TOW #21: GMO Debate Cartoon

                Published on a liberal (and obviously anti-GMO) website, this cartoon makes a clear, and somewhat humorous case, against companies allowing and promoting GMO crops. Humor is used the make GMO promoting companies such as Montesano sound both stupid, and like liars to the public. The cartoon portrays them as clueless, greedy businessmen who want to make a profit over something that is harmful to the population. They want GMOs to seem harmless, but the cartoon clearly depicts that they aren’t.  This cartoon is admittedly clever in some aspects, but ultimately uses little solid evidence to back up its bold and hyperbolic claim. Many people jump on this bandwagon of fearing genetically modified products because they do not understand what they are. Liberal groups and health blogs spread untrue rumors about how GMOs are made and tested. In reality, humans have been genetically modifying crops such as corn and wheat for thousands of years through selective breeding and trait manipulation. The vast majority of GMOs have been tested extensively before being sold to consumers, and must meet very high standards to be allowed out to the public. In addition, GMOs actually help the environment by eliminating the need for farmers to use pesticides. Farmers can grow more food and sell it for cheaper prices. As the technology develops, GMOs could even make farming efficient enough that world hunger is ended because such a surplus can be produced. Cartoons like this are too shallow and uninformed to take other sides into account. Those who blindly argue against GMOs without bothering to educate themselves on exactly what they are chose to completely ignore the advantages. Therefore, while this cartoon is a little funny and does make a point about how some companies are only using GMOs for their own selfish purposes, it should not be taken seriously. 

TOW #20: "Four Seasons in Rome" (part 1)

When Anthony Doeerr is awarded in a writing competition with a chance to work in a studio in Rome for a year he, along with his young family, flies across the Atlantic to live in a place he had never been to before. In his vivid account of the experience, Four Seasons in Rome, Doeerr takes his readers to the ancient city as well on the exciting journey. To an audience that may never be as lucky to win a year in war themselves, Doeerr allows them to see through his eyes. Through his detailed anecdotes and delightful humor, the audience is able to feel like they are going with him and experiencing Italy themselves. Before leaving on his trip, Doeerr recounts that Rome remind him of a coloring booked he received when he was young “seven years old, Christmas night, snowflakes dashing against the windows, a lighted spruce blinking on and off downstairs, crayons strewn across the carpet”. It is true that everyone usually has some kind of expectation of a place they have never been before, either because of pictures they have seen, things they have read, or information they have heard. It is interesting to see how Doeerr first felt about Rome and the evolution of his feelings. A big part of traveling to somewhere new is all the nervous uncertainty. As he was going to a foreign country that did not speak English, Doeerr was worried, of course, about how he would communicate with the population. He explains his worries in a hilarious, relatable way that allows the audience to understand exactly how he feels. Doeerr flipped through an Italian to English dictionary before getting on the plane to Italy wondering, “Is "Here is my passport" in there? Is "Where for God's sake can I buy some baby wipes?". This humor not only endears Doeerr to his readers, but helps them feel part of the authentic experience like it really was. For these reasons Four Seasons in Rome, is really a fun, enriching book to read. Doeerr is an excellent writer, painting normal days and events in such a colorful way that they are all beautiful. 

TOW #19: Drunk Driving Ad

                This image, depicting a shocking fact in an unconventional way, recently went viral on twitter. Users retweeted this message with the very obvious intent of swaying others to never drive drunk. The picture incorporates elements of ethos and pathos to speak to its audience, as most ads such as these do. However, this picture makes an unusually compelling argument by looking at the facts from an unconventional perspective. Instead of showing a crashed car, injured victims, or other depressing and graphic photos that usually characterize anti-drunk driving campaigns, this ad takes a different approach. It focuses on the true tragedies of drunk driving; the long term effects of the accidents. Telling a person that “every 48 seconds, another person becomes handicapped because of a drunk driver”, most likely would not have a lasting effect on them. It would certainly shock and sadden them, but it would be almost impossible for anyone to truly be able to understand this fact if it is stated as such a dry statistic. By incorporating the fact into a handicapped parking space, something we all see every day and do not usually give much thought to, the fact becomes less of a dry statistic and more of a profound truth. Old and young drivers alike can understand this kind of statement, allowing all drivers to understand the message on a deep level. This image presents something that will truly stick in a driver’s head and make them stop and think. Later, if they are about to make a bad decision, they have a much better chance of choosing to be safe if they remember this simple ad. 

