LA Times Found Poem

Uber does not follow safety protocol.

We should stop Uber once and for all.

Destroying other company’s reputation

leads to the suing of the corporation.

“Uber Technology advertises itself as the safest rides”

However, we know this is a lie so we won’t let this slide.

“The deceptive advertising… has caused significant harm”

This truth is an alarm.

A six year old girl was hit by a car because of the mistake of a driver.

And she wasn’t a survivor.

Lien, Tracy. “Uber Sued Over Safety Claims.” La Times. 19 March 2015. C,C7

Question 3: Thomas Paine

In England, an author named Thomas Paine proclaimed America as an incredibly successful and joint country because America has diversity and the Americans were united. There is diversity but there is racism as well as unjust political, social ,and economical issues. Paine describes America as an united and concord country but in reality it isn’t. There is corruption in the government and amongst the people.

           Paine states that “simple operation of constructing government on the principles of society and the rights of man, every difficulty retires, and all the parts are brought into cordial unison.” The government will have problems whether it may be because of the people or bis businesses. The government will negotiate or use propaganda. The purpose of propagandas was to bolster the pride as U.S. citizens while dehumanizing the enemy. Now days television commercials and even the 6 o’clock new is like propaganda and it influences the people of the United States immensely. In the news industry there is something called video news release which is when public relation firms create pretaped news release that is used to advertise a company without the public knowing or even noticing. The production would look exactly like the 6 o’clock news. The videos that are being shown through the news can be old stories too; however, the audience doesn’t know this. The news companies will use these videos to show the watchers that a certain product helps cure cancer and that it is beneficial to their health. This is how the public relation firms advertise the stocks of a company. Although this is absurd, the people watching the news easily believe the program. Companies know that if a CEO or someone from the company approaches a potential customers to advertise a product, it is less likely that the company’s profit will increase. Instead corporations utilize famous anchors on the news or scientists or doctors to say something about the product that may be only 5% true. This is a similar tactic that is used to shift public opinion. Even the government utilize this strategies like this. These tactics are used so that the people of the government could get what they want. Most of the congressmen are incredibly wealthy. They want to benefit themselves by putting out these clips.
         During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson used the sinking of the ship, Lusitania, in order to shift public opinion. He wanted the people to be for the war because the U.S. military can not go into war without the approval of the Americans. The Germans were notified that the Lusitania has weapons under the floorboard because there were German spies in the government. However, the U.S. has spies in the German government so even though the U.S. knew that the path of the Lusitania was infested by German u-boats, the U.S. let the ship sail. This resulted of the death of 128 Americans out of 1,200 people that was boarded on the ship and died. This proves not only is there corruption in local news and businesses but also in the government as well. The decisions that the government makes is supposed to benefit the people of the United States but it doesn’t. The decisions are made so that the people of the government get things their way. The lies of the government are successful because the people controlling the government continuously utilize these tactics so that the people side with the government.

            Paine mentions that America is “concord” and that there are “people from different nations,” but the racism that occurs throughout the United States proves that there isn’t harmony in the U.S. The police brutality, the anti sentiment during the 9/11 incident, and other events indicate that there is hatred towards each other. The fact that the word xenophobia also exists shows that there are people that fear foreigners. During 9/11 and even now there is a hatred and disliking towards the Saudi Arabians and Israelites. The Arabians would be deported back and they would not be able to get jobs or they would be fired. Also if Arabians lived in the Unites States before this incident, they would still be affected. Not only that, the Arabians were beaten in the streets as well. The Palmer Raids was instituted which allowed U.S. soldiers to burst into people’s homes without a warrant if the occupants were “suspected” terrorists. This is definitely not a “cordial” country and the government was and still is unjust.

            Paine’s thoughts of America generates the thought that he has never been to America. He hears the news but there is a huge possibility that it is false information.

Question 2: Environmentalist

The world will constantly consist of problems that aren’t resolved because of the way people perceive each other which can create widely known ideas. Looking at the two groups, the stereotypes shown that the two groups would be extremely difficult and maybe even impossible to have a productive nature. The satire Wilson uses in his book, Future of Life, show that America allowed politics to affect non-political issues. The differences between the stereotypes are not huge but the diction affects the perspective of the groups. The passage includes opinionated language which signifies that there is emotional appeal as well.

