Tempest Williams Reading

Are there any moments that seemed weak or clichéd to you?

The overall mood of the piece by Terry Tempest Williams seemed peaceful and serene. A moment that did not fit with the rest of the story was a point where she returned to the burrowing area of the owls and discovered that they had been plowed and graveled over. A few men in a truck drove up and gave a simple explanation about what had happened there. It seemed like she accepted there comments as she left the sight without confrontation. She later went back to the sight with hopes that somehow the owls had miraculously returned. Once again, the truck drove by with the same men inside. After exchanging comments, she raised her middle finger to the men, flipping them off. I did not see this as an appropriate response to the situation, as she was taking her frustrations out on innocent bystanders, something which did not seem consistent with her personality. I understand the rage she must have felt at the moment, but that action served no purpose and in the minds of the men in the truck, probably justified what had happened at that location.