Rhetorical Analysis Thoreau

     Thoreau expresses how an individual must follow himself and not others through his usage of questions and comparisons to fully show the importance of independence from a society. 

     Thoreau begins with a question asking the reader, "Why should we be in such a desperate haste to succeed and in such desperate enterprises?" By starting off with this question, it causes the reader to really think about success and the rush to achieve or even to maintain it. He then causes the reader to think even more about success by including companions in the next sentence that follows. By including this word, it causes the reader to see that the rush of trying to gain success is caused by trying to keep up with society. Thoreau sternly advices not to "keep pace with his companion" because he knows that the individual will not go farther than he is but following others. Instead, he encourages the reader to "step to the music in which he hears, however measured or far away". By doing such, the reader will have more independence within himself and know how to reach his own success instead of trying to reach his companion's success. Thoreau expands this even more by asking more questions about how an individual can not be like someone he is not. It causes the reader to really comprehend that he is oh himself and success won't come to him until he understands his own purpose and not others. 

     Thoreau not only asks but also shows through comparisons that being independent is better than following the crowd. Of course, one of his  comparisons includes nature by showing how man can not "maître as soon as an apple tree or an oak". It isn't important that the man follows the path of the tree but it is important that he follows his own path. Thoreau is showing the reader that everyone has their own paths to take and follow and it only hurts them self to follow the wrong path that the crowd and his companions are taking. It only benefits someone if they try to do what they are suppose to do and not what others are doing. Thoreau really stresses that independence is key it finding someone's own success. 

     Through this, Thoreau really hammers into the reader's mind that he shouldn't try to achieve the success of society but instead try to achieve his own success. 

Customer Service Calls Routed to India Rhetorical Analysis

    Many Americans know that when they complain on the phone to their phone company or other companies they may be associated with, some of these calls are not taken by Americans but by people in other countries, most likely India. Outsourcing of service jobs has been more apparent in this time because of the benefits it has on the company. Though some Americans believe that outsourcing is taking away jobs from America and sending it to other places, others do not completely agree with this. Many Indians do not agree with this as well. Beth Duff-Brown, bureau chief of India and Pakistan for the Associated Press, believes that these outsourced service jobs help both America and India and writes about it in an article. Thorough Duff-Brown’s earnest and informative tone, and rebuttal at the end of her article,  she persuades the reader to believe that outsourced service jobs help Indian workers and American companies to strive instead of to take away jobs that are thought to be needed in America.

    Throughout the article, Duff-Brown uses logos to strengthen her argument of Indians and American companies achieving from outsourcing. Her informative tone in these parts of the article cause the reader to be lead to understand more about the benefits in outsourcing. She uses statistics such as “labor can be 70 percent cheaper” in the article to let the readers see that companies are gaining from this. She uses the experience of an Indian who has a service job, Savitha Balasubramanyam, to increase her argument and to make it more valid. Balasubramanyam says continuously in this article how much she is dedicated to this job because of her want to help others. Duff-Brown uses this to let the reader not only believe her and the facts that she gives but to also understand the benefits from an Indian who has an outsourced job as well. She also uses words such as “bone up” and “accelerating” to contribute to her earnest tone in this article. The pay that the workers receive and the experiences they acquire by getting to work in these service jobs enhances her earnest tone and lets the reader see the advantages that Indians get. She also uses bits of metaphors to compare the outsourcing of jobs to being a good thing for business. She uses the metaphor of cooking to show that Indian is an important ingredient that is needed to make companies a world-class business. With this, it shows the reader the importance of Indians having these outsourced jobs and how it helps companies.

    But, Duff-Brown knows that not everyone is accepting of her argument. By ending the article with a rebuttal, it lets the reader have all these good ideas of outsourcing but also acknowledge that there is criticism as well. She uses Arundhati Roy to show that some people believe that outsourcing these jobs to places like India are causing Indians to convert to a culture that is not like their own. It is causing them to have to be a whole different person, which in Roy’s eyes, is not acceptable. The rebuttal at the end really causes the reader to think about both sides and come up with their own opinion on the matter.

