TOW #17 – “The Future Is Now” by Katherine Anne Porter

Following the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in WWII, the globe was effectively destabilized and a strong nuclear threat remained even into the 21^st century.  Recognizing the immense danger posed by atomic weaponry, Porter’s 1950 essay “The Future Is Now” took an unclear stance that while atomic warfare is dangerous, it should not be a cause of major concern. Porter, recognizing that she was speaking to Americans following WWII, commanded that “[i]n his pride to explore his universe to its unimaginable limits and to exceed his possible powers, [humans have] at last produced an embarrassing series of engines too powerful for their containers,” (Porter 196) which suggests Porter’s disapproval of atomic warfare. Later, she maintains, “I fail entirely to see why it is more criminal to kill a few thousand persons in one instant than it is to kill the same number slowly over a period of time,” (Porter 198) effectively delivering a counterargument to the destructiveness and damage caused by atomic bombs. Likewise, Porter upholds that “the invention of every new weapon of war has always been greeted with horror and righteous indignation,” (Porter 197) essentially stating that while there is fear surrounding the atomic bomb, we must move forward as a society. Evidently, the threat of nuclear arms is a constant topic of discussion even today in 2017, a clear disruption of global communication and cooperation. Thus, Porter underestimated the impact of this new warfare entirely, as it redefined military balance of power to require these incalculably destructive bombs. She optimistically exclaims, “it may be that what we have is a world not on the verge of flying apart, but an uncreated one … still in shapeless fragments,” (Porter 198) suggesting that atomic bombs will likely not cause global tensions. Still in the early stages of this new type of warfare, Porter did not effectively recognize the long-term impacts that these immediate threats may pose on a global level, invalidating a central position of her argument.

Works Cited

Porter, Katherine Anne. “The Future Is Now.” The Best American Essays of the Century, Edited by Joyce Carol Oates and Robert Atwan, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA, 2000, pp. 193–198.

TOW #16 – "Politics" by Aristotle

In his book Politics, Aristotle attempts to define the ideal government within which inhabitants should be ruled. In order to best define the ideal government as applicable to circa 330 BCE, Aristotle effectively employs synecdoche and juxtaposition to demonstrate the advantages of an involved community. Describing the ideal leader, Aristotle states, “For every ruler who has been trained by the law judges well; and it would surely seem strange that a person should see better with two eyes, or hear better with two ears, or act better with two hands or feet, than many with many” (Aristotle 86). Relating to oligarchy, Aristotle essentially states that with the advisement of a council, a government may be more likely to prosper as opposed to under a single individual’s direction. He uses different parts of the body, relating to sight, hearing, and touch, to emphasize that a leader’s actions are subject to one’s own circumstances. Furthermore, he continues this use of synecdoche to suggest that involvement of “many [people]” contributes to a full, balanced government offering multiple perspectives and advantages. Additionally, Aristotle employs juxtaposition to show contrast between oligarchy and democracy; a distinction Aristotle deems relevant to his purpose. “Therefore we should rather say,” he recognizes, “that democracy is the form of government in which the free are rulers, and oligarchy in which the rich; it is only an accident that the free are the many and the rich are the few” (Aristotle 93). Identifying the importance of wealth of a leader, Aristotle composes an argument that a true democracy is one in which all inhabitants, inconsequential to wealth or possession or status, maintain an equal level of participation in governmental affairs. While written before modern developments to political science, this excerpt from Politics appeals to logos, as a government structured around the powerless is truly one of the people. Moreover, via his employment of synecdoche and juxtaposition of rich versus poor, Aristotle proposes a coherent argument to the effectiveness of government, of community.

Works Cited

Aristotle. Politics. New York, NY, Barnes &Amp; Noble, Inc., 2005.

TOW #15 – “The Optimism of Barack Obama”

