"All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace" by Richard Brautigan

The poem "All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace" by Richard Brautigan can be perceived as either anti-technology or pro-technology depending on how we interpret the tone and message of the poem.  One of the reasons why this poem can be considered as anti-technology is because it mentioned "and all watched over by machines of loving grace".  Even though Brautigan used the words "machines of loving grace", it still makes it seem like the machines are starting to take over the world, making it a bit more like a dictatorship, by showing how everyone's actions are being watched.  Another reason is that when he used the words "I like to think (and the sooner the better!)","I like to think (right now, please!)", and "I like to think (it has to be!)", he is illustrating how nature and technology does not have peace and harmony right now but it is just his imagination of the future.  It also shows that he is desperate for change because he does not like how nature and technology is not in harmony right now.

Another point of view for Richard Brautigan's poem is that it is pro-technology.  For the most part of the poem, it talks about how computers, electronics, and machines can benefit us in the future.  An example is shown in the line "of a cybernetic ecology where we are free of our labors".  The words "the sooner the better!" and "right now, please!" shows how Brautigan could not wait for technology to further advance to the point where technology could be a part of nature, displayed with his descriptions of cybernetic meadow, cybernetic forest, and cybernetic ecology.  He also talks about how even though humans will eventually die and be joined back to nature, the machines would still be there and would not perish, bringing our history with them.

I think the anti-technology's side is more convincing because right now, there is a conflict between nature and technology, on how sometimes the more technology we make, the more we destroy nature.  There is also no guarantee that what Brautigan is talking about in the poem, the machines having feelings and the harmony with nature and technology, can actually happen in the future.  It is also scary to think about how nature and human beings will eventually perish but machines can usually last longer, giving the possibility that technology might be the one controlling us.