    With this article, Duff-Brown really tries to persuade the reader to see that outsourcing has its benefits and isn’t entirely about taking away jobs. It is effective because of her tone and the rebuttal used and really causes the reader to stop and think about what they believe to be true about outsourcing service jobs to countries such as India.

 

Japanese Crisis

     If someone put Japan and economy in the same sentence, they will most likely have something positive to say. Japan is slowly climbing the economic ladder. They are now the third country with the largest free market. Butt off course, they couldn't do it by themselves. Japan has many companies that are in other countries such as China, Malaysia, and India. They even have some companies in America. But, Japan hasn't always carried their companies to other countries. Having many economic troubles especially after World War II, Japan had to go out to help improve their economy. Japan also has many earthquakes and tsunamis that cause it to have to reshape their economy especially after big ones that create huge dilemmas. Although Japan has been rising in their economic status, their increasing actions in offshoring and outsourcing has occurred because of the devastations that  happen in the country. 

      Japan is a country of hard working people.  But, these hard working people are either replaced or put in other countries to be payed less. Though cheaper and more efficient for Japan as a whole, it isn't always the best for the individual person. What is suppose Japan do though. With the recent tsunami that has occurred, many terrible events happened such as "displaced or injured workers, damaged factories, crippled infrastructure and an electricity shortage" (Wall Street Journal). Japan has to send people out or give jobs away to other countries just to build up all they lost. Just from this recent tsunami, "Japan lost about 5% of its capital stock" (Wall Street Journal) which is more than past tsunamis that caused Japan to lose capital stock. With offshoring and outsourcing, Japan has sent most of their companies to close relatives such as China, Malaysia, and India. Japan has also slowly moved to the West to distribute their items to other countries outside of Asia as well. Many IT technology companies, banks, and insurance companies have left Japan and gone to other places. It is great for Japanese students who just graduated from college because they are able to get a new job quickly and travel as well. It is also better for the company to have actual Japanese speaking people who cause the product to be the way that the company would want it to be instead of Japanese speaking Chinese people doing it the wrong way. Though it seems to helps, it can very much also destroy the Japanese economy.  The Japanese Government sees this "as a long-term problem that will require government attention and financial support for years to come" (Trade Reforms). Though Japan needs to go out to other places to help their economy to continue to rise from all the chaos that has been happening, they are still struggling to keep themselves together. 

     Japan is doing well inside of their country and exporting their goods out instead of their jobs. Because of the problems that happen with Japan, it just compels them to have to go out to other countries. They should keep their jobs and people inside of their country. But, that won't be as cheap as sending them out. Because of this conflicting point, they take the easy route and send it out. Though seems like the best thing to do, Japan is so fast in their industry and can make it with less offshoring and outsourcing. 

Works Cited

"MBA in Japan - GLOBIS University - Tokyo." GLOBIS Talks: "Outsourcing and Offshoring Strategies for Japan: Find the Right Path for You and Your Business" Dr. Mark Lee Ford, Mr. Edward Hall & Mr. Houston Ross. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

"The Outsourcing Institute." The Outsourcing Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

 

Wa Ya Say

     Watta gwan mi youth. Every ting irrie mon. Wa ya mean. Respect. I can hear it and understand it but speaking it is a whole different ball field. Being the first generation in my mother and father's family to be born in America limits me from being able to communicate with my family. I can understand all that my mother yells at me or all that my grandfather says but trying to say it the same way back is a challenge. You come from foreign. You nah a true Jamaican. And I guess it is true. I am from America and wasn't born in Jamaica but I know so much about it. It is my parents homeland and is in my blood. It is my life but by not being able to speak it stops me from gaining that satisfaction of truly inheriting that part of me. Me nah chat to ya. Just because I can't speak it I get singled out. I can listen to any Jamaican and be able to understand all that they say but since me come from foreign me to good. Me can't chat like dem. So dem use dat to chat bout me.  And it's hard to explain that I understand. Say somethin den. And that's were my mouth shuts. 

