TED Video Response

The video impacted me significantly.  Byran Stevenson presented his argument with passion and power in his voice.  He gave personal experiences as well as some of is young clients.  He has worked with several incarcerated individuals along with young 13 year old who are in jail.  He said that speaking on "TED" was a great honor and privilege because TED relays powerful messages.  Bryan's message was the power of identity.  Identity can mean several different meanings. The power of identity gives the means for a person to say anything they believe.  A person can do things as well as get others to participate with them.  Identity is not being judged by the technology but by the character.  A country's character is their true identity.  How does the country treat their poverty and their incarcerated people?  For example, Bryan does not think the opposite of poverty is wealthy.  The opposite of poverty is justice.  Although Bryan presented a valid and effective argument, he said this is not about race.  In his argument he only discussed blacks and whites.  he never discussed other cultures such as the Hispanics.  He said that 1 out of 3 black men are either in jail or on probation.  He also said that white people have the death sentence 10% of the time while black men have it 20%.  This gives an emotional appeal, but he should of included statistics about other races. 

Alternative Assignment

The man presented a valid argument.  We should not change n*** to slave for three reasons.  First, we are changing history.  African Americans were labeled as this, we cannot hide from our past.  This book is a symbol of our history.  Our history was not always beautiful for some people and Mark Twain was trying to show the world.  Second, n*** and slave do not mean the same.  It will change the meaning of n***.  Jim ran away; therefore, he is no longer a slave.  The third reason is that Mark Twain wanted to make people uncomfortable when they read the book.  Seeing 219 n*** words creates a significant emotional appeal.  Also if the publisher changes all those words, then the domino effect will occur.  Once they change one thing, they will gradually start changing characters and illustrations to fit today's comfort levels.  Children need to learn the book how it was originally written.

Definition

The article’s foundation is built upon the characteristic of flip-flopping.  According to Roger Cohen, flip-flopping is when a person who advocates for one issue but he later changes his views and becomes against the issue.  This characteristic is often shown in politicians.  To gain votes, they appeal to the beliefs of their voters.  This generation no longer contains consistency; it is situational.  The politician’s beliefs depend on the situation and which audience they would like to appeal to.  Flip- flopping is a significant issue in today’s society.  

Introduction

How do politicians capture the attention of their voters?  In “Multiple Choice Romney,” Roger Cohen writes about the flip-flopping issue in the 20^th century.  Politicians portray this behavior the most.  They will say almost anything to capture the attention and the votes of a certain audience.  Roger Cohen is an experiences writer and provided several examples of certain people who have this characteristic.  He first describes a flip- flopper as a person who will advocate for an issue and later reject the notion.  He talks about John Kerry, Nick Clegg, and Mitt Romney as examples of flip-floppers.  This article applies to all audiences of any age, everyone encounters flip-flopping.  The population should not be persuaded by the lies presidential candidates may say.  Cohen captures his audience with ethos by the several sources and his experience as a writer, pathos by grabbing the emotional appeal from flip-flopping, and logos by the numerous statistics he provides.   

Analysis of Rhetorical Strategies

            “Multiple Choice Romney” by Roger Cohen represented ethos.  In his column he provided statements and statistics from prior leaders of our country.  Although the article did not discuss the author’s creditability, the website provided a columnist page that provided all the accomplishments of Roger Cohen.  He joined the New York Times in 1990.  Cohen has been a foreign correspondent for over a decade.  He is currently a foreign editor: he has worked in this position for about six months.  In 2009, Roger Cohen became a columnist of the New York Times.  He has also written “Hearts Grown Brutal: Sagas of Sarajevo” (Random House, 1998).  Cohen has more than enough creditability that gains the respect of the reader.  “Choices 2.0: Situations for College Writing” by Joe Marshall Hardin asserted that ethos is interpreted for the modern word “ethics.”  In order for the reader to believe and therefore form the same opinion, the reader has to believe the author is an ethical person.  Cohen is a perfect representation of ethos.   

            He also contained a significant amount of pathos.  He captured his readers’ emotional appeal.  Cohen presented a strong concept: everything is situational these days.  People do not expect the consistency of a person’s beliefs.  Currently, the people who are quick on their feet overpower the people that walk in a straight line.  To win the opinions of an audience, the person has to appeal to their beliefs rather than their own.  This type of person is known as a flip-flopper.  A flip- flopper is a person who acts only to please others in order to get their vote.   A flip- flopper was derived from the media and the portrayal media transcends to the world.  A person has to win others by lying rather then standing for what they truly believe in.  Roger Cohen captured the audience emotionally because the world has a significant trust issue.  How can a person believe the presidential campaigns?  The candidates are only after one thing: your vote.       