TOW #18: "Arguments in Favour of Genetically-Modified Crops"

                Since the discovery of genes less than a century ago, scientists have been able to achieve incredible things in the field of genetics. Studying gene sequences in any organism is possible in modern science, and scientists are now capable of manipulating genes to change organisms. This ability to modify organisms opens many possibilities for scientific advancements, but many are hesitant to meddle with something as complicated and delicate as genetics. Ben Miflin, Chairman of the Scottish Crop Research Institute and a member of the British Crop Production Council, argues in his article titled “Arguments in Favour of Genetically-Modified Crops” that genetically modified products are advantageous to society. He addresses the skeptical public that is unsure of how modified food products will affect their health by presenting facts and statistics to support his position. Since he is making a highly academic argument, Miflin obviously includes a great deal of logos in his reasoning. However, he also uses unexpected techniques such as humor to sway his audience. Miflin uses sarcasm to address a counter argument when he says, “Critics claim that GMOs may increase use of chemical pesticides and increase the profits of agribusiness. Pigs might fly”. In including such a phrase as a reaction to opposition to his argument, Miflin emphasizes the foolishness of claims against GMOs and makes it clear that these rumors are false. I strongly agree with Miflin’s claim and his thoughts on the subject. GMOs, when created responsibly and studied extensively before being consumed by a populations, should not be feared by society. Utilizing our scientific knowledge to create them could reduce or even eliminate the use of harmful pesticides, and could even help lessen world hunger because more food could be produced. The public and organizations who argue against  genetic modification are often not educated in the field of genetics, and do not understand how farmers have been modifying crops for thousands of years naturally by encouraging cross breeding and practicing selective fertilization. Miflin addresses these areas and more in his article, and makes many interesting points for the acceptance of GMOs into society. 

TOW #17: "America's Complicated Minimum Wage Argument"

                In an article featured in US News and World Report, Danielle Kurtzleben attempts to address the controversial question of raising American minimum wage standards. With her experience as a business and economics reporter for multiple magazines, Kurtzleben presents all sides of the minimum wage arguments to an upper class audience that most likely knows little about the topic and does not understand how it is relevant to them. Many Americans are fed up with the top “one percent” making outrageous salaries while the lower working class cannot make a living off of their earnings even if they take on two or three jobs at once, but others note that raising their wages could have disastrous economic consequences. Kurtzleben realizes that this issue has not clear solution, and cannot be separated into black and white or right and wrong. She remains neutral throughout the piece, choosing to make her argument not about which stance the audience should take, but about why they should care and think carefully about the debate. By using humor, she is able to convince readers far removed from the issue to actually care about it. At the beginning of each of her points, Kurtzleben poses a possible audience statement and then reacts to it. One paragraph begins “I mean, I make $60,000 a year. It doesn't affect me anyway whether the minimum wage is $9 or $19”, to which she bluntly replies “Please try not to be so fantastically shortsighted”. While this has a chance of offending her audience, it does force them to think more deeply of something they previously thought had no importance to them. She concludes her essay by imitating something an ignorant, privileged person would say: “What a drag”, to which Kurtzleben says “tell that to your McDonald's cashier”. Even though she does not include a stance on the issue itself, I wholeheartedly agree with Kurtzleben’s argument that everyone should be aware of this argument and its repercussions in society. Both socially and economically, minimum wage laws impact our country in huge ways that, as informed members of society, all Americans should be aware of.  

IRB Intro: "Four Seasons in Rome"

                Written by Anthony Doerr, a New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner, Four Seasons in Rome describes Doerr’s personal experience living in Rome for a year. After winning the Rome Prize for his earlier works, Doerr is given an opportunity to live in Rome for a Year with his wife and newborn twins. There, he falls in love with the city, its history, and its people. He and his wife raise their babies in a warm culture; learning unique parenting tips from the affectionate locals. This story seems very interesting to me, since I have always wanted to go to Rome and have family from there. 

TOW #16: "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (part 2)

                As one of the most well-known and influential autobiographies in American history, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou has greatly impacted readers for decades. It presents a vivid first person account on what it was like to grow up as a black female in the South and California during the 1930s and 40s. Through countless moves to different states, living with one relative and then another, and struggling to find a place that really fits her, Maya feels very insecure during her unstable childhood. This story speaks especially to young adults who are trying to find themselves like Angelou did, and who can relate to her awkwardness and insecurity. Angelou’s story is powerful and direct as a result of her choice in diction. She uses simple and blunt language to tell her life like what it was, allowing readers to easily connect to her experiences. When Maya transfers to yet another new school, she says “In the school itself I was disappointed to find that I was not the most brilliant or even nearly the most brilliant student. The white kids had better vocabularies than I and, what was more appalling, less fear in the classrooms. They never hesitated to hold up their  hands in response to a teacher’s question; even when they were wrong they were wrong aggressively, while I had to be certain about all my facts before I dared to call attention to myself” (Angelou 216). Without sugar coating it, Angelou verbalizes all the things teenagers feel deep inside but never want anyone to know about. She fearlessly and simply states her insecurities, leading her readers to connect to and admire her for her candidness. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a book that stands out from others because of the unique style used. Angelou very effectively educated the nation on the challenges she faced and overcame, and let millions of young adults know they could do the same.