TOW #28 – "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl"

In her personal diary, Anne Frank describes her life as a teenage girl hiding from the Nazis in Germany during WWII. Although her journal entries had a veil of occasionally ordinary language of a teenager, Anne Frank’s diary reflects the pain that was suffered by so many in WWII, giving a greater understanding of the horrible conditions. Although she did not write to any audience beside herself in order to clear her thoughts, Anne Frank’s diary tells her life story with the war developing often in the background. Explaining her interaction with the adults in her life, Anne Frank wrote, “Kitty, if only you knew I sometimes boil under so many gibes and jeers. And I don’t know how long I shall be able to stifle my rage. I shall just blow up one day” (Frank 30). Although many teenagers continue to have conflict with adults, readers of Anne Frank’s diary understand that she faced incredibly dangerous and hostile conditions. Thus, although she does not develop the diary for it to be read by an audience, Anne Frank produces an appeal to pathos by displaying the problems expected of a teenager beside the enormous troubles facing Jews during WWII. Likewise, she writes, “I must tell you more about my time-killing subjects (I call them such, because we have got nothing else to do but make the days go by as quickly as possible…)” (Frank 67), showing a hardship in hiding from the Nazis.  As she refers to her classes as “time-killing subjects,” the secluded and troubling life of hiding from the Nazis is apparent. Although Anne Frank did not write the diary for any purpose beyond organizing her thoughts on paper, her emotional story is remembered by millions. Beyond the stories often explained in a textbook, Anne Frank’s diary shows the emotional life story of a young girl hiding from the Nazis in WWII.

Works Cited

Frank, Anne. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. New York, NY, Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1972.

TOW #27 – “Ending hell on earth for D.C.’s children” by Colbert I. King

In his editorial “Ending hell on earth for D.C.’s children,” Colbert I. King contests society’s standard of providing only limited relief to those born into bad situations. Recognizing that children born into poor or violent areas “didn’t ask to be born” (King), King develops an appeal to logos and pathos throughout the editorial. Throughout, King shares his own experience on the subject; his trip near San Francisco was mainly notable for the discrepancy of living conditions from Washington D.C. His trip widened his perspective on the issue of poverty and violence in neighborhoods; no kid should be shaped with fear as a constant concern. To reinforce his argument that children are not responsible for their living arrangements, he likewise recognizes that “the kids enjoying the delights of Half Moon Bay were not responsible for their comfort” (King).  He understands his audience; he understands that those entertaining Washington Post editorials may not be struggling with living arrangements as many in D.C. are. Thus, King appeals to pathos; he enforces this truth that no one should be punished for being born into poverty and danger. King asks for honesty beyond the typical defenses put up by those against governmental support – we cannot assume it is the parents’ fault, we cannot assume they are not trying to place their children in the best position possible. Therefore, he argues, “[d]emanding greater police presence, strict law enforcement, more competent adjudication and rehabilitation of offenders” (King) is necessary action that must be taken to begin a process of making D.C. safer. He proclaims, “it falls to us, if we really care, to help out,” (King) emphasizing the need for Americans to support struggling communities, continuing his appeal to pathos. To overcome these barriers, to relieve families from hopelessness, governmental support must be made accessible and possible to these communities in Washington D.C.

Works Cited

King, Colbert I. “Ending Hell on Earth for D.C.'s Children.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 28 Apr. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ending-hell-on-earth-for-dcs-children/2017/04/28/e2b85502-2b53-11e7-a616-d7c8a68c1a66_story.html?utm_term=.0a26618c3514. Accessed 29 Apr. 2017.

