1. A great read from the NYTimes, suggested by Charlotte Lobdell. What are your thoughts on this topic? How about the structure ... is this well written and reasoned?
2. The Hunter Becomes the Hunted: A phenomenal piece about a terrorist hunter in Iraq. This is another solid profile piece that gives a great perspective on a nation at war and a man trying to fix things. How is this a compelling a story? How does the author made the mundane exciting?
3. An excellent commentary from Grant Hill about a recent incident that's been all over the news and March Madness. Share your thoughts on his response. It's a pretty hot topic
15 comments:
Pets:
I enjoyed this article, not because of the topic, but because of the tone. It was sarcastic and got its point across well because of that. Admittedly, I felt like this was something that someone threw together in about twenty minutes after reading about the hamster incident, but it was still a good read.
Terrorist Hunter:
Wow. That guy is amazing. He's one of those unsung heroes that always appear during a war. I think the article is especially compelling because the author makes sure to say that Omar was originally just a policeman. He wasn't in the army, didn't receive any special training before that, he was just a police officer. I didn't really find any part of the article to be very mundane, even when he was describing the canoe ride and the house. I guess that everything here seemed somewhat extraordinary given the life that Omar lived in Iraq.
Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others:
I love Mark Bittman, and I think he did a good job showing the rights that pets have (such as the hamster) versus pets that are much smarter (like pigs) that can be abused because they are classified as "livestock." I think Bittman's argument is one that is often neglected because rather than human rights, it's about animal rights.
"Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others:"
This article was a little unsettling for be because of the comfortable language used around the abuse of animals by the author. I thought he brought up a good point, that farm animals have very little rights compared to even the most insignificant "pet," but I don't think that it is right of him to dismiss the abuse of any kind of pet as not a big deal. The fact that this woman was arrested (briefly) for killing a hamster (throwing it on the ground) disturbed me much more than it did for the author, so it seems. I do think farm animals need to have rights, but this article is not the way of getting to that point or making progress along that front. There are positive steps in fighting that problem, and I don't necessarily think this is one of them.
Grant Hill's Response:
This was a beautifully written response to "The Fab Five" documentary. I thought Grant's response was appropriate and sound and argued his defense well. I think it is outlandish that a documentary accused these star players of being "Uncle Toms" just for being great basketball players with privileged backgrounds. Grant Hill defended his history and his heritage wonderfully, and put things into perspective: that you can't dismiss his success just because he came from a well educated family, because the drive that black Americans to receive better educations in history has only bettered this country. I thought that point was wonderfully illustrated.
I agree with Maddy 100%, this is a really well written article. Grant Hill had every reason to lash out at the players who said such terrible and spiteful comments but instead he did not. Hill took the higher road approaching a touchy situation with calm, thoughtful, and highly educated tone. When I started reading his article, I was not fully committed to it, but after a few sentences I wanted to keep reading what he had to say. He approached a sticky situation in a really good way and I admire him for that.
Forgot to put this I responded to the Grant Hill article...
Terrorist Hunter:
I thought that this was a very compelling story that really solidified after the "Baghdad, 2004" transition. The first section sets the scene for the relationship between Clemente and Omar and shows their friendship and trust, but I really like what the second section does. Clemente is involved on the scene after a huge bombing at the US military hq, then the author introduces the fact that that was only his third day in Iraq. I like how the author quickly accredits Clemente and gives him authority in a position like the one he is in in Baghdad by listing various other times that he has had to deal with similar events. Then, with the introduction of Omar/the moment when the two men first meet, I loved the image: the "deferential" yet "wary" gaurds at the Iraqi prison who wouldn't speak, then there was Omar. At that moment, the first section really meant more to me and I was able to understand more of their relationship throughout the piece and for me, that establishment of Clemente and Omar' s relationship was what made this so compelling.
Hunter Becomes Hunted:
Needless to say, we need more people in the world like Omar. He's successful, professional, untraceable, and completely ruthless. I'm surprised the US government hasn't spread his story more, because he represents Iraqi self-sufficiency after the American withdrawal.
Omar's success proves a point about battle tactics against insurgents and terrorists: charging at them with massive, unwieldy armies is ineffectual and only led to more civilian and military casualties. That being said, everything in Omar's profile makes him sound like a Jason Bourne-esque action hero, taking on terrorists with little backup. This could either be a great sign, or an omen of failure.
