Pope Francis, humble, authentic and credible

A momentous occasion took place when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was selected to be the next pope of the Catholic Church. He is from Argentina, and the first pope ever to be from a South American country. Of course, as with any position of such reverence, many people were skeptical when Bergoglio assumed the role. Does he have what it takes? In this article, Christopher Bellitto attempts to persuade his audience that he does.

In order to do this, it is vital that Bellitto addresses the cynicism that surrounds the situation. Not only does this provide context, but it also sets up his counter argument. Religious allusions are used effectively throughout the piece. At the end he writes, “ For too long, the people in the pews have felt distanced from their priests, bishops and the Vatican. That is not the gospel of love and service that Jesus preached. Yet it is precisely the gospel that Francis of Assissi and Ignatius Loyola learned from Jesus and shared with the world in word and deed.” Similar references are made throughout the article and Bellitto pulls them together with this final sentence. Bergoglio chose his Pope name to be Francis. Francis is a very charitable and renowned figure from the bible. Considering that the audience is mainly Christians, using this strengthens Bellitto’s perspective by connecting the new pope with a prominent and revered religious figure. In a time when many people are skeptical of their new pope, Christopher Bellitto successfully persuades otherwise largely due to recurring religious allusions. 

Marriage Discrimination, A Cartoon by Steve Sack

Gay marriage has been and will continue to be a heated topic of debate. Supporters feel that it is a simple matter of equality, while others say that marriage must be between a man and a woman. This argument seems to be one that is constantly repeated, adapted, and repeated again. Recently, many states decided to resolve the matter. This past election, many citizens of Idaho hoped that they would become yet another state to do so. This effort was unsuccessful. This cartoon, created by Steve Sack, depicts the predicament that Idaho currently faces. Sack uses parallelism and humor to convey his message.

The caption on the right of the cartoon reads, "Equality to our North! Equality to our South! Equality East and West! Holy Matrimony, We're Surrounded!!!" This caption utilizes anaphora with its repeated use of "Equality" at the beginning of the sentences. This ultimately creates the image the equality is everywhere.... except in Idaho, of course. This style of repetition allows this message to be felt the strongest because in only three short sentences, the Idaho resident realizes that he or she is literally surrounded from all sides with equality. It also begs the question, "If everywhere else, why not here?" The last sentence uses humor. "Holy matrimony" is used as an indicator of the policymakers surprise, but it is also a term that is used to represent the institution of marriage that is causing the commotion. In the context of how it is used, the policymakers are portrayed as childish and immature. This adds legitimacy to the supporters' argument by degrading their opposition, and may be intended to sway the majority in their direction.

Steve Sack created this cartoon with many things in mind. The boiling situation in Idaho has left many people upset. This cartoon portrays the scenario that policymakers face who are responsible for quelling this conflict. It is ultimately due to Sack's use of parallelism and humor that strengthen the effectiveness of his message.

"Eyeing Apple"

In most contemporary conversations that involve technology, Apple is a common discussion topic. The company has risen to international prevalence over the last decade. Generally, its market status has agreed with this trend. Recently, however, its stocks have taken quite the plunge (35% since September). Not surprisingly, this turn has left stockholders and investors in a panic. A company that used to be characterized by reverence and stability is now getting wary reactions from the people that matter most. Jakes Surowiecki, an author for The New Yorker, quells these fears in his piece entitled “Eyeing Apple.” Surowiecki accomplishes this goal through a variety of rhetorical devices including cause and effect and metaphor.

Apple’s downward plunge is effectively explained through a cause and effect description. Uniquely, the article begins by describing the effect. The piece begins by detailing the stock depreciation and responses from outside sources. The switch to the explanation of the cause is noted by the rhetorical question “So why the sudden fall from grace?” The article then details the circumstances that have caused the depreciations. A metaphor towards the end of the article is extremely effective in resolving the fears of Apple’s recent downward spiral. “It’s always been the proverbial bumblebee: it shouldn’t be able to fly but it does. A wobble in flight is all it takes for people to proclaim its inevitable crash.”Surowiecki compares the history of Apple to a bumblebee. One small error in a bumblebee’s flight does not necessarily indicate crash, just as Apple’s downward trend does not indicate its death. Putting the company in this perspective is largely what makes the piece effective in accomplishing its intended goal.