TOW #26 – “Earth Day with a side of fossil fuels” by Ann Telnaes

With regard to Earth Day, cartoonist Ann Telnaes depicted United States President Donald Trump taking a bite out of the Earth. She mentioned several cuts that the Trump administration has made in regard to the environment, reflecting the perspective that Trump is hurting the Earth. Her argument is invaluable; as conscientious citizens, we must protect the Earth with whatever means necessary to protect future generations. Many of Trump’s policies violate this fundamental truth – the head of the EPA denies irrefutable evidence that CO2 causes global warming (Milman), and very little action is being made in favor of the environment. Global leaders, such as the United States of America and China, are largely responsible for contributing to global warming, as many industries rely upon damaging modes of production. The Trump administration has met this fact with little regard to the environment; a large focus is being made in sustaining industries that contribute to environmental damage, such as the collection of fossil fuels. In order to prevent irreversible damage to our globe, we must not allow leaders like Donald Trump to damage enormous parts of the world through the duration of his term. As he has already begun the process of cutting environmental protection programs, we as citizens must be responsive and work to protect the environment. Telnaes shows the world as a sandwich and Donald Trump taking a large bite out of North America in order to show how his policies are negatively affecting the globe. Americans should be prioritizing environmental protection, as it is not only a matter for this generation, but also all future generations. While Trump has not yet reached 100 days in office, the consequences on our environment will become more apparent as he continues to cut federal spending for clean energy. Talnaes demonstrates in her cartoon that the President of the United States is placed with very large power to damage the environment, something that must be protected by citizens.

Donald Trump depicted taking a bite out of the Earth.

Works Cited

Milman, Oliver. “EPA Head Scott Pruitt Denies That Carbon Dioxide Causes Global Warming.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 9 Mar. 2017, www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/09/epa-scott-pruitt-carbon-dioxide-global-warming-climate-change. Accessed 23 Apr. 2017.

Telnaes, Ann. “Earth Day with a Side of Fossil Fuels.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 22 Apr. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/opinions/wp/2017/04/22/earth-day-with-a-side-of-fossil-fuels/?utm_term=.fbe606e51843. Accessed 23 Apr. 2017.

IRB Intro Post #4

During the final quarter of school, I will being reading Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, a diary describing a group of Jews who fear being discovered by Nazis in Germany. My interest is in the book is primarily because I want to become more educated about the Holocaust and the immeasurable damages it placed on Jews and other targeted minorities. Likewise, as WWII was recently taught in my history class, I would have a historical/macro understanding of what occurred during the Holocaust, allowing me to better understand the pain of Anne Frank. In reading this book, I hope to continue educating myself about the Holocaust and see the perspective of someone who was being targeted, which allows me to recognize Anne Frank's pain more fully.

TOW #25 – “If Obama Had Acted like Trump…” by Juan Williams

Made relevant by the United States’ most recent presidential election, Juan Williams constructed an opinion article apologizing to President Obama for out-of-proportion ridicule and coverage during his presidency. As President Trump is distrusted by a majority of Americans – “his disapproval rating has risen to 56 percent” (Williams) – it has become more clear that President Obama perhaps did not deserve as much negative coverage as he received. Proving an argument that the executive position is one that necessitates trust and credibility, Williams calls attention to President Trump’s poor representation of Americans. While President Obama, a democrat, received a lot of unwanted and perhaps unwarranted attention, many of those same right-wing reporters still see a worse image of President Trump, a republican. William’s claim of the importance of a strong, trustworthy executive is of the utmost relevance in our democracy. While not in the position of passing legislation, President Trump is given the enormous task of developing legislation to fit the public’s interest, a task that requires communication beyond Trump’s “endless stream of exaggerations, evidence-free accusations, implausible denials and other falsehoods” (Board). Not only is the media calling Trump out for his false assertions, but several congressional representatives are also recognizing their heightened duty to protect the public’s trust. As the Wall Street Journal – which Williams recognized was “never a friend to Obama” (Williams) – was extremely critical of Trump, it is a clear reflection that Trump is neither an ideal reflection of democrats nor republicans alike. Furthermore, Williams strengthens his argument by essentially overcoming the bias of the reporters; as the reporters regularly called out democratic President Obama, their comments towards President Trump reflect closely the public’s opinion rid of much bias. As many Americans continue their frustration with the reliability of the government, perhaps a reminder of President Obama’s few, minor frustrations best puts the public’s opinion into position.

