LaPierre's Transcript Reflection

Jose Arroyo

Professor Werry

RWS 200 M & W 3:30-4:45

25 February 2015

LaPierre’s Reflection Paper

            In the transcript of NRA’s LaPierre speech on the Newtown Tragedy he states three claims in his piece. One of his claims is that the media attributes to the, “ provoking others to try to make their mark.” The number of violent video games that are present in today’s society supports this claim. For example, “Kindergarten Killers,” illustrates how Adam Lanza, or anybody by that nature, could have been lured to trying or experiencing this kind of horrific gesture of trying to relive a moment played on a video claim. The examples of present day video games is one of his strategies on trying to illuminate how society has played a huge role on influencing people’s minds on cruel acts. Another claim LaPierre states is that every school in America or the world in that matter should be guarded by individuals who posses a firearm. His challenge to his audience’s ethics is a useful strategy to call to play their morals and ethics. When describing how we protect many institutions he reveals how we leave our, “children… defenseless.” The use of this comparison evokes his audience to fully understand the importance of firearms in school grounds because he is trying to convey that guns are actually effective ways of defense. He also states how there should be a mental database of “mentally ill.” This assertion emphasizes the desire of trying to eliminate any possible causes or recurrences of any mass shootings. The ability to eliminate or disable the ability of any of these people to get a gun will prevent mass murders, which LaPierre is stating.

            Some strengths of his argument are that he uses ethos and pathos effectively to connect to his audience emotionally and ethically. The ability to connect and evoke his audience through these appeals enables him to have a clear plan on stopping these types of horrific incidents.  The duration he took to give his defense of the NRA shows his concern and grief for the families but also shows the time and thought it took to build a qualified defense against many outraged parents and people.

            A couple of weakness I saw with this piece is that he assumed everyone was against the NRA, which may of lead to an overgeneralization in piece. But also his claim of allowing individuals having a gun in a “innocent” infrastructure also can lead to some complications. That individual may have passed protocol but they may still been infested with prior video game experience and attack innocent children as well.     

Jose Arroyo

Professor Werry

RWS 200 M & W 3:30-4:45

2 February 2015

One strategy from Haydar’s piece and a summary of Abu-Logodh's "The Muslim Woman"

            One strategy Haydar utilizes to her advantage is the use of comparing and contrasting the cultural values between the West and the Middle East. She states how the a women in the West wishes to, “appear in Stuff magazine,” as compared to her she wishes to not be seen as a simplistic piece of meet but rather appreciated for her personality and her whole self. This comparison is most likely more persuasive than many of her other claims because her audience (general American public) can relate this comment to a person in his/her life. But despite this great claim she does have a knack of overgeneralizing people in one of her claims. She talks about how wearing her veil she was able to rid herself of harmful experiences. She uses an example of how men try to harass girls who walk past a construction site. But she overgeneralizes on the aspect that every man will have a comment as a women walks past their view. This overgeneralization most likely works against her and makes her audience question her way of thinking.

            In Lila Abu- Lughod’s online editorial, “ The Muslim Woman” she calls to attention the misconceptions the West has on the image of a woman with a veil on. She quickly rewrites the misconception and reveals how the veil is sometimes a geographical reason or purely a personal choice. She also states how even if Islam threw away the “submission” for women to wear a veil if they would really stop wearing the veil. The claim I just mentioned above draws interest from me because she is right. Many women will not simply throw off their veil and wear jeans. It has become a way of life for these women and especially since some areas enforce this type of submission they would still be required to wear the veil.