Author Archives: RASHEED HALL

In the article “Padma Lakshmi: Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris Moved Me to Tears” the central idea is that Kamala Harris has raised the bar for people of color especially women. Kamala Harris defeated the odds, being the daughter Jamaican and Indian immigrant parents; she rose through the ranks of “American power” to eventually reach Vice President of the United States of America. Harris achievements not only set a bar, but it encourages children and women in America that anything is possible. The author growing up having to face discrimination throughout her life now sees Kamala Harris, a person whose grandparents lived in the same area as her grandparents and interacted on a daily basis in India, in a position of power in America today. It shows how much Kamala Harris has gone a long way to achieve the position she is in today. What I found effective about the piece was the background stories involving their grandparents. A key effective talking point was about Kamala raises the standards for all women and especially people of color. Kamala becoming the first female and child of immigrants Vice President is now setting the precedent for future politicians that come from different backgrounds.

What surprised me the most about the 2020 election was how unpredictable everything was. I had a feeling Joe Biden would win, but I honestly I thought it would’ve been more contested. Seeing how all key battleground states turn from Republican to Democrat due to mail in ballots shows how democracy really works. The anticipation of waiting days to see who would be the President in 2020 was a rollercoaster ride because of how unpredictable everything was and seeing constant updates everyday made it more interesting. No one truly knows who the president was until the end because there were no clear answers or updates since everything changed because of the pandemic.

1. Who are you going to vote for during the 2020 Election and why?
2. Do you feel as if your vote is going to make a difference?
3. How engaged are you into politics?

Omar 17,

1. I’m not voting because I don’t care about politics.

2. Since I already said I’m not going to vote, no I don’t think it will make any difference.

3. I’m not engaged in it whatsoever.

Solie 19,

1. Joe Biden, because I want someone else to be president besides Trump.

2. Not really because New York always votes Democrat, but I just wanted to vote since it’s my first time voting in an election.

3. Im not really into politics, I just read headlines here and there but it isn’t my main focus.

Christian 18,

1. Joe Biden, because he’s a better candidate than Trump.

2. I don’t see my vote making a big difference, but my mom and sister was going to the polls and asked me to go with them so I went.

3. I’m not engaged at all, I just want to see Trump out of office.

Three specific things that have stood out to me while I was reading is that many Gen Z share many common viewpoints when it comes to many progressive issues. Gen Z are the most educated generation compared to their counterparts. The last specific thing was that many of Gen Z gets most of their information in regards to politics from social media. These portraits of Gen Z are fairly accurate when it comes to my peers and I because it shows that even though many are concerned about what’s going on in American politics a fair share of them don’t because they believe that their vote won’t really make a difference.  The only thing I would like to add is that Most Gen Z isn’t really into politics because they feel as if it’s something they can control. Growing up we believe that our vote really doesn’t matter because every politician spews the same nonsense about “change” but nothing really changes, it’s the same thing over and over. Another thing that should be more heavily enforced is that if Gen Z were politically active, they will lean liberal on many political issues, even though it is mentioned in one of the articles, most Gen Z are not really into politics like myself included because I feel like our politicians won’t really make a difference, they just use their campaigns as talking points to lure new voters into believing what they are saying. If I was interviewed I would’ve added that I’m not politically active and I really don’t any concern on what’s going on politically because I feel as if my voice doesn’t matters. The “elders” is what rule congress and the White House, their style of thinking is outdated when it comes to sensitive issues but they don’t care enough to address it because they think just because of their “age” there are more smarter compared to us the “Gen Z”. After reading these pieces, I’m not surprised they don’t provoke any strong emotions because they are typical. Most of the responses and data I have read and interpreted is something that I have known already.

1. There is a rhetoric behind everything, which includes everyday things we endure such as advertisements, ideas, political agendas, and the way how we judge others. Rhetoric is thing that we face in everyday society. The media also uses rhetoric persuade us and buy their products, companies use ethos to attract consumers by establishing trust within their brand. Rhetoric is everywhere because rhetoric is basically persuasion, and the idea of having an meaning. There is a hidden rhetoric behind everything we see on a daily basis, even if it’s the small things that we usually don’t notice in life.
2. In fact, according to rhetorician Kenneth Burke, rhetoric is everywhere: “wherever there is persuasion, there is rhetoric. And wherever there is ‘meaning,’ there is ‘persuasion.’ This quote basically explains that there is rhetoric is basically persuasion. Rhetoric is designed to lure the audience into believing the information that is given to them. Also, for something to have meaning it has to persuade the audience into believing what the concept behind the idea their reading about. Rhetoric is everywhere but hidden and it is up to the audience to decipher what the meaning actually is behind the rhetoric.
3. This essay affects the rhetorical analysis I’m working on because it shows that rhetoric is everywhere and its up to the person that’s writing to persuade their audience into believing what he or she is saying. Rhetoric is persuasion, in order to have a good rhetoric one must understand how to convey their thoughts in a way in which conveys meaning. As the quote above says, “rhetoric is everywhere: “wherever there is persuasion, there is rhetoric. And wherever there is ‘meaning,’ there is ‘persuasion.’ In order for my piece to be stronger, I have to be more persuasive in my writing.