The tactic of categorizing environmentalists as crazy categorizes people and indicates that Wilson  is inputting his opinion and judging others so he utilizes emotional appeal and dictions because of the words he chooses to use. Both sides consists of name calling. Wilson explains that the first people criticize the environmentalists as “greens, enviros, environmental extremists, or environmental wackos” (lines 4-7) while the environmentalists call the people-first critics “brown lashers,... wise users, and sagebrush rebels”(lines 40-42) and  “hypocrites” (line 44). Then he uses words like “über alles” which means above everything else in German to describe the environmentalist as people who support and follow “unrestrained capitalism” (line 46).  Wakos only want “political power” and they have a “broad and mostly hidden agenda” (lines 6-7) because their goal is to “expand government.” (line 10) He utilizes these words to show that the environmentalists are immature and child-like.

The environmentalists criticize big businesses and corporates because they only cooperate in order to benefit themselves. “The anti environmentalists would be laughed out of the court if they weren’t tied too closely to the corporate power structure.” (lines 55-57) This shows that politics and networking as well as communication is essential. Wilson’s satirical language about politics expresses the way he feels about environmentalists. Wilson shows disapproval of environmentalists because they have  a “broad and mostly hidden agenda that always comes from the left” and the name calling, “wako” (line 7) are exaggerated by Wilson.

Question 1: Green Living

Green living is more beneficial to our society’s future. It is the future generations that will carry on our traditions, advance the world, and live in this world. The Earth must be changed for the better. There is never an unlimited amount of anything in live so resources must be used considerately. Resources are live people’s lives. People don’t live forever so during the time that they are alive they need to accomplish something and those people can go green so that they don’t leave more damage than there is already because it will be their children and grandchildren who will have to live in a world that is already corrupted.

Although we know that is everyone went green in the world it is a “utopian ideal” which “must aspire if life is to continue on this planet”(Source A). Without the mindset or goal of creating or fixing the world, our species will become extinct. Our colossal consumption of natural resources may be the fall of our planet. If the amount of natural resources become scarce, that affects everything else. It will be a domino effect. If a part of the chain is broken then everything else that is connected to the chain will not be something that mankind would be able to control. Also the fact that all the natural resources are being consumed indicated that the world is being harmed and it’s only a matter of time before Earth disappears. This is not a benign problem and it affects extraordinary things like the climate.

As the years have gone by, global warming, which a handful of scientists who believe it is a myth, occurred and is still going on today. The icebergs are melting and we are running out of clean water. Animals that use the snow and ice as land or even as homes are suffering and dying. The climate changes are caused by the natural resources we are using. Although the technological advancements are the beneficial consequences of the use of natural resources as well as the improvement of medicine, all this also leads to the “rapid population growth [that has] converged in a way that could make our planet dangerously unstable.” (Source C). The world is getting “hot, flat, and crowded.” (Source C). This is a sign that people have to start doing their part as a student must do a part by cleaning up after themselves in school. Plastic bottles and cans are being recycled and picked up is a indeed benefitting the Earth but it is because there is a motivation. That motivation is money. This has a similar concept as the Singaporean governments.

In Singapore, in order to use a car there are requirements that must be fulfilled and it involves money. There is an “annual tax that specifically punishes high powered gas-guzzling engines.” (Source B). The expensive prices of gasoline and the scarcity of gas leads to the people of singapore to ride the subway or the bus which is an ecofriendly way to get to destinations. These policies help the world as well as the people. They save money while helping the world become a better place. Although money affects the decision of the people, money motivates people. Not only can the people benefit economically but also physically. “Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.” (Source F). Driving safely is a benefactor to people’s lives because it creates a safer environment scientifically and for everyone in the community. Plus insurance bills would not go up and there would not be outrageous hospital bills and a ridiculous cost to fix your car for those who do not have insurance. It even may be possible that gasoline won’t be necessary because of the technological advancements occurring.

Civil Disobedience

Civil disobedience occurs when people nonviolently break the law to achieve justice. There are laws that are only for the minority of the population that should not have been imposed but instead, the supreme court was partial to the lower class while favoring the upper. During the 1960s there were laws that caused segregation which was biased towards the African Americans. Famous historical figures put their lives on the line to set an example and impact the future generations. Laws should be made so that it applies to everyone without any exceptions.