Works Cited

Board, Editorial. “A President's Credibility.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, Inc., 21 Mar. 2017, www.wsj.com/articles/a-presidents-credibility-1490138920?mod=trending_now_1. Accessed 2 Apr. 2017.

Williams, Juan. “If Obama Had Acted like Trump. . .” Fox News, FOX News Network, 28 Mar. 2017, www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/03/28/if-obama-had-acted-like-trump.html. Accessed 2 Apr. 2017.

TOW #24 – "Heart of a Soldier" by James B. Stewart

In the beginning of Heart of a Solider, James B. Stewart introduces three unrelated names: Rick Rescorla, Dan Hill, and Susan [Rescorla] (later in the story). While individually characterizing the three individuals, Stewart includes details of the Vietnam War, in which both Rick and Dan fought. Commenting on two poles of emotion, pain and love, Stewart constructs an argument that selfless, unconditional love for humanity trumps any other action. As was developed previously, Rick Rescorla fought in the Vietnam War with Dan Hill, developing a strong bond that lasted well into their old age. Additionally, following his service in the military, Rescorla met Susan, who was the love of his life. Upon defining the immense value of these bonds, Stewart describes Rescorla’s selfless need to save civilians during the 9/11 attack, in which he sacrificed his own life to ensure he could save as many people as possible. As many people could not make the selfless sacrifices that Rescorla did, Stewart develops a strong appeal to pathos through the development of the Rescorla’s life. While almost the entirety of the book describes Rescorla’s background, its strongest message is in the final chapters in which Stewart shows what it truly means to have the “Heart of a Soldier:” to have an innate, unrelenting will to help others even in the face of adversity. Speaking to not only Americans, but relating this principle to humans around the globe, Stewart comments on the enormous impact an individual can make upon society. Evidently, the “search of stragglers” (Stewart) remains to be a defining aspect of Rescorla’s character; he is unwilling to leave another human to suffer, perhaps relating to the comraderie that existed during war. Delivering Rescorla’s life story, Stewart’s appeal to pathos illustrates how a single person can impact society based upon a selfless unwillingness to leave others in suffering.

Works Cited

Stewart, James B. Heart of a Soldier: a Story of Love, Heroism, and September 11th. New York, NY, Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2003.

TOW #23 – “Migrant Mother” by Dorothea Lange

Early in the 20^th century, due to a variety of factors, the United States suffered the greatest depression to date. Along with the stock market crash, agricultural practices like shallowly planting seeds in the ground contributed to this depression, as this initiated the Dust Bowl. Lange’s sad, reflective image of a mother holding her children produces a strong appeal to pathos, producing an argument that in times of distress, family and love is invaluable. Lange primarily focuses her argument around the family dynamic; a protective mother holds her children and comforts them, displaying the value in having a strong central figure to look to in times of crisis. Likewise, the mother is placed in the center of the image because although she is facing the devastating effects from the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, she remained an important, loving figure in her children’s eyes. Lange captures the young children facing backwards as the mother directly sees the devastation that took place, representing the important job for parents to protect their children and ensure their safety. While the mom was traveling in attempt to find an income to support her children, even in this time of a collapsed economy and impacted agriculture, Lange shows America that through love, through persistence and will, these obstacles can be overcome. Although little could be done for the family at the time, this exposure of the problems that Americans are facing helps to begin a process of reconstruction and development. While some people were less impacted by the depression than others, Lange portrays an average American facing unfortunately typical circumstances for the time-period. Capturing an image for all of America to view, Lange displayed one family’s response to the depression. Although defined by disorder and suffering, and while this image does display sorrow and anguish, Lange displays a family’s love that remained strong the depression.

Mother with children during the Dust Bowl in the United States (Lange)

Works Cited

Lange, Dorothea. “Migrant Mother.” Wikipedia, 23 Feb. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Owens_Thompson. Accessed 18 Mar. 2017.