Politics. In The Eyes of A Future Voter.

         It's so hard being a teenager when your opinion does not even matter. Being old enough to know what you're talking about, but not being able to make that opinion count. Literally. One vote can not do much, but thousands can make a difference. Being apart of that difference is a good feeling; especially if your choice was elected. I feel that if I were able to vote, that I would vote for Barack Obama due to the beliefs we both share on many topics. I see him as a very well rounded person and the image of how I see to be a very people oriented president; which is a purpose our country was founded, for the people.
          Throughout the election, Obama and Romney have presented their views on how the government should be run. While the other criticized what the other had to say. Throughout this time they discussed things such as social issues and the country's future.One of my main reasons for wanting to vote for Obama is his main beliefs that I also share. How I am very pro choice and pro equality. Having Romney against the right of women not being able to decide their own future for themselves upset me a lot. He's a man. He has no idea what it is like to bear a child. He has no right to say she is not allowed to protect herself with birth control, but can not get an abortion in times of need. I do not see it as a method of birth control, but as a way to relieve yourself of a situation you are not financially or physically ready for.
          Personally, I choose the candidate based on more of the socially and moral beliefs for many reasons. I see that if I do not like the person for who they are on the inside, then how can I like the decisions he or she makes? I do not see it very logical to vote for the candidate over the things they promise, because candidates lie constantly. So the only thing you can truly trust is their beliefs, and if you don't support that then how can you have faith that they will do things that you can support in the long run? You can't. So ultimately, how can you support someone if you do not like them as a person and for only the things they "promise"?
          During this close and never ending election, you will think of each candidate and how you see them as a possible future leader. What each of stands for. What each of them believes in. Pro-life, or pro-choice. Supporting or against gay rights. Using our own, or transported oil. Whatever you factor into your decision for becoming president, think of the deeper reason you chose them. Do you like them for who they are or what they represent? Or do you just like them because of the things they promise to do? It's hard to trust politicians these days, so trust in the person's moral beliefs over what they say they might do. It's easier to trust a concrete mindset, than an appealing idea to gain your vote. So vote for the man what you believe is the better candidate to change our economy, and when I am able to I will do the same. Happy voting.

Political Cartoon Comparison

Avery Herbon
Mrs. Ogborn
AP Lang and Comp
26 October 2012

Political Cartoons

It is 2012, and the next presidential campaign is around the corner. In these two political cartoons of the candidates running for president, the second one portrays a better example of pathos. In the cartoon to the left, it displays the differences between Romney and Obama as leaders. It depicts negative things that Obama has done during his presidency; and positive things Romney has done and is most likely to do in the future if he was made president. While in the cartoon below, it depicts the two candidates running in the upcoming election. It describes some of the awful things they have done in their past. The author is trying to portray the fact that no matter who you vote for, we will have an unsuitable president in our midst.

Both of these cartoons portray the negative sides of our economy and how no matter what, something bad will happen in the future. The first one shows the negative qualities of one candidate and how if you choose him, things will continue to become worse. It says that he (Obama) has brought the economy down and is decreasing the amount of jobs and wealth. They even put a pin on him that says, "Bane," which is defined as a cause of great distress or annoyance. It portrays Pathos in the fact that people everywhere are losing jobs, and can make people feel that if they give him their vote, that the economy will continue to decline. While in the second it shows that no matter who you vote for, you're stuck with a man who decided to make bad choices in his past. How Obama used to smoke and only care about playing basketball. While it also shows that when Romney was in college, him a gang of his friends had pinned down an innocent homosexual man and cut his hair because he had what he called, "an unacceptable haircut." This is a perfect example of Pathos due to the dramatic portrayal of each person's past decisions they have made. It can make people who do not like those who have done drugs, lean towards Romney. While it can also make people who believe in gay equality, lean towards Obama.

Although a difference between the two is that in the first one, it shows the bad things that only one person has done. Even though Obama was president during a bad time in the economy and all of those facts might not necessarily HIS fault. It's hard to change an entire economy in one term as president. While in the second it shows some of the bad choices they both made before they were president. Although, their past choices should not dictate how they will be as a president. But it can change how you feel about them as people, which could ultimately change their opinions on who they would like to vote for.

I believe the second cartoon can sway people's opinions with Pathos so much easier than the first due to the equal negative representation of each person. The first one will make you lean towards Romney as a leader due to some of Obama's downfalls; while the second will change your opinion depending on your views of each of the topics shown. The first one not only depends on Pathos, but also another strategy called Logos; it uses the facts to make you feel differently about Obama's leadership skills. When the second one relies only on Pathos to possibly change your opinions on each candidate as a person, not a leader.

The Rhetorical Précis

Avery Herbon

Mrs. Ogborn

AP Lit and Comp

26 September 2012

Madonna: Obama Is 'A Black Muslim in the White House,' Deserves Votes

           

In Madonna: Obama Is 'A Black Muslim in the White House,' Deserves Votes on the Huffington Post, it asserts the idea to vote for Obama through a performance done by Madonna. The author says how Madonna performed in Washington D.C, and stated how she said having a “black Muslim” in the white house who supported gay rights was an empowering movement and a positive step for America. The writer talks about different occurrences when Madonna explains her reasoning for saying that at her concert in order to show people that she had no intention on being offensive. The audience is intended to be directed towards Madonna fans, and those who heard or saw what she said at that concert.