A gifted activist, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi led a nonviolent movement that inspired Martin Luther King Jr. to become a civil disobedient activist as well. Gandhi, knowing his people, resorted to justifications without violence. He knew that his people would not fight using violence despite the fact that the British used violence towards them. Gandhi had a philosophy, "Satyagraha," which are two words in Sanskrit. "Satya" meaning truth and "Agraha" meaning holding firmly to so the name of his philosophy, Satyagraha, literally means "holding firmly to truth." However, Satyagraha, in Gandhi's definition, is "the Force which is born of Truth and Love or non-violence." This philosophy not only pertained to the civil disobedience but it also viewed that the struggle involved in Satyagraha is a spiritual journey with nature. The Indians refused to pay salt taxes due to its absurdly expensive price. In order to aid his people Gandhi led a movement known as the Salt March. Gandhi and his followers defied the British policy by marching to the Arabian Sea to make salt using sea water. Over sixty thousand people were arrested as well as Gandhi. When he got out of prison he met with Lord Irwin. They negotiated so Gandhi ordered the stop of Satyagraha and settled with Gandhi to be a representative at at a London conference about India’s future. On that year of August, Gandhi traveled to the conference as the sole representative of the nationalist Indian National Congress. Even though the meeting was a disappointment, the British leaders had admitted that Gandhi was a force they could not suppress or ignore. India’s independence was finally granted in August 1947. This shows that words have a huge effect on people. Although actions speak louder than words, the fact that Gandhi did not use unnecessary actions that would generate the outcome to be disastrous.  

“Pride makes a victorious nation bad-tempered.”(On Nonviolent Resistance, Gandhi). This quote emphasizes how pride causes one to trample on his or her character and virtue. Gandhi said that even though the war may have been won, the main reason for the war still remains and it has not disappeared. The war continues after the defeat because there is always the effect that lingers. There are emotional and mental scars that are left behind. The reason is still there causing the issues to grow “a thousand times more”. What happens during the war can affect the future even post to the war because this can lead to the fall of a country as well as terrifying consequences. With this possibility, a nation may not be able to rise which would result to the defeat of the country.

    Another powerful historical figure that was prominent throughout African American history named Martin Luther King Jr. He went to jail in Birmingham, Alabama for protesting regarding the treatment towards blacks. Martin Luther King Jr. used his words to encapture the minds of others. While King was in jail he wrote “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” which powerfully explained the discriminations towards African Americans. King wrote in his letter, “there is nothing wrong with an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade, but when the ordinance is used to preserve segregation…”(pg. 246). This indicates that it was extremely difficult for blacks to live in Birmingham because of all the racism and segregation. The reasoning for the imprisonment (the denying the right to assemble and protest) of Martin Luther King Jr. was rather unnecessary and immoral. King utilized a nonviolent civil disobedient act in response to the cruel actions of the whites. He incorporated religious and placid words to convey his message towards the people. The restrictions that the African American had to endure in public facilities not only frustrated them but also led to civil rights movements. These movements that involved thousands of people created a bigger impact through history because it pressured the government to make changes. The African Americans was not going to take in all the wicked slandering and belittlement from the whites. Instead, all of them stood strong and firm to prevent them from falling. An important thing to note is that the main thing that held them together was cooperation and unity.

    During an interview with Howard Zinn, he states that there are two reasons for injustice but one being that “they feel that they have no alternative.” (pg. 220) There are people who have to surrender to the government cause the people do not do anything about the unjust laws that are inflicted upon them. The issues of unjust laws would only be more corrupted if violence was involved. “We have seem mass movements overthrow dictatorship without war or massive violence.” (pg. 221) Howard Zinn describes how mass movement is incredibly effective. Not only will nonviolence “avoid the horrors of war” but it is also more of “a step in the direction of justice.” (pg. 221) I learned that Howard Zinn himself used civil disobedience tactics which resulted him to be arrested throughout his life. Howard Zinn said if you are trying to impact the world by making changes look at the history of the United States. The methods that brought changes to the United States may be  corrupt but not all of them. Supposedly we have a democracy, so we elect representatives and we elect a president every four years. However, this does not help the black people in this country. That's why people had to turn to the streets in order to begin to get anything and it did not help workers.

In order to create changes for the better while considering the future generations, our historical figures used moral methods instead of rash actions and decisions. The movements that were tremendously effective involved civil disobedience and if it was successful then even the outcome would be peaceful. However, even after there is a victory from a war, the damage the war costed nourishes another issue. Although the government gives restrictions, the citizens should ethically fight for their rights like the way gay marriage became legal recently. Look at the changes that were able to happen without using rabid actions.

