Everyone Poops - Hostetler

Like many children blessed with the privilege to read unbound by oppressive governmental (or parental) restrictions, I dove into fantasy novels to escape measly human life, restricted to sparse miracles. Magic Tree House, Pendragon, and even Dr. Seuss allowed me the taste of wonder and imagination every human seeks at one time or another. However, reality and worldly understanding set in around age 7 - exposing me to calamities both in home life and worldwide. This period of revelation extinguished the flame of my childhood passion, a passion destined to renew the American Renaissance. Upon realizing I could no longer change the world through means of creative culture or crusade, I began exploring deep into the meaning of individuality. How does my purpose, as a sole being, contribute to a flourishing society. The answer, I discovered, lies in Taro Gomi's Everyone Poops.

I chose to read Everyone Poops for the same reason I imagine most children would, for the humor that lies behind scenarios involving poop. The first time I read it, like every other young boy, I giggled helplessly from beginning to end. When it was over, however, I was confused. No plot, no setting, no sequence of events? I knew there had to be hidden symbolic meaning. Initiating deeper investigation, my eyes were suddenly pried open, and the truth was staring back with the wise eyes of an aged owl, yet the fierceness of a lioness protecting her kits. It is this infantile distraction of p-o-o-p that acts as a framed portrait on a wall, disguising the secret vault. I was not prepared for what was in store when I unmask the awesome political animus unleashed by Gomi in Everyone Poops. Published amidst the Cold War and following the controversy of the Vietnam War, the underlying messages of Everyone Poops amass the motifs of unification in a diverse society, settling divergence with just means, and a jovial mindset eradicates futile tension.

From page one, Everyone Poops displays our diverse society and the importance of acceptance, with the use of poop as symbolism for variation of religion, governments, patriotism, and standard of living.

"An elephant makes a big poop. A mouse makes a tiny poop." (Gomi, 1-2)

Illustrating an elephant with a decent sized poop next to a mouse with a pretty small poop ignites the stereotypes modern society is built around. While the elephant's poop is far larger than the mouse's whole body, the feces of the mouse contends close with the poop-body ratio of the elephant. This ideology has taught me to look past the foreign stereotypes erected by the "size of one's poop", and comprise ones character with their "poop-body ratio".  Further examples of looking past diversity are witnessed on pages seven and eight.

"Different animals make different kinds of poop. Different shapes, different colors, even different smells." (Gomi, 7-8) 

 Across this pair of pages, Gomi creates his most powerful display of unification: the butts of eight animals (from around the world) in a circle, all hovering over each of their unique poops. Arranged in a circle to represent the eternal consolidation in every one of us, this image and text teaches the audience that the unity of our society in times of crisis lies superior to our neighbors poop that looks and smells a little strange. This ideal translates over to the second underlying message I have extracted from Everyone Poops. When conflict arises, bipartisan solutions always exist and must be sought. If my neighbor's poop smells or, as taken from page 19, encroaches upon my habitat, a civilized discussion and mutual verdict vies optimal for the composure of not only myself and my neighbor, but also the community.

The third message of Everyone Poops is not woven into the verses or artwork, but through the reader's own dogma. A faith followed on the pillars of joviality and lightheartedness, such as those of most children, will make easy work of receiving the intended message. As young readers laugh at the words and images regarding poop, they subliminally acquire the quality to react likewise to other situations. For example, pages thirteen and fourteen are dedicated to this message.

"Some stop to poop. Others do it on the move." (Gomi, 13-14)

The first sentence is accompanied with a blubbery hippopotamus spewing a slew a fecal droplets off the edge of the page. The latter sentence is aligned with a galloping deer dropping a trail of pebbled defecate. I recall laughing at these pages for endless periods of time, controlling my emotion only to accidentally glance back towards the hippos butt. The automatic reaction of laughter implies the message I received was intended as a joke. In modern society, situations arise frequently that stimulate micro-aggressions. These are the small, almost meaningless, actions that trigger offense and anger, bringing out the worst in our neighbors. What Everyone Poops teaches is to succumb a jovial lifestyle and counteract these newfound micro-aggressions with satirical wit and high spirits. The avoidance of unnecessary tensions and clashes leads to a healthier life for every individual involved.

 In conclusion, Everyone Poops harbors insight to resurrect everybody to that time in their life of acceptance, resolve, and understanding. This book has not only change the way I view and interact with my neighbors, but the way I understand myself. After reading this book everyday for weeks upon weeks as a child, I have come to understand the principals acquired have remained valid throughout my entire life. When society begins to unearth and implement these principals, happiness will take root into everyone's consciences to bring about an atmosphere of serenity once again.