Thoughts on Du Bois' "Of Our Spiritual Strivings"

I really enjoyed reading Du Bois’ introduction to Of Our Spiritual Strivings and exploring his ideas on how the Black problem is the American problem. It is also interesting how Du Bois uses an inverted pyramid style of writing where the thesis is found in the end of the introduction. He acknowledges that his race is one that, at the time, still needs great help to advance as a people. Du Bois also addresses the first problem he faces as “How does it feel to be a problem?” This rhetoric completely blows me, as a reader, away! The story that Du Bois tells about being at school and exchanging greeting cards definitely plays dual roles as appeals to Ethos and Pathos. He builds his character by telling his audience that his character is strong and that he is a good person, but the strongest appeal in this story is of pathos. It is definitely included to make his audience feel sorry for him and feel compassion on him. He seeks to show the audience that he is trying to be an advocate for his race and wants to help change how people see his people. He discusses a double-consciousness, a split-personality that his people face. When I began thinking about this, I was honestly confused, but then I began to see what was meant. Du Bois saw himself not only as an American, but he saw his African history. He didn’t want the two to necessarily combine, or for one to overrule the other, but for both forces to be equally accepted in him. These ideas are so inspiring for any group of people, because not everyone should be the same! People shouldn’t all be assimilated into the same ideas, because if everyone had the same ideas, there would be no force of creativity left in the world. 

The Genocide Project

The Genocide Project, smeared across the center of the Pedestrian Walkway at the University of Tennessee, home to the footsteps of thousands of students daily, used very strong and meaningful rhetoric in its employment. This Genocide Awareness Project has been posted over the campuses of many schools nationwide, and uses stronger images than words. These images show multiple photos of unborn babies ripped from their mothers’ wombs. Many people disagree with the label of “genocide” but “Webster’s New World Encyclopedia, Prentice Hall General Reference, 1992, defines "genocide" as "The deliberate and systematic destruction of a national, racial, religious, political, cultural, ethnic, or other group defined by the exterminators as undesirable.” (abortionno.org). This campaign aims to bring awareness about abortion to college students, and hopes to not only stop people from getting abortions, but to make it illegal. Appeals to Pathos are the most prominent in this campaign because the very graphic photos make people feel bad about what has happened to the unborn fetus. Though we call it an unborn fetus, these images show us that it can be identified as a human baby, even at 7 weeks old. Photos show a 7-week abortion where the pieces of the baby are resting on an adult male’s finger, and the entire baby could be imagined to fit on the surface of his fingernail. These images draw strong emotion from people. Aside from the words that are used to show how abortion is genocide, comparing it to the Nazi genocide, etc. the pictures are the main component in this project. A picture is worth a thousand words, and there are multiple thousands that could be said about this campaign. 

If you do not want to see anything more graphic than the photo below, 

DO NOT click this link. 

http://www.abortionno.org/

Thoughts on Machiavelli's "The Qualities of the Prince"

          Niccolo Machiavelli wrote "The Qualities of the Prince" as a guide to all of the rulers in Italy on how to rule, because what we now see as a country was then a large collection of city-states. In it, he effectively states his beliefs and supports them with examples that contradict his belief and the result of their failure. Many of Machiavelli's points make sense, not only for the princes of his time, but for the presidents of ours. One of my favorite controversial, thought provoking ideas that Machiavelli discusses in the Prince is that of whether to be generous or to be a miser. I agree that one who is too often generous will be expected to hand things out constantly. Being a miser, in a sense, is a good idea, because the money you may need later is saved for that time. Machiavelli says that "...if he is wise, not worry about being called a miser; for with time he will come to be considered more generous once it is evident that, as a result of his parsimony, his income is sufficient, he can defend himself from anyone who makes war against him, and he can undertake enterprises without overburdening his people..." This quote basically refers to the fact that in essence, a prince can do more for his people when he saves the money of the kingdom until it is needed for all, not needed for only a few. The better good of all at once is more important than the better good of a few at certain times.

          I found this webpage and pulled an interesting quote from it that says "Machiavelli's book is absolutely practical and not at all idealistic. Leaving aside what government is "best" in an ideal world, The Prince takes for granted the presence of an authoritarian ruler, and tries to imagine how such a ruler might achieve success." I believe this quote sums up a strong purpose of Machiavelli's in writing The Prince.
http://www.emachiavelli.com/Prince%20and%20Mach%20summary.htm

Advertisement Rhetorical Analysis

I chose this ad because, frankly, it is horrifying. The ad tells people how children are being abused by the thousand and reminds people that if they have the smallest suspicion, to report it to their local child welfare center.

Exigence: Children are being abused.
Purpose: To make people aware of how prevalent violence is, and to inform people on what to do if they suspect domestic violence.
Audience: The general public, especially anyone who is being abused or seeing abuse occur.
Context: This ad specifically states that in Germany, over 100,000 children are being abused, but with the power of the internet, everyone has access to this shocking picture.

Logos: The facts are stated that over 100,000 German children are abused yearly.
Ethos: The Child Health Foundation is a reputable organization aimed at protecting children from harm.
Pathos: The emotional appeal from this ad plays in through the allusion to Edvard Munch’s The Scream painting, which shows how horrifying child abuse is, especially when we see these marks on the body of a small, bony little girl who already looks as if she is frail. The ad brings pity for the child who is so abused and makes people think of the children that may be around them every day, and how they would feel to see these marks and scars on children they love when they can be prevented. No child’s injury or life is worth risking to protect someone else.