Persuasion- Joan Didion

          In Joan Didion’s essay “Los Angeles Notebook,” she talks about a wind that is powerful but also deadly. Didion conveys her view of the Santa Ana wind through imagery and selection of detail as well as the structure and tone she sets up.

          Didion starts off the opening with “uneasy” and that tells the reader that the tone will be gloomy while having “some tension.” Then she states her reason by using imagery such as “... a hot wind from the northeast whining down through the cajon and San Gorgonio passes, blowing up sandstorms out along Route 66, trying the hills and the nerves to the flash point.” Didion tells the audience about the wind with selection of detail too. Simple words like hot has a great effect because small words like wind is actually something big. She later talks about peacocks screaming in the olive trees which create an ominous feeling.

          The author then uses an anecdote to explain the Santa Ana wind and when she experienced it. In the anecdote, the writer talks about a neighbor she had. “The heat was surreal… My only neighbor would not come out of her house for days and there were no lights at night…” The ominous tone that she sets up using her neighbor was to emphasize that the Santa Ana causes “depression” and “nervousness.” “[the neighbor’s] husband roamed the place with a machete, it lets ts the reader know that this person is anxious and nervous about something. Also if the husband heard “ a trespasser, the next [day] a rattlesnake” that displays the husband as paranoid. On top of all this the “Indians would throw themselves into the sea when the bad wind blew. The Pacific turned ominously glossy during a Santa Ana period.” The wind drove the Indians to kill themselves by going into the Pacific. This can mean that the depression or something in their minds was put into their minds by the Santa Ana.

When the author uses diction like “anything can happen” in an ominous tone, the audience feels uncomfortable and cautious. The choice of words she uses indicates that the Santa Ana causes depression and suicidal thoughts. The author tell the readers several examples how the Santa Ana turns the people into something they are not to convey her message. The “children become unmanageable” and “the suicide rate goes up.” The foen also causes the same effects towards the people of the city in Austria and Switzerland. The structure that the author is using provides multiple evidences to how the Santa Ana affects the people of the country.

          There is also scientific evidence like “ the positive ions are there, and what an excess of positive ions does, in the simplest terms is make people unhappy.” The author uses evidence from multiple views to convey her message to many different types of people.

          Joan Didion used multiple rhetorical devices to emit her view of the Santa Ana by using imagery, selection of detail, the structure, and the ominous tone. The Santa Ana is a wind that causes depression which can lead to chaos. She shows her readers that the mysterious yet evil characteristics of the wind.

Analysis- JFK

          President John F. Kennedy stated that the steel industry is making America into a country that contradicts itself. Kennedy is saying that the prices of the steel is causing and will cause complications in the economy. Kennedy uses parallelism, a sympathetic tone, and diction persuade the steel industry to undo the increase of steel.

          When Kennedy is holding this conference, he uses parallelism to emphasize his purpose of the conference Kennedy says “when we are confronted with grave crises in Berlin and Southeast Asia, when we are devoting our energies to economic recovery and stability, when we are asking Reservists to leave their houses and families for months or end, and servicemen to risk their lives.” By talking about the military using phrases like “devoting our energies to economic recovery” which gives hope to the people of the U.S so it convinces the people because of recovery. Other presidents like Abraham Lincoln uses parallelism in his Gettysburg Address which makes the diction and the way he would talk in his speech persuade and win people to his side which aided both JFK and Lincoln into getting what they wanted. Parallelism affects the effectiveness of the speech as well as the way he uses his words. When he says “the American people have a right to expect in return for that freedom, a higher sense of business responsibility for the welfare of their country...” JFK uses words like “freedom,” “higher,” and a phrase “responsibility for the welfare” to win people over and to persuade the steel companies to contribute to his ideas.

          President Kennedy then uses the sympathetic tone while explaining how it would affect the Americans. “The cost of steel is imitated by the rest of the industry, instead of rescinded, it would increase the cost of homes, autos, appliances, and most other items for every American family. It would seriously handicap our efforts to prevent an inflationary spiral from eating up the pensions of our older citizens...” The diction is related to the sympathetic tone because of the way he purposely used the category of the people “older citizens” who affects the thoughts and opinions of the younger people. The younger citizens will eventually become the older ages citizens.

          Also another statement he said that had effective diction is his last sentence: “some time ago I asked each American to consider what he would do for his country and I asked the steel companies.”