Farm Animals/Pets:
I loved this piece for it's relevance to me as a mostly-vegetarian; I've always thought that the discrepancy between the treatment of food animals vs. that of pets is one of the bigger hypocrisies of the world we live in. I liked the sarcastic tone of the piece because it perfectly reflected the author's sentiments regarding the issue, and I liked that the piece was concise and seemed neither "whiney" nor melodramatic.
Grant Hill:
I really enjoyed this piece, and felt that every sentence demonstrated the intelligence and maturity of the writer. His writing managed to be measured and respectful while still conveying his opinion with a certain strength, and I admire that. I do wish that the introduction had been more thorough in explaining the circumstances; I live under a rock with regards to sports and would have appreciated more background info.
Grant Hill’s Response:
My first reaction from reading Grant Hill’s eloquent and insightful response was one of slight confusion. Like Julia, I wish I had known more about the controversy surrounding the issue before I read the piece: without the specifics of both what was exactly said as well as what the meaning behind those words actually is, it is hard for me to come away with a secure opinion on the issue. That being said, it seemed like Grant’s tone was almost striving to force the reader to determine his own opinion for himself. While it was clear he was trying to show his readers what he feels, there were very few moments in Hill’s writing that showed a derogatory tone toward Rose for what he said. I think Hill did a really good job at persuading his readers of his opinion without bashing those of the Rose and the Fab Five. I found Hill’s comparisons between his own personal experiences and the principles of African-Americans especially thought-provoking: I wonder if his emphasis on family values is as specific to the African-American community as his writing claims it is.
Some Animals Are Treated Better Than Others:
I agree wholeheartedly with much of Maddy had to say about Mark Bittman’s piece. I think Bittman could have done a much better job of approaching the issue more diplomatically than he did: he listed many compelling statistics, like the fact that the U.S. kills approximately one-sixth of the world’s animals annually, but I found his word choice to be insensitive to those who may not share his opinions. It was clear that Bittman is passionate about the issues he writes in the piece, but I think his tone in certain points of the article becomes angry and hostile rather than passionate, which to me is less of a pleasure to read. Bittman’s structure was also less than impressive, in my opinion: he makes a brief mention that there are small farms that do treat their livestock humanely at the very end of the article, but then takes away its value by writing that most animals have “tough luck.” I think Bittman could have addressed this positive issue more explicitly and with the same enthusiasm that he did for the injustices of the issues, and for this reason I wish it had come earlier in the piece: it felt like he was just writing that because he had to.
Grant Hill:
Because I have no real interest in following sports, I was not really aware of this “controversy.” After reading this extremely thoughtful (and thought-provoking) piece, I can no longer say that I’m disinterested. As Julia, Maddy, and Hannah have stated, Grant Hill’s response indicates levelheadedness and reason, more than just a kneejerk reaction to slander. The aim of Hill’s response was not to get back at Jalen Rose or any of Michigan’s Fab Five. His aim was to set the record straight, and he did so by respectfully and articulately defending his beliefs and actions. His cautious conviction solidifies his “side” of the fight, though his gentlemanly tone suggest that he is not interested in fighting at all.
Hunter Becomes Hunted:
I definitely agree that this is a phenomenal piece –the author’s storytelling abilities are incredible. What made the article so compelling, in my opinion, was the author’s ability to make this macho terrorist hunter seem so real and vulnerable. The jokes between the two men are funny, but the undertone is dark and grave. ("Why are you trying to kill me?" Omar howls. "Better you die here than in Iraq!")The author even angles the anecdote about the Assassins' Gate bombing around friendship and women. In the foreground, it’s lighthearted and inspiring, but the thought of the “severed hand” and of the “sadistic killer” looms ominously in the background.
After reading "Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others," I was completely shocked and confused. I had never heard about the laws in NY and other states that clearly separate pet's rights from the rights of animals that we eat. What shocked me most was that people were actually getting arrested when there are so many more issues that should be brought to justice. Even though I don't think it's okay for owners to be abusing their pets, I think its crazy that the purpose an animal is born for can alter the laws protecting it. I think this article was written well because it displayed the facts well and was very engaging.
The story of Omar and Clemente was so interesting and compelling. It is a really great profile because, while reading it, I was able to clearly picture everything Daniel Voll wrote. Also, I really like how this piece started out with the present, but then proceeded to tell the reader about the past and how Omar and Clemente got to where they are now. The way in which Voll wrote this profile definitely made it a better and more interesting piece to read.
