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California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Created:August 22, 2006
Latest Update:August 22, 2006
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu
Evaluating Facts for Arguments in Governance DiscourseThe photograph that accompanies the actual article, "In Election Push, Bush Faults Talk of Iraq Pullout," by Jim Rutenberg, New York Times, August 22, 2006, at p. A1, one could interpret a whole different impression:
Doug Mills/The New York Times“Nobody wants to turn on their TV on a daily basis and see havoc wrought by terrorists,” President Bush said at his news conference."
Look at the difference a picture can make. In the picture above, the context itself doesn't offer much to aid interpretation. But in the lead picture for this week, the frown on his face and the position of his hand suggest that he is displeased with his audience, in this case those who criticize his Iraq policy and the pullout of U.S. troops. The outlined version allows the use of color and line to emphasize points and aggressively draw attention to certain parts of the drawing. I removed the image of the White House behind him. I wanted the focus on the figure. That heightens the sense of authority. The flag beside him and the Presidential seal on the podium are icons of his authority as President. I made these alterations with one of my freebie graphic programs. See how much you can achieve without expensive and complicated software.
The effects of outlining to heighten image effect.
Discussion Questions
- Does Bush fit the "strong father frame" of which Lakoff speaks?
Consider that the Bush administration admits no mistakes. Regardless of the outcome, members of the administration simply restate their position, even when that position seems counter to common sense. Example: the statement from Jim Rutenberg's NY Times article that accompanies Doug Mills' photograph: “Nobody wants to turn on their TV on a daily basis and see havoc wrought by terrorists. . .” Notice that Bush repeats the objection of peace activists that the havoc on television is intolerable, but he modifies it by saying that the havoc is "wrought by terrorists." Quite a bit of that havoc has been wrought by the US Armed Services and no-bid contracts that have failed at rebuilding Iraq.
- Fact:
We're all appalled by the killing and violence.- Opinion through interpretation:
We differ on who is responsible for the havoc.- In Rutenberg's article what is fact and what opinion in the title: "In Election Push, Bush Faults Talk of Iraq Pullout"?
Consider:
- Fact: We are all appalled that this Iraqi war has gone on for almost as long as the Second World War, with no resolution in sight.
- Opinion through interpretation: We differ on who is responsible for this stagnant situation.
- Bush Opponents:
Prolongation of violence is the fault of not enough troops and failure to plan rebuilding and exit strategy.- Bush Supporters:
Prolongation of violence is the fault of Americans who demand Iraq pullout.- What unstated assumptions go along with faulting Americans who want to pull out of Iraq?
Consider that the President says that to begin to withdraw troops "would create a more dangerous world." How so? Consider the intransigent violence of the insurgents, or patriots who are rebelling against our presence in any Muslim territory, and the violent religious differences of the fundamentalist Sunnis and Shiites. So the whole mess isn't our fault; it's that those who are demanding a pulloout don't realize how dangerous these people are who want Americans (especially the armed kind) out of the Middle East and the fundamentalist battles of the Sunnis and the Shiites. Notice that this argument blames the victims, the poor Iraqis. Although the most recent and frightening terrorist attacks are still centered in Northern Afghanistan and Pakistan (witness the recent arrests in London), this argument ignores the Taliban and the original Al Qaeda threat, and focusses instead on the Muslim terrorists who want a united Muslim world. (The Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt, for example.)
Consider the President's answer to the question: “What did Iraq have to do with . . . [September 11]?” "NOTHING." [Emphasis (capitals)added by jeanne.]
- What did Mr. Bush have to say about Americans accusing each other of being unpatriotic over the feelings they have about how the Iraqi war should now be handled?
Consider the President's comments about patriotism :“We’ll continue to speak out in a respectful way, never challenging somebody’s love for America when you criticize their strategies or their point of view.”
Notice how easy it is to confuse fact and opinion.
Opinion denotes affect - silent language , Edward T. Hall
Sectarianism - Freire, bk on critical consciousness.
References:
- Lakoff, frames of reference that normal folks can relate to, like authoritarian father figure.
- Freire, Paulo, Education for Critical Consciousness