      Being able to speak in your mother language is key. If me nah chat like dem who am I talking like. I barely understand English let alone patwah. Fi mi language is who I am. So if I don't speak English the way it was made to be spoken, then I'm barely American. If I can't speak patwah, den mi nah Jamaican. It's hard. I want to be both since I was born in America and have Jamaican ancestry.  It would probably take me all my life to learn one or the other. Languages nah come like dat. Mi have fe work fa dat. And to be honest, I don't know if I want to. I mean, I want to be apart of one but I feel like I would be giving up the other if I do. It is like the light skin people who were passing. It's either they chose white or black. And they must fully engross dem self inna de culture. It's the same with me. If I fully learn English correctly and push away the incorrect nature of patwah, then I am choosing a culture that really isn't mine but I was born into to. If I decide to choose patwah and completely learn dat, den mi a tek way de English mi have. Since patwah is broken English, I will probably not even try to understand proper English. But the thing is, I want to be both and not have to choose. But people make me feel like if I don't chose one language then I'm truly not apart of that culture. 

     Language defines your culture. The language you speak tells others who you are. If mi a chat like a Jamaican, then people will see me as a Jamaican. If I speak like an American, then people will see me as American. The language you speak really defines wa culture you a part of. It shouldn't be that way though. I still mainly eat Jamaican food at home. I still root for Jamaica in the Olympics. I support the country mi nah born in. Mi have respect fa it. But I still speak English in school. I speak English when I met a stranger. I say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. Language only shows others what culture you are affiliated with but there are much more important aspects of culture than language that really defines the culture you are. And even though I can't speak or proper English, I am proud to be a Jamarican. 

Newspapers Around the World

Throughout all the many conflicts that the US has been involved in, none have involved Europe for a long period of time. The US has been focusing more on the Middle East and the conflicts they are dealing with there. Yet, with this uprising of the conflict in the Ukraine, the US has stepped into another continent. With not having the best past with Russia, this could lead to hidden conflicts appearing. Trying to be the good guy, the US is trying to help the Ukraine from the promises that were broken and the violence that is occurring. With every big event that occurs in the US, the press must get involved to inform everyone else. Not only does the US press let their people know what is going on but countries that have no participation must do the same as well. With this being a national issue and can affect other countries in the future, it is important for countries to be up to date on the situation.

            With all the press on the Ukraine, they all are similar in the news they are reporting. They all speak of the president and what his influence is on the situation. They all discuss about Moscow in some kind of way. They are all in depth about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. But, every country is different on the way that they address the situation. Some take it into affect differently than others. For example, China focuses more on how they will be affected by the whole thing. They try to figure out how their trade and other parts that is connected with Russia or the Ukraine will be to them. This isn’t as true for India. India is focusing more on what Russia will do to the Ukraine. They aren’t really in depth with how other countries are involved such as the US but are more involved with how the issue will be resolved. Then with the Middle East, they are more focused on certain parts of the conflict. For example, they focus on the protests that are occurring that has been taking the attention of everyone. With every country, they say what is going on in the Ukraine but they focus on different aspects of it. In the US, it is a bit like all of these. The US focuses on how it will be affected by it all since we will get involved in some kind of way. We also focus on key aspects and other things.

            With this issue, it is big to know what is going on. Since it can be detrimental for later on, we must know and have an understanding on what is going on so that we will be able to make decisions if that were to happen. With all the press around the world, it is still doing its job of informing the people and making it known on what is going on around the world.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Ukraine-puts-army-on-high-combat-alert-as-Putin-prepares-to-invade/articleshow/31257485.cms?

