Louisiana Abortion Law

“Louisiana Abortion Law Temporarily Blocked”

By: Jonathan Kaminsky

Source: Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/31/louisiana-abortion-law-_n_5745658.html

Earlier today, a federal judge in New Orleans provisionally blocked a Louisiana law that would have closed all five abortion clinics in the state. This action is due to take effect on September 1^st. It would require all doctors that perform abortions to have patient admitting privileges at a hospital within thirty miles of their area of practice. For now, doctors are still allowed to perform legal abortions. A more permanent pronouncing on the law will be made on a later date at a hearing. Abortion activists were satisfied with the latest decision. They believed it would “give abortion doctors more time to seek the hospital privileges” (1). Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said, “Today’s ruling ensures Louisiana women are safe from an underhanded law that seeks to strip them of their health and rights” (1). Louisiana, however, is not the only state that has passed a law related to this issue. It is among eleven other states that have passed similar laws. Abortion rights campaigners claim “admitting privileges laws impose medically unnecessary requirements on doctors” (1), while anti-abortion advocates declare that the methods are created to defend women’s health. There is currently one doctor in Louisiana that performs abortions and possesses hospital admitting privileges. The Center for Reproductive Rights believes that this singular doctor will fear for his own safety and, for this reason, cease to carry out abortions if all other doctors are obliged to stop.

It is vital that audiences read and understand more about topics like these because each individual should be able to comprehend and formulate their own opinion about abortion. It is important that people know what is happening with issues like this in their area so that they can take action when they believe an incorrect decision has been made.

"Speech to the Troops at Tilbury"

In Queen Elizabeth I’s moving speech, “Speech to the Troops at Tilbury,” she stands dressed in armor and speaks to her outnumbered troops. She is able to successfully communicate with the troops because she emotionally connects to them and makes herself appear as though she is one of them, from her physical appearance and body language to her diction and syntax. The subject of this speech is the war the outnumbered English troops were preparing for against the Spanish Armada, the most intimidating naval force in the world at the time. The occasion is the battlefront of the war in Tilbury in 1588. The Queen’s intended audience was the English troops present at the battlefront. Her purpose was to inspire, encourage, and instill optimism into the troops. By infusing confidence, she is able to persuade the hopeless troops that they have the capability to defeat the world’s most daunting naval force. Queen Elizabeth I of England is the speaker. The tone she uses is promising, expectant, and invincible. During this speech, Queen Elizabeth speaks as though she is determined to do whatever it takes to defeat the Spanish Armada because she knows her troops are capable of doing it. The SOAPST of this piece of literature is able to help the audience understand how much she is willing to do for her country. Queen Elizabeth says, “I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king of England too,” (1) letting the troops know that she is disposed to fighting for her country. She is able to connect with her audience and ends the speech with calling them “my people,” (1) reminding them that even though she is one of them, she is also superior. This piece is effective for the intended audience and purpose because it increases the troops’ will to fight, and was shown on the battlefield.

Justice for Mike Brown

"Ferguson Fights for Justice Beyond Beyond Mike Brown's Death"
By: Ryan J. Reilly and Amanda Terkel
Source: Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/24/ferguson-mike-brown_n_5697855.html

Over the past two weeks, the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, Minnesota has evolved. Every night, hundreds of people are seen marching, demanding justice. It has begun to develop into a daily routine where after work residents go to the protests until the sun sets, or until police intervene, making arrests and sending everyone else home. Volunteers clean up the mess in the morning to prepare for another protest to occur night. Lately, the protests have been peaceful and non-violent. Participants have been speaking their minds about how they are hoping that something more will come out of Mike Brown’s death. The African-American majority wants more representation in the mostly white city government and police force. The city of Ferguson stated they would “take measures to make the community ‘feel more connected’” (1). Police have significantly reduced their presence at the protests. Residents still have doubts in the city, mainly because Wilson has not yet been charged and there has been no immediate justice. St. Louis Alderman Antonio French has said that if the grand jury decides not to charge Wilson, he worries about their city and other cities. Almost all protestors have decided that they will not stop until justice is served. When an idea was brought up to stop protests for fourteen days, one man mumbled he “ain’t pausing for fourteen minutes.” (1)

            It is essential that the audience read this article because this issue is bigger than the death of Mike Brown. Racial profiling happens every day all over the country, and it has taken the death of another harmless young man for people to realize and take action. A similar situation occurred in the case of Trayvon Martin in 2012, but the problem of racial injustice is prevalent to this day. The audience must be informed of these issues so that they, too, can take action in pursuing what is just.

Save Water. Save Life.

This advertisement created to save water successfully appeals to the intended audience. The image depicts a fish in a bowl filled less than half full with water. The fish appears to be gloomy; it is gazing down as if nothing is going right. There is a faucet with drops of water falling out into a puddle underneath, and the writing to the right says, “Save water. Save life.” Though this advertisement may lack logos, ethos and pathos are effectually used to influence the audience to save water. The ad builds credibility with the minute writing on the bottom right corner where it says, “cause supported by Venfield.” Venfield is a reliable company that offers mid-century pieces combined with eighteenth and nineteenth century antiques and custom home furnishing, interiors, photo-shoot rentals, approvals, and more. The ad is extremely broad and extensive, and can be understood and interpreted by anyone, no matter what age. Young children who see this ad will be able to recognize that by wasting water, fish are being harmed. Pathos is the strongest component used in this advertisement. The feelings of the fish losing its life because uninformed people have decided to waste water can convey a powerful message to many. People can imagine themselves in the situation of that fish. Water to a fish is the equivalent of oxygen to a person; without this simple component, life is impossible. The fact that water is being taken from the fish makes it feel like oxygen is being taken from people. This advertisement is aimed to confront one’s emotions and make them feel empathy for the fish. It uses the concept of life to help people better relate and thus cause them to save water. By completing the simple action of closing the faucet while it is not in use, one can make a difference and save a life.

Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a captivating novel with remarkable examples of fallacy and symbolism. Its constant allusion to the New Testament and Biblical parallels allows readers to better relate to the story line. I appreciated this book not only because of its classic use of archetypes such as friendship and betrayal, but also because of its constant description of fascinating events and noteworthy characters. The boys end up forming two segregated tribes because of the disagreement in leadership goals and personal aspirations. Golding wrote this book to exemplify how an isolated government would not be able to flourish. On the boys endeavor to construct a new government, the obstacles they face have no remedy and they are left to struggle and fight for their lives. This shows that society can always devolve in to a primitive mindset. Though Jack’s tribe had a higher population, his lack of leadership skills and his childish perspective on the direction of his tribe led to their eventual devolution. This book demonstrates that there is a savage nature within people, and the decline of human morals when put into life or death situations. This reflects the fact that when Golding wrote the book, World War II was in section and people were putting their morals aside. Golding captures the concepts of the boys turning into savages and loss of innocence in this novel when he writes, “He knelt among the shadows and felt his isolation bitterly. They were savages it was true; but they were human.”