Less than a week before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, the Editorial Board of the New York Times published an article, The Optimism of Barack Obama, regarding the presidency of Barack Obama. Suggesting he is “one of the most popular presidents in recent decades,” (Board 1) the Editorial Board employs strong diction and statistical information to drive his argument to Americans that President Barack Obama was a progressive leader over his two terms in office. Connecting this presidency to President-elect Donald Trump, the board states, “the bigotry that president-elect Donald Trump capitalized on during his run for office [showed that] simply electing a black president would not magically dispel the prejudices that have dogged the country since its inception,” (Board 2) suggesting that while Obama’s presidency itself was progressive, it does not mean the nation has been automatically healed. With these connections, the Editorial Board includes the wording “magically dispel” in order to define what is expected of a president. Furthermore, the Editorial Board includes statistical data to remind Americans of some of President Obama’s accomplishments: “preserving or creating an average of 1.6 million jobs a year for four years” (Board 3) and “[reducing] Americans without insurance to a record low 9.1 percent in 2015” (Board 4). With this data, the Editorial Board produces a strong appeal to logos, logically proving several aspects of Obama’s presidency that defined him as a successful leader that Americans needed. The Editorial Board’s strong diction and use of statistical information assists to evoke emotions of patriotism in Americans, allowing the board to continue extensively on the beneficial impacts Obama has had on the nation. Moreover, given the identified rhetorical devices above, the Editorial Board demonstrated a focused argument to Americans that Obama’s optimism and leadership made him an effective executive to direct the nation.

Works Cited

Board, Editorial. “The Optimism of Barack Obama.” The New York Times, 15 Jan. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/01/14/opinion/sunday/the-optimism-of-barack-obama.html?ref=topics&_r=0, p. 10.

TOW #14 – “Cold War relic, present day threat”

Charles Krauthammer, a writer for the Washington Post and winner of the National Magazine Award for Essays and Criticism in 1984, wrote Cold War relic, present day threat to comment on practical solutions to the large threat North Korea poses to the United States of America. Krauthammer produces an effective argument through his rhetoric, including elements of listing and hyperbole to emphasize his argument. While Krauthammer recognizes that the United States’ “options are stark,” (Krauthammer) he continues to suggest multiple plans of action, including “preemptive attack,” (Krauthammer) shooting the test ICBM, and leveraging China. While he only provides a minimal addition to expand upon each of these possible plans, listing alternative routes shows how United States intervention in North Korea could be effective in deterring the threat they pose. Additionally, Krauthammer employs hyperbole to exaggerate to Americans the need for intervention in the first place. He claims that “[supporting Japan in acquiring nuclear weapons] is a radical step that goes against our general policy of nonproliferation. But the point is to halt proliferation to the infinitely more dangerous regime in North Korea” (Krauthammer). While North Korea poses a very large threat to the United States, Krauthammer employs hyperbole in his rhetoric via phrases like “infinitely more dangerous” to stress the enormous threat that North Korea poses with nuclear weaponry. Furthermore, he discusses the possibility of the United States violating this policy of nonproliferation as a “radical step” (Krauthammer) that can be taken if other plans were proven ineffective. Krauthammer’s editorial takes a very serious tone as it suggests nuclear armaments to counteract North Korea, but his employment of listing and hyperbole contributes to his purpose of describing the importance of United States action in North Korea. While military action is a very complicated and difficult process, Krauthammer proves a convincing argument to all Americans that governmental action can—and should—take place.

Works Cited

Krauthammer, Charles. “Cold War Relic, Present-Day Threat.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 5 Jan. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/cold-war-relic-present-day-threat/2017/01/05/623c720e-d384-11e6-9cb0-54ab630851e8_story.html?utm_term=.a660d3b6baad.

TOW #13 – Lunch atop a Skyscraper

Taken in September of 1932, this photograph depicts eleven construction workers sitting across a steel bar in the final stages of building 30 Rockefeller Plaza (“Lunch atop a Skyscraper”). Not yet three years after the start of the Great Depression, during which America faced exhaustion and instability, this photograph encouraged development as a community. The photographer juxtaposes the city’s background to the construction workers as an effective way to compare America’s developments to the blue-collar workers. Considering the significant issues that were present during the Great Depression, including job loss and financial instability, this photograph shows men casually sitting across a life-threatening bar that overlooks the city. This shows the desperation of the workers given the time period, but it is also relevant to the companionship that the eleven workers share. Furthermore, the photographer includes the city’s background to show that, while in the desperation of the financial crisis, America continues to advance and industrialize. With the workers juxtaposed to the enormous city in the background, an appeal to pathos is made that characterizes the time period; desperation to have work, but hope for national stability. While unable to solve any of the issues presented during this time, this image captures the intense amount of hard work that Americans put into their occupations, allowing the nation to move forward and to continue the construction of public and private institutions, like the 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Given the desperate atmosphere of the early 1930s, this image successfully juxtaposes the huge city of New York to the tired construction workers leisurely eating lunch on a steel bar, clearly commenting on the weakness of America at the time while also encouraging America to focus on community and development. Hence, the photographer’s juxtaposition of construction workers in the foreground to the large city in the background allows a tired America to see hope towards stability.

