Close Reading

September 9, 2011

Article Title: A harder America 

Article Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-america-0911-20110911,0,942726.story

Starting with the first paragraph in the article, with regards to diction, the author's use of the word "normalcy" is quite interesting. He describes the many turbulent things that have occurred in the last century of America's history and points to periods of calm in between. Through this single word, the author is alluding to the fact that, due to America's increasingly global role during the last century, it has become involved in several conflicts, preventing it from experiencing a long period of domestic stability. Moreover, the author is pointing towards America's role in making a constant effort to establish peace in other countries while experiencing domestic downturns at home.

Even though the author uses the word "pendulum" in the third paragraph in order to refer to the changing attitudes of Americans upon experiencing 9/11, I feel that this is a microcosmic reflection of the American situation at large. As a reader, I see the author using this single-word reference to describe the constantly vacillating American condition at large, from prosperity to difficulty, especially during the last decade. However, the author's use of this word also has a positive connotation in pointing to the resilience and persistence of America in the face of obstacles, standing firmly to defend its people and its principles.

In the sixth paragraph, under the heading of 'An era of persistent conflict', the author utilizes the word "determination" in order to point to the existence of American aggressiveness and zeal for accomplishing the goal of maintaining defense and obliterating threats. Furthermore, the author is relating to the change in attitude that a major event such as 9/11 has brought in the American people. In contrast to the common opinion of lack of action on the part of the American people in response to a threat, as stated in the article with reference to Osama bin Laden, the attack of 9/11 has fostered leadership in the American people, inciting them to patriotically fight against opposers of freedom and liberty. Through the use of diction (normalcy, pendulum, and determination), the author is effectively illustrating his point by creating a combined effect of portraying America as a nation that has experienced a turbulent history with many ups and downs. However, despite of persistent changes, the country has been united under the banner of freedom and liberty and given hope to other to confidently stand for their views and oppose oppression at all costs.   

         Imagery is also an area of rhetoric that the author highlights in the editorial. The first instance is in the second paragraph where the author creates a picture of ancient warfare coupled with modern violence by using the phrase "warriors armed with knives and ailerons". Through this imagery, the author is referring to the lack of cognizance of the American people of the malevolence present in the world and their own vulnerability in maintaining a defense barrier around themselves. The attack of 9/11 illustrated the presence of terrorists who were capable of impacting the lives of Americans through violent warfare.

Another instance of imagery that the author uses to illustrate his argument occurs in the eleventh paragraph under the heading 'Overplaying their hand'. In this paragraph, the author writes that the instance of Osama Bin Laden emerging "...unscathed from the 1990s..." conveyed the message that "...Americans were simply too unnerved by the sight of blood to forcefully respond". These phrases create an apathetic picture of American patriotism in the face of external threat. The author refers to Osama Bin Laden's view of American vulnerability in order to illustrate how patriotism incited the American people to take action and fight against terrorism on the world stage. Through the use of imagery, the author is relating to the change that America has gone during especially the last decade and reinforcing the view of a strong and self-sufficient America that is capable of taking action and bringing about positive change in the world.   

In addition to the use of diction and imagery to effectively illustrate his argument, the author further utilizes specific details. For instance, in the first paragraph, the author starts off by reminding the readers of America's past through the words "two blood-bathed world wars, an economic depression, a Cold War that risked going split-atom hot, and now a decade's tussle with global terrorism". By comprising all the major events in one sentence, the author cleverly incites a patriotic and proud reaction from especially Americans. When Americans read this first statement, in connection with the title of this article, they are encouraged to reflect upon the metamorphosis that the nation has undergone over the last decade in response of specifically external influences.

         In order to add to the statement establishing the adoption of the aggressive attitude towards terrorism, the author states, “Not only did Americans refuse to forget the attack, they consistently have told pollsters they accept the costs of avenging it.” The author builds on the changing American notion, from passiveness, as in the view of Osama bin Laden, to aggressive conduct. This statement incites patriotism in the American people and encourages them to take a stand and fight for their convictions of preserving life against external threats of terrorism. Moreover, it relates to the role of the world's greatest nation to be a beacon of hope for everyone in the world currently suffering from lack of freedom and liberty. Lastly, by writing this editorial, the author successfully accomplishes his goal of using the history of America as a background for all its various changes and pointing to a future where the nation stands firmly in the face of external threats, such as terrorism, and defends itself as well as other nations for creating a safe environment for future generations.

Yash Pandya