Article Reflection No. 75 (11/4/2023)

11/4/2023

Article: “The Last Lighthouse Keeper in America”

In the article “The Last Lighthouse Keeper in America”, journalist Dorothy Wickenden chronicles the history of lighthouses through the lens of one in Little Brewster Island. Manned by Sally Snowman, who plans to retire by the end of this year, the island’s lighthouse—known as the Boston Light—has served as a relieving guide for those traveling by sea. While advanced technologies like the Global Positioning System (GPS) can conveniently help navigate across the ocean(s), it is less reliable than the beckoning light of a lighthouse, the journalists suggest. Informing the reader of the dangers behind this occupation (e.g. facing harsh weather conditions and sacrificing one’s own life for the sake of others’), Wickenden’s article is an opportunity to reflect on America’s history and how this beacon of light—rarer today than before—has shaped the country’s future.

I truly admire lightkeepers for their bravery and willingness to sacrifice when helping other people. As referred to in the article, the occupation has a secluded nature, an additional source of difficulty. How are people this brave?