Lunch atop a Skyscraper (Unknown)

Works Cited

“Lunch atop a Skyscraper.” Wikipedia, New York City, 4 Dec. 2016, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunch_atop_a_Skyscraper.

TOW #12 – Politics by Aristotle

Aristotle, historically significant for his impacts on today’s scientific method and schooling, outlines the groundwork of an ideal government in Politics (Editors). He directly clarifies, “Our purpose is to consider what form of political community is best for those who are most able to realize their ideal life,” (Aristotle 23) which indirectly suggests a hierarchy of value in society, which he elaborates upon. In order to defend this stance, Aristotle employs juxtaposition and allusions to other governments as a measure to continue his political teachings in his school. Aristotle attempts to establish the rudiments of family within a society to support the last part of his claim: “Now we should begin by examining everything in its fewest possible elements; and the first and fewest possible parts if a family are master and slave, husband and wife, father and children” (Aristotle 4). He uses these contrasting positions—being societal rank, gender role, and age respectively—to defend his argument that some people are more “able to realize their ideal life” and can therefore receive a higher representation in government. Through the obvious lack of altruism in this argument, Aristotle employs juxtaposition to weigh one class significantly higher than the other, all in his pursuit of his utopia. Furthermore, while considering the effectiveness of a governmental constitution, Aristotle alludes to an effective application in Sparta: “[Desire to maintain a permanent constitution] is the case in Sparta, where the kings desire its permanence because they have due honour in their own persons; the nobles because they are represented in the council of elders … and the people, because all are eligible to the Ephoralty” (Aristotle 46). In referencing this successful characteristic of a well-functioning society, Aristotle progresses in his own search for the perfect political society. After determining how the constitution in Sparta was applied with an effective framework, Aristotle strengthens his argument that a constitution should be included in government for support amongst classes. Attributable to his application of allusions, Aristotle had a brief attempt at an ideal government. However, because his juxtaposition of societal roles severely disregards the importance of equality, Aristotle’s analysis of an ideal government is not suitable for a modern audience, and hence, his ideology must be wholly rejected.

 

Works Cited

Aristotle. Politics. New York, NY, Barnes &Amp; Noble, Inc., 2005.

Editors, Biography.com. “Aristotle Biography.” The Biography.com Website, A&E Television Networks, 7 Nov. 2016, www.biography.com/people/aristotle-9188415#synopsis.

TOW #11 – Second Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln

In the midst of the Civil War, entering into his second term in office, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his inaugural address per the precedent established by Washington. Approximately four years after the start of the Civil War, Lincoln recognized the fragility of the Union and hoped to address the most significant issues in the United States (Staff). Employing juxtaposition, chiasmus, and anaphora, Lincoln uses rhetoric to produce an appeal to pathos and shift American perspectives during the Civil War. When introducing the intense topic of the lasting war between the Confederacy and the Union, Lincoln juxtaposes survival and death: “…one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish” (Lincoln 2). Establishing his position on the war, Lincoln weighs the purpose of war for the Confederacy and compares it to that of the Union. Claiming that the Union fights to heal the nation evokes patriotic emotions that can rebuild an exhausted population. Contrary to that one-sided position, Lincoln employs chiasmus to provide a common ground for the Confederates. Lincoln recognizes, “It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces,” instead proclaiming, “let us judge not, that we be not judged” (Lincoln 3). He responds to grievances in the Union, maintaining that while the shared reason for entering war was different from the Confederacy, they are still as responsible for participating. Thus, Lincoln builds towards a resolution to this lasting war between the North and the South. Lastly, Lincoln employs anaphora to make a call to action: “…let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds … to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations” (Lincoln 4). Including all Americans in a single nation, Lincoln makes one last attempt towards restoration of the country within his address. He recognizes the impact the war had on the divided nation, using anaphora to effectively unite the North and the South by listing the steps that must be taken. Considering the intensity and importance of the occasion, Lincoln employs juxtaposition, chiasmus, and anaphora, thereby showing a divided America that common ground is shared and that it is in the best interest of the rivals to restore peaceful relations under a single government.

Works Cited

Lincoln, Abraham. “Second Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln.” The Avalon Project, Yale Law School, 4 Mar. 1865, avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/lincoln2.asp.

Staff, History.com. “The Civil War Begins.” History.com, A+E Networks, 2009, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-civil-war-begins.