In David Foster Wallace, This is Water, Wallace writes about a commencement speech that he gave for the 2005 graduating class of Kenyon College. This speech focuses on the many values and life lessons that are taught through getting a liberal arts degree. Wallace addresses many cliche examples that help him convey his message through out the speech. The overall importance of this reading is the message behind it. Wallace is trying to convey that we must constantly question they way we think. As humans we tend to think one-sided; Wallace expresses that we need to have empathy and compassion for others. In this reading the word different is used several times to convey this message. The word difference helps to convey this theme by not only the literal meaning of the word, but that we are all different individuals and have different thoughts and views.  Remembering this will make us think more openly and allow us to have compassion for others. 

One example Wallace talks about is men with two different views regarding religion. A man was saved in a snow storm after praying to God. Shortly after he prays, an eskimo man stumbles across him in the storm and he is saved. Wallace describes the two different views between an atheist and religious man. The atheist beliefs that the eskimo man was just a coincidence and the religious man believes that God answered the mans prayers, saving him.  Wallace uses this example to point out the differences between one persons views based on there experiences. This is shown in this quote, This is Water states, “… the exact same experience can mean two totally different things to two different people, given those people’s two different belief templates and two different ways of constructing meaning from experience” (XI). We base our opinion on our experiences and views. This is one sided because how can we think about other peoples point of views when we are only using our experiences to develop thoughts and views on the topic?  This is not good because there is more than one experience and opinion in the world. People have to understand that their life of experiences isn’t the only perspective in the world. This relates to Wallace's storm example because both the atheist and religious men both thought they were right. This all leads up to a big question of how people can better understand each other. The way we can do this is showing empathy for one another and our peers. If we think about other peoples experiences and not just our own we can be more open to they way other people think.

Additional, David Foster Wallace uses another example to reenforce this theme. He talks about an adult driving home from the grocery store. He was driving home in a hurry, getting upset with other drivers, automatically thinking the worst, and blaming people for blocking lanes and causing traffic. This is a perfect example of thinking one sided, which is the opposite of what Wallace wants us to do. Thinking negatively is described as our natural default setting. The natural default setting means to always think in a negative way and expect the worse from people and situations. Wallace explains that it is important to go against the natural default setting and have empathy for others. Wallace expresses this here in a quote, This is Water states, “The thing is that, of course, there are totally different ways to think about these kinds of situations. In the traffic, all these vehicles stopped and idling in my way, its not impossible that some of these people in SUV’s have been in horrible auto accidents…” (XV). As Wallace states, the SUV driver could be driving such a big and obnoxious car because his therapist suggested to get a huge car. This is so the man would feel safe and secure in his car due to past troubling accidents in small cars. This quote expresses the importance of having empathy for others. You never know what is going on in other peoples lives. We have to think differently to be more empathetic towards others. 

 Lastly, Wallace uses an example of an average adult shopping in a grocery store. He describes the adult going through there everyday at the grocery store complaining about the tedious task and how long it takes. He describes himself judging the lady at the check out line and automatically thinking the worst of the lady, but as Wallace describes it is important not to do this and have empathy for the lady. This is shown here,  “But most days, if you’re aware enough to give yourself a choice, you can choose to look differently at this fat, dead-eyed, over-made lady who just screamed at her kid in the checkout line” (XV). This quote is another example of how people can automatically think the worst of people. Again, Wallace stresses that it is important to stray away from our natural default setting. It may take all that is in you to do so, but it if you try and put yourself in someone else's shoes you can have a better understanding of why they are acting in such a way.

In conclusion, we must have empathy and compassion for other people. We have to stray away from our natural default setting and think differently. People should care and think it is important because the world is a huge place and everyone has different views and opinions. Not everyone has the same opinion, this is why it is important to think openly and not one-sided. Also, if we all show compassion and empathy for others it will help us to understand each other and be more sink as one country and world. 
