“Manifesto,” George Saunders
In this piece, George Saunders flips the script in his version of a manifesto. Saunders begins with introducing his, seemingly real but purposefully sardonic, organization, People Reluctant to Kill for an Abstraction (PRKA). The “show of force” that his organization conducted satirically details how PRKA was able to not commit any atrocities. What Saunders lays out as a meticulous performance with different operational phases is in reality just examples of humans behaving in the interest of well being, not selfish radicality. This piece is arguing that the world is full of temporary evil but good has a longevity that will always overshadow that evil. Sanders purpose for this piece, I believe, is to open the eyes of those who often forget this reality. These manifestos have been known to be given as the declaration of aims behind a certain purpose, more than often a radical one.