In this article, I was very surprised with what Madonna said and the way she worded it. She could have put it in many other ways to be more formal and less unprofessional. With all of the slang and vulgar language, it kind of makes Obama and his family look bad. But the article uses other quotes and references on why she said this to show Obama and all of their supporters that she only had the best intentions. It also shows how she believes in equality and I believe it did achieve its goal in trying to make her look better. It also positively helped Obama and how he was presented through her performance and the way she decided to support him.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/25/madonna-obama-black-muslim_n_1912400.html?ir=Politics

Rhetorical Analysis Outline

Avery Herbon
Mrs. Ogborn
AP Lang and Comp
22 September 2012

Declaration of Independence

Intro

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." These words were said by one of our founding fathers, George Washington. This quote is referring to how a government is meant to be established as a strong working force where everyone is entitled to have somewhat of a participation. If this is not fufilled, then it could be left to fall in the hands of someone who can destroy it from within. This can also be applied to when the Declaration of Independence was formed. Thomas Jeffersaon had written the Declaration, and used many rhetorical tactics to achieve his purpose; such as, repetition, anaphora, and division strategies.

Body 1-Repetition

Point-Jefferson references to many things more than once, inorder to get his point across to the readers and people of the nation.
Example1-"That..." (Jefferson, 13-18).
Example 2- "Government..." (16-39).

Body 2-Anaphora

Point- He also uses anaphora on a few occurences to let the people know what he believes is important.

Example 1-"He has..." (45-92).
Example 2-"For..." (100-120).

Body 3-Division

Point- Thomas Jefferson also divides this document into three seperate pieces during his charges against King George III to show the different levels of personal assaults, and accusations on Britian itself.
Example 1-"He has..." (45-92). Also "He has..." (125-140).
Example 2-"For..." (100-120).

Conclusion

In the Declaration of Independece, Thomas Jefferson uses ways such as repetition, anaphora, and division to get his thoughts of independence for America across to the people. This document is a very formal way of the people showing the world that they truley want independence from Britain. It is a step towards their countries economical freedom, and a way for everyone to take them serious on the matter. The way Jefferson uses these rhetorical devices truely makes the reader understand what is truely important, and what he wants them to remember after reading.

 

My Narrative

Avery Herbon

Mrs. Ogborn

AP Lang and Comp

30 August 2012

The Change in Me

            On the eve of an ever so cold night, I sat in the living room watching Christmas movies I had only seen 100 times before. Sitting on the couch, I look outside to find the falling of small snowflakes. Watching each one hit the television screen, and how it disintegrates into absolutely nothing while hearing the echoes of the Grinch’s menacing voice throughout my house. I turn to the television once more and laugh as the Grinch places the reindeer antlers on his poor dismal dog. I zone out and think about what is to come the next morning, when I hear a menacing crash.

I look under the tree to find our new Dachshund puppy Cash chasing our cat Kitty. Cash prances over the red velvet mat placed under the brightly lit tree. We giggle as he chases the cat in circles, and smile when he jumps onto his back. A few moments later, we all stop smiling. We hear a soft whimper in the back corner behind the tree. My dad goes over and watches at the cat scurries away with small red dots following his path. I look up at him asking what happened. He picks up the cat to see that he had bit his own tongue during the quarrel. I look at him confused asking if he will be okay, and he replied saying of course.

            As my dad clutches him into his arms, my mom leads him into their room in which they place him in the small dog cage. As I stare at the vibrant red dots spread across the living room, I stare at the felt mat and saw that no matter how much brighter the blood was… all I could think of how dark and unpleasant they seemed. That cat had been with me since I was one years old, and how having him waiting for me on my bed each day that I came home from school felt normal. For over 10 years he had been waiting for my return from the everlasting school day, and accompanied me to sleep every night. He had been there through each move, each bad day, and whenever I needed someone to just hold. He was there. Thinking about life without him was so unreal to me. I was only a child. Losing such a big part of my life wasn’t possible in the mind set I was in.

            The next morning was just like any other Christmas. Us kids staying up to see Santa, but accidently falling asleep in the process. But somehow, we get up earlier than any other normal day; tearing into presents with paper that took hours to wrap, in a matter of seconds.

It was the day after that wasn’t normal.

I woke up to see that Kitty had not been let out of his cage. I walk up to my dad and asked him what had happened to Kitty. He stared at me blankly. Still looking at me, but had seemed as if he was trying to look at something else. Like he could see the answer in my eyes, but didn’t know how to say it.

He looked at me. “He died. Christmas morning.”

He grabbed me hard than he had ever grabbed me before as the tears gushed from my eyes onto his pale grey t-shirt. I had heard the echoing whimpers come from my father as I had my head on his chest.

I had NEVER seen my dad cry before. Ever.

I had stopped crying as he told me that he had not told us because it would have ruined Christmas for us.

I had looked at him with my puffy eyes and flaming red cheeks and said, “Where’s Kitty. I want to see my Kitty.” I said it over and over as I went on a rampage through the house searching for something I knew could not be found. Then I collapsed to my knees and fell into fetal position and cried into my faded blue jeans. My dad crouched down and told me that they had taken him to the vet, and the doctor’s took him. I stood up saying that I wanted my Kitty. Why would they have my Kitty? I was so distraught that I had cried and cried until I felt my tears had dried out.

Going to sleep that night I realized that everything would be okay. That things that live, all eventually die. Even the ones you think will never leave your side; they all have to go someday. Having this happen would only be the first, and if I did not let myself relinquish the pain now, and wake up tomorrow with my head held high, each occurrence of death would be worse and worse. This was my first experience of true loss. Of something I could never get back. He may have been only a cat to some, but he was a piece of my life that had been ripped away on what should have been a joyous evening. For some children it would have scared them for life; but me, I see it as a memorial for the lost soul of the first pet I had owned. A piece of me that had been let go on a day people all around the country celebrate. So I would use that day to celebrate him, and everyone else that I had lost since that day. A day to remember the one’s I love and to not take things for granted. Knowing that everything happens for a reason.