            A majority of this article contained several logos.  He persuaded his audience by using an abundant amount of statistics.  He proved Romney was a flip- flopper by using quotes from Romney at his debate with Ted Kennedy in 1994 and his current statements in his presidential campaigns.  In his debate with Kennedy, Romney stated, “I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country.”  Currently Romney has become pro- life and he wants the Supreme Court to overturn the Roe v. Wade case.   Romney has changed his views, which makes the audience question his morals and ethics.  Since the majority of the United States is pro- life, Romney wanted to appeal to the voters who believed in pro-life. 

Summary of "Multiple Choice Romney"

            In the opinionative article “Multiple Choice Romney,” Roger Cohen asserts that flip-flopping is a 20^th century issue.  Several politicians begin on one side of an issue, but as the journey of the campaign undergoes; they begin to shift sides of the issue.  Many people neglect this fallacy and fail to hold the politician accountable.  People rely on negative flaws about the opposing party.  Cohen supports his claim by providing various examples and statistics from past world leaders.  For example, George H. W. Bush said “Read my lips: no new taxes.”  He said these famous words at the 1988 Republican Convention after accepting the nomination.  Unfortunately Bush flip- flops and he raises taxes to reduce the deficit.  Consistency is not the core element but that everything is situational.  Roger Cohen states, “What matters is to be quick on your feet, not to walk in a straight line.”  Because of today’s society, politicians are under 24/7 watch and they cannot be expected to avoid inconsistency.  The author’s purpose was to capture the audience and make them aware of the current 20^th century issues of presidential campaigns.  In the current presidential campaign, Romney is an example of a flip- flopper.  In his primary debates he states, “We’re going to cut taxes on everyone across the country by 20 percent, including the top 1 percent.”  Romney switches his views during his debate: he states, “But I’m not going to reduce the share of taxes paid by high income people.”  Romney’s opposing audience states numerous attacking lines such as his wealth.  They say he does not care for the poor and his view of removing entitlements.  The audience fails at revealing the significant issue of a flip-flopper.  The author sent another valuable message towards President Obama.  Cohen states, “Persistence trumps performance.”  Romney has currently gained a 3.6% gain in the polls.  President Obama needs to step up his game in order to triumph in the end.      

Ethos, Pathos, Logos Chart

Ethos- Roger Cohen

• ·      Joined NY Times in 1990
• ·      Foreign correspondent for over a decade
• ·      In 2009 he became a columnist for the NY Times
• ·      Wrote “Hearts Grown Brutal: Sagas of Sarajevo” (Random House, 1998)
•  Accounts of the wars of Yugoslavia’s destruction
• ·      He used several quotes and statistics from past leaders

Pathos

• ·      George H.W. Bush said, “Read my lips: no new taxes”
• ·      John Kerry said “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it”
• Image as a flip- flopper
• ·      Everything is situational
• ·      Do not expect consistency
• ·      Quick on feet, not walk in a straight line
• ·      Life is recorded 24/7, no one can expect to avoid some form of inconsistency
• ·      Use “whatever” for nothing
• ·      People say Romney is rich and ruthless, he doesn’t care about the poor, and he plans to remove entitlements.  No cares that he is a flip- flopper.
• ·      Ted Kennedy (1994 MA debate) said, “I am pro-choice.” (Before adding of Romney) “My opponent is multiple choice.”

Logos

• ·      George H.W. bush accepted nomination at the 1988 Republican convention
•  As president- he raised taxes to reduce the deficit
• ·      2004- John Kerry (Democratic) declared of an $87 billion supplemental funding bill for the US troops
• ·      In Romney’s primary debates- “We’re going to cut taxes on everyone across the country by 20 percent, including the top 1 percent.”
• ·      In Obama debate, Romney said, “But I’m not going to reduce the share of taxes paid by high income people.”
• ·      Polls: Romney average gain 3.6% after debate
• ·      Nick Clegg- Britain’s Liberal Democratic Leader/Deputy Prime Minister- said sorry for saying he would vote against any increase in the university tuition fees.
• YouTube- 2 million views
•   Viewed as weak, hapless, ridiculous, not particularly untrustworthy
• ·      In debate against Kennedy, Romney stated “I believe abortion should be safe and legal in this country.”
• ·      Currently, Romney is pro- life and he wants the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.