I really enjoyed reading Grant Hill's commentary on the fab five. I thought his writing was eloquent and poignant. Instead of becoming defensive about the topic, I thought that Hill stated his opinions calmly and with out pointing figures or hatred. While reading this article, I was completely shocked that such strong and hurtful allegations had been made. I believe that Hill addressed Jalen Rose in such a polite and informative manner I would like to see what Rose has to say back!
Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others:
Opinion pieces are always incredibly interesting because they bring up points of view I may have never thought about before reading the articles. I have been aware of animal cruelty - Food Inc. is a good representation - but wasn't consciously aware of the connection between our pets and the food on our tables. Society has wired our brains to cherish our pets, and to see them as part of our families; in other circumstances, though, these same animals are bred to be slaughtered. In a perfect world, I would want all animals to be treated with equal fairness. But this ideal is impossible; we are a consumer nation, and we all perpetuate the food industry in some way or another. I commend Bittman for bringing up an unsung topic, but I think that this isn't something that will remain rather unchanged in our lifetimes. His argument is valid and I completely agree that this animal-discrimination is a bad thing. I just can't see an obvious way out of it.
The Hunter Becomes the Hunted:
In American society, we cherish the hero. In times of crises, a figure that's a cut above the rest interests us, gives us hope. I think that's part of the reason all of the responses have depicted Omar as intriguing and impressive. The writer did a great job of illuminating this "hero" aspect of Omar, and giving him this character makes the piece readable. The story is compelling because readers want to know about these heroes; readers want to have hope in the ability of mankind in times of war and destruction. Overall, I think this is a good technique, and something we could definitely include in our own paper. Profiles become all the more interesting when readers can look up to the subject.
Farm Animals versus Pets:
I think this is an interesting topic that demonstrates what happens when regulators try to help but don't take into account the complexity of the whole situation: they end up looking silly. I think that, as with most problems, the answer to the question of regulation lies somewhere in the middle. Jail time for killing a hamster seems excessive, while no regulations regarding livestock for food seems too little. I think that the article is well reasoned and thoughtful, with research and passion behind it. I like the rhetorical questions and slightly sassy tone. I don't think it's particularly well written, but it's informal and there's something to be said for a tone that makes it easy to be hooked.
Hunter Becomes the Hunted:
This is a great story. A great piece of journalism on a real-life Jason Bourne. It's a compelling story because it's an action movie, but real, and written. I don't think the author necessarily makes the mundane exciting, but more accurately and successfully translates an exciting life onto paper. Like Tom Chiarella's piece on Liam Nieson, the author uses jumps in time to keep the author interested and focused. He keeps going back in time, further and further, kind of like Gattica. This was really interesting read.
SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS - I feel like Bittman has a good point. The definition between pets and animals is a very fine line. His hook, involving the mistreatment of some poor hamster is (in my opinion) a strategy to reel in the reader’s pity because honestly, you’d have to be pretty much heartless not to sympathize with that hamster. I think that it’s also important that the truth about how some companies are killing animals for meat should be publicized and WAY more humane. There’s no doubt about it. Unfortunately, I feel like this article is very one sided and seems like the writer wrote it in a moment of passion for the poor mistreated baby chicks at a slaughterhouse in Iowa. He does mention the Smithfield video but that’s really the only sentence in the whole article that mentions the other side. Overall, this article is very informative, almost forceful, even in a way for the non-believers to feel immensely guilty for eating inorganic meals. Although he ends on a bitter note, leaving the reader feeling slightly more hopeful about the future of hamsters in the hands of teenagers.
THE HUNTER BECOMES THE HUNTED – This story is particularly interesting not only because it’s a window into the middle east, but it shows the unification between two “regular” guys who come from such different backgrounds that it seems like it would be impossible to be able to relate to each other. It shows that they unconditionally have each other’s backs, and will be honest with each other (when Clemente goes out on the street wearing very American clothing). The author makes everything exciting by the way he describes it to the reader. He takes you step by step through every action, hesitation, and sigh that not only the people Omar and Clemente interrogated, but themselves. Something that also made this article work was the fact that the reader also got to see the weak side of each of them, exposing the “normal human being” inside of them.
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