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/CEN-02-050314.html

http://www.arabiangazette.com/protests-kiev-ukraine-20140221/

Blues of Pecola

     Blues is different than any other type of music. In blues, notes aren't played at the pitch you would expect. Also, blues has this distinctive solid but plaintive sound. This sound resonates from the use of a minor-based scale over the top of a major-based chord. Pecola's life worked in this way. Her story in the book is solid from the beginning. You know what is going to happen to her and that the book tells how it will happen. It is also very plaintive. No one is happy when thinking about the troubles that Pecola had to go through. Her story is a sad and mournful one that isn't hidden but is set up to where you know her life is crummy. Her miserable life comes from people trying to do things that they shouldn't be. Just as these minor-based scales are put on major-based chords, people in her life, which in a usual situation, are put in things that they normally shouldn't be. Like her father for example. Dad's don't normally rape their daughters when they see them washing dishes and look miserable. They don't think about harming her in a gentle way. They don't think he way that Pecola's dad did in a normal situation. Yet, because of what her father did that isn't normal, it created this new misery in her life. 

      What is conflicting is the part about notes played at the pitch you wouldn't expect. In Pecola's situation, you would expect a little girl that presumes she is ugly to want blue eyes to fit in and be beautiful. She is young and thinks that by having this thing that is unimaginable would cause her problems to be fixed. But, Pecola's life is full of parts that aren't expected. I know that I was surprised by all that happened in this book to her. She goes through so much that you wouldn't expect a little girl to go through. The bullying and teasing are expected since everyone thought she was ugly but a boy tricking her into his house and her harming a cat. That is unexpected. Her life isn't predictable at all. Yes, we know she will be raped and the baby will die. But the stuff that leads up to that is so unexpected. 

     This could very much contradict with the statement said before that her life is solid. If it's solid then you would know what to expect, but you don't. What is to happen to her is solid but her life getting here isn't really so. So in a way, Cat Moses is right. Pecola's life resembles a blues song in how the distinct sounds are made in a blues song and the plaintive, unexpected nature of it.

Brand for the Wealthy? Or for My Family Too?

    Every family is different. Yet, with all families, nothing is perfect. There is always a problem or conflict that the family must solve. Knowing that families aren't perfect, Dolce and Gabbana tries to use that aspect to sell to middle class families. By having seven children playing around in what seems to be the parent's room, Dolce and Gabbana tries to show that they understand about families. But come on, what real family can afford Dolce and Gabbana? They would much rather focus on food and their house before buying this brand. It shows, even in this ad, that only families of wealth or can afford what Dolce and Gabbana is selling. 

     The heavenly colors of gold and beige shows off wealth and perfection. Nothing homely or bright is shown. Even the reds of the fruits and flowers aren't bright but dulled down. The colors worn by the children aren't bright either. Their clothes show no real differentiation  but instead causes them to be similar. In all this, it shows that Dolce and Gabbana only really reach out to families that aren't different in huge ways but instead are the same in their high wealthy statuses. 

     Looking at the mother, it is evident that their clothes only reach out to model like mothers. Her pearly white teeth, curvy body, and perfectly fixed hair isn't the first thing someone thinks of when thinking of a mother with seven children. Her black dress hugs onto her tightly and slims her down more than she already is. The position of her body is away from the playing children. This shows that she has no real concern for being with her children but instead looking beautiful. Even the child in her lap doesn't look to happy to be with her. This image of a mother is more of a wealthy mother than one of a moderate income. When thinking of wealthy mother, we usually think of mother who are thin, beautiful, and don't take too much time to think of their children. Dolce and Gabbana shows that type of mother her perfectly. 

     Even with all these aspects, there is the father. His face is scrunched up into a hilarious way and his outfit isn't really one thought to be worn by a wealthy man. Most of the children are crowded around him and he seems to be interacting with them in a childish fashion. His plain white shirt, black pants, and bare feet don't really shout out wealth but instead a hard working man. By Dolce and Gabbana putting in the father like this, it still in a way reaches out to the working families instead of the wealthy families that actually buy their products. 

     But still, everything else put in the ad doesn't agree with the families they are trying to reach out to. The spacious room, huge bed, and long brightly lit windows show off wealth more than a moderate family. Though they tried, it is evident that they didn't really succeed.