While the 2020 election was heating up, I saw a post with a Twitter back in fourth with President Trump and Joe Biden, Trump says “If Joe Biden becomes President of America I will leave the country” and Biden responds with the comment “Bi-den”. It was clever and funny because it was something that you wouldn’t expect from our presidential comments, but Biden’s cleverness is what drawn in the younger audience that sees it because it shows that he has a humor during a serious situation that is going on. On Biden’s part it was a smart move.

Orwell’s thesis is that throughout time, the English language has been corrupted by the way we think, and the way how we write. Instead of making sense, we use jargon to make our ideas sound more interesting and feasible to the average reader or listener. We use Latin words, metaphors, and expressions to make our simple thought sound sophisticating, even though it doesn’t make any sense. Orwell’s idea is that we can communicate clearly and concisely by simply using plain English without the unnecessary use of expressions and metaphors that make absolutely no sense. “But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. A bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation, even among people who should and do know better.” This particular quote stood out to me because it shows that throughout time people take advantage of the English language to promote thoughts that aren’t true. They know that their “metaphors” and “expressions’ don’t really make any sense but they do it still to sound pretentious and as if there are knowledgeable. Orwell is trying to say that the English language is easily abused to manipulate others into thinking that the writers and speakers that take advantage of the language are smart. “It is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it: consequently the defenders of every kind of régime claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might have to stop using that word if it were tied down to any one meaning. Words of this kind are often used in a consciously dishonest way.” Orwell’s quote shows how words can be easily abused and manipulated to think for the average reader. Instead of allowing the reader to form his or her thoughts, the speaker and or writer takes advantage of the misinformation that surrounds the topic they are speaking about in order to come off as knowledgeable. I see examples of this today when political leaders are giving speeches, they use metaphors and jargon to sound intelligent as if they know what they are really saying. My writing often exhibits this type of language use because as what Orwell mentioned it is imitated, I personally write In that type of format sometimes in order to come off as smart, I know what I’m writing about but I feel as if when I write like what Orwell is talking against about I come off as intelligent and more persuasive to my argument or answer. I find his critique to be valid because they are times when I’m reading articles, passages, and even listening to speeches I have to pause to actually ask myself “What are they really trying to say” even though it may sound smart to a person that isn’t listening, it really shows that most people just do it “just to sound smart”, there is no deeper answer. The English language is abused in a way it only benefits the speaker or writer, not the listener. An example in American politics will be “Pro Gun” the term pro gun comes off as a person that supports lack of gun laws. But in reality the term “Pro Gun” sounds weird, it just two different terms put together to sound smart and reasonable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgHXJ3rdOn0

The audience for Joe Biden’s ad “Be Not Afraid” is the people that are in doubt of a future Trump America. Biden targets American citizens that are afraid of the hatred and violence Trump supporters are plaguing onto America. The United States is supposed to be united not decisive, instead of Trump supporting the actions of his supporters, he should be condoning the violence they are causing. A president that incites violence is not a leader, but a tyrant that is afraid of losing power. The ad’s message is “Be not afraid” and “Violence will not bring change, it will only bring destruction.” The argument Joe Biden is trying to make is that violence will only beget more violence, the United States of America should be united instead of causing inner turmoil, people should come together to realize that their actions are not benefitting anyone, its only causing further destruction. Another key message is “Be Not Afraid” Biden wants his supporters to feel safe and united after post election, that he will bring America unity instead of destruction. The feelings Biden provoke is a sense of union and peace. Biden wants to make his supporters feel united and make them seem as there are on a mission to make the United States more prosperous compared to Trump’s America. The average watcher will feel comfortable because it shows that Biden actually cares about the status and welfare of the average American citizen, and that he will not give up to keep America at peace. Biden’s “Be Not Afraid” ad is positive because Biden wants his supporters to feel as if they matter, it isn’t about the politics it is about keeping the peace of America. America already being very diverse, violence should not be the answer to push an political agenda it is what’s opposite of America, it only brings tyranny, and fear to the people that oppose Trump’s America, it only creates a further sense of unnecessary division. It’s positive ad because Biden wants unity for America not violence. The visual elements that stood out the most were the clips of people violently protesting, and Biden talking behind an podium. The clips of people protesting violently shows the hatred President Trump is brewing, instead of condoning such acts he supports it giving his supporters a false sense of hope that violence is the answer, when in reality it isn’t. Biden talking behind the podium represents a leader that wants everyone to come together to listen to the knowledge that he is ready to present. Biden uses pathos in “Be Not Afraid” he appeals to the average viewers emotions by showing clips of violent protesters getting physical and acting irrational to demonstrate how so much as changed under Trump’s America. My ad is very successful because “Be Not Afraid” sends a powerful message to the average American viewer, “Be Not Afraid” when Biden will get elected President, things that are happening in America will change for the better.