RA #7 Fargo: Always Warm!

The website for the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau features a message board of sorts where visitors to the North Dakota metropolitan area can share their stories about the warm, friendly nature of the Fargo people.

WATCO and Enthymeme

What are the consequences of visiting Fargo, North Dakota on your outlook towards the future of the human race?

Visiting Fargo will strengthen your outlook towards the future of the human race because the warm, friendly nature of Fargo's people will inspire you to be warmer and kinder to people yourself.

Audience

People who are seeking a less-expensive, out-of-the-ordinary vacation location.

Goal

Motivate you to explore the FMCVB website further to find the exciting opportunities that await you should you choose to visit Fargo.

How?

The strongest appeal is to pathos, particularly the emotions of love, comfort, and hope. Living in such a cold, depressing time makes us yearn for happier places and people. Reading stories from actual people who went from these dreary places to Fargo seeks to give us hope that we can find such happiness in Fargo, as well.

The sheer number of stories (four pages worth) makes for a very sufficient argument. The reader can also add to the sufficiency of the argument by adding their own story about Fargo. The accuracy of the stories (if modified slightly) is also made apparent.

In thumbing through the stories, they come from a wide variety of places: both US coasts, and one visitor from a "tropical country". This variety of origins among the visitors helps make the argument more relevant. No matter which region people live, they have a good chance at finding a Fargo story from one of their comrades.

Effectiveness

Those who read the stories and read about specific attractions in those stories probably continued to find out more about those attractions on the website to further pigue their interest. Honestly, if someone had already found themselves on this site, they probably would have done that anyway, so the stories probably don't play as big a role as they might believe.

RA #6-Saint Flanders

This image is the cover of the February 5, 2001 issue of Christianity Today magazine.

WATCO and Enthymeme

What are the consequences of the character of Ned Flanders on mainstream America’s view of evangelical Christians?

Having Ned Flanders as a character on The Simpsons elevates mainstream America’s view of evangelical Christians because the “saintly” way Ned lives his life reflects an accurate (if comical) depiction of a typical evangelical Christian.

Audience

Christians (most likely evangelicals) who do not watch The Simpsons, probably because they see it as making light of Christianity.

Goal

Get these Christians to open up the magazine and read the article which tries to demonstrate the positive attention that Ned Flanders provides for viewers of The Simpsons towards Christianity.

How?

The archaic nature of the painting makes it seem like something you would find in an old church. This appeals to the ethos of church-goers by suggesting that Ned Flanders is a righteous beacon in an otherwise godless program.

The other objects in the painting itself make for a sufficient argument. Flanders is holding a Bible, which is a common occurrence in his appearances on the show. Furthermore, the saintly “halo” surrounding his head further emphasizes his saintly nature on a seemingly devilish show.

Even though the style of the painting is archaic, the depiction of the characters is still accurate. Marge still has her blue hair up. Homer has his traditional stubble, along with his trademark donuts. Ned’s wardrobe of pink shirt with green sweater is also accurate, with a priestly robe added for emphasis. In a sense, it’s showing Ned’s potential impact on the show’s other characters and, perhaps, on other viewers questioning Christianity.

Effectiveness

Honestly, a lot of the anti-Simpson Christians who saw this would probably think the image was borderline blasphemy. However, they probably did open up the magazine to read the article, even if it was to disparage its claims.

RA #5: "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Fortunate Son" was released by Creedence Clearwater Revival on their 1969 album, "Willy and the Poor Boys".

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, they're red, white and blue.
And when the band plays "Hail to the Chief",
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no senator's son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me;
I ain't no fortunate one, no,
Yeah!

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don't they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no millionaire's son, no.
It ain't me, it ain't me;
I ain't no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,
And when you ask them, "How much should we give?"
Ooh, they only answer More! more! more!

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no military son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me;
I ain't no fortunate one, one.

The song was inspired by David Eisenhower, the grandson of President Dwight Eisenhower who married Julie Nixon, the daughter of President Richard Nixon in 1968.

WATCO and Enthymeme

What are the consequences of nepotism/favoritism within the government and private sector on the morale of Vietnam troops?

Nepotism or favoritism within the government and the private sector drains the morale of Vietnam troops because the privileges of children of those in government or the private sector (including avoiding being drafted) makes Vietnam troops feel they are of a lesser worth in society.

Audience

Those against the Vietnam War who either do or do not realize the apparent "draft-dodging" of those in the upper class.

Goal

Create a rallying cry of protest to help those who are anti-war to shift the view of supporters of the war towards identifying this double standard.

How?

The song itself is sung in a very fast, angry and passionate tone. Since this is the normal tone of those who protest against the war, this song uses that pathos to incite even greater passion amongst those protesters.

The point of view from which the words spring forth (the thoughts of an anti-war person being drafted into the war) also appeal to pathos, as well as relevance. These are likely thoughts that crossed through the minds of many of those who were drafted despite opposing the war. Dwelling on these thoughts will increase the likelihood of these feelings of relative worthlessness.

Since the audience are those who are against the war, the fact that one of their own who has recognized this double standard is leading the rallying cry appeals to the ethos of the crowd.

Effectiveness

The passion with which the song is delivered helps to enhance the effectiveness of the argument. If it had been sung in a smooth Bob Dylan-esque style, it may have appealed to some of the anti-war crowd, but not as many as John Fogerty's fiery delivery. The words seem like the actual thoughts of someone in that situation, so it would be very easy for a protester to correlate their own thoughts to those of the lyrics and express them to those who are blind to the double standard.

RA #4: The Christian Science Monitor

The Christian Science Monitor, a century-old American newspaper, will be going online-only in April. They posted this article on their web site to inform people of the change and also try to get people excited about the transition.

WATCO and Enthymeme

What are the consequences of the Christian Science Monitor going online-only on increasing ad revenue?

Making the Monitor online-only is the best way to increase ad revenue because the increased timeliness and relevance of an online-only paper will attract more readers and, thus, bring more traffic to the site.

Audience

Those who have regularly received the Monitor five days a week by mail who may be hesitant about the paper's online-only strategy.

Goal

Address concerns of those reluctant to the online-only format as well as inviting them to spread the word on the new web edition.

How?

The beginning of the article refers to the original goals of the paper, as described by the founder of the Christian Science Church, Mary Baker Eddy. In particular, Eddy's desire for the Monitor to keep "abreast of the times."

This appeals to ethos by referring to the credibility of the paper's founder and her foundational principles/reasons for starting the paper. It also appeals to logos because it makes sense that the Internet is the most appropriate method in these modern times to keep things up to date.

In order to offer a compromise to those who may be unable to read the paper online, the paper keeps their argument relevant by offering a weekly print edition at a reduced price from the current five-day-a-week yearly price.

Effectiveness

I feel the strategy of using the paper's heritage is fairly effective, but lacking. You could manipulate the century-old words of Mrs. Eddy to say just about anything you want, especially when you only use snippets of quotes.