, to one devoid of forests. The holes in the ground where there were once mineral deposits.

The idea that turning off a few street lamps and high-rise buildings is going to really help our planet? Other than as a public relations exercise. Or is Earth Day, a better substitute for what should be a vibrant animal kingdom? Or is Earth Day now used as a substitute. For an ocean full of plastic, choking the fish and other sea creatures. Earth Day now seems to be glysophate spread throughout the planet’s fields, or is it air pollutions of radiation? Earth Day is now one. That sees fluoride, designated as a neuro-toxin. When fluoride is  also promoted by toothpaste manufacturers, as an agent for dental health. A neuro-toxin that has seen a sharp incline, of brain degenerate disease.

Authority that insists, corporate inclusion brings jobs. The same authority and corporations that then send those jobs, to where the people are little more than slave labour. Where profit is not about saving the planet. One that sees a commodity price rise, while the production costs decline. An Earth that sees ocean going trawlers with nets that can fit thirteen jumbo jets across the mouth of them. They trawl the ocean bottoms, disturbing the complex life on sea bottom. Nets that strangle mammals, living in the seas.

Every day ought to be Earth Day. Not just one day, a year.