During one of our discussions regarding Carson’s Silent Spring, it was brought to our attention that beloved Dr. Seuss played part in such biochemical warfare. I noticed my classmate’s reaction to this information was that of disbelief. Our generation grew up reading Seuss’s tales of environmental kindness and consciousness, stories such as The Lorax have touched and inspired many. In fact, just recently The Lorax was adapted as a film, and even here around the University of Oregon, a highly environmentally conscious community, there is a co-op named The Lorax. My initial thought was along the lines of the following: what does this mean if the creator of these fantastical tales is a fraud? I felt as if my childhood stories were as toxic as the chemicals Seuss had endorsed. However, even after more discussion in class and some outside research, my opinion has not changed much; even though what was normal back then was very different than the way things are today. Environmental awareness has since then skyrocketed and our knowledge is much more expansive. Seuss did not have the luxury of Googling DDT, or reading opinionated blogs regarding its use. While the resistance of these chemicals was known by the general public, it was not as shocking as we perceive it today. The government had engrained the idea that these chemicals were necessary and helpful even, which we now know is not the case. Though, at the time of these happenings, much of the evidence supporting the detrimental effect of these actions were severely ignored. However, there is no denying the impact that Seuss had on the general public. He made products such as Flit, a household name by instilling his humorous artwork in these companies’ advertisements. This further familiarized the public with these absurd notions and products, making sprayings commonplace and even “friendly”. It is possible, though, that Seuss’s more environmentally driven texts might serve as an attempt to amend what he had taken part in. It is still shocking, though, that such an environmental icon has an unexpected and gritty past. It is surprising, actually, that not more people are aware of Seuss’s background. I am sure this information would enrage many who uphold several his texts as true and honest. This does not mean to say that his work is not to be considered after learning of his involvement with the un-environmental, but these things must be considered. Carson’s Silent Spring reads much truer to me now than any work by Seuss. Her use of metaphors and artistic yet informational language is more honest than Seuss’s rhyming and silly cartoons steeped in a disturbing chemical driven history.