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.