Michelle Goldberg
With impeachment looming, it’s time to take to the streets again.
The New York Times
October 21, 2019
Michelle Goldberg’s most recent article, “1, 2, 3, 4, Trump Can’t Rule Us Anymore,” investigates the history of mass protest and answers the question as to why Americans seem to have fallen dormant to protesting Trump. To begin the article, Goldberg discusses current major demonstrations in other countries such as Hong Kong, Lebanon, and Chile. She then poses the question that even though the rate of mass protests has increased, why isn’t the same change occurring in America against President Trump? She answers this question by making two arguments. The first being that Americans are tired of protesting and seeing no results. She explains that Americans are used to Trump’s immoral acts and unlawful decisions, and believe their protests will not make a change.
In contrast, her second argument is that people are focusing their power to protest into organizing other presidential candidates such as Elizabeth Warren. Goldberg establishes credibility by quoting Erica Chenoweth, a Harvard professor, and author, and Dana Fisher, a professor at the University of Maryland and author of “American Resistance: From the Women’s March to the Blue Wave.” To finish the piece, Goldberg provides her advice to Americans. She urges them to create a public protest surrounding Trump’s impeachment. She even includes a plan that Leah Greenberg, a co-founder of the anti-Trump organization, Indivisible, set in place. Goldberg states, “Once the House votes to send articles of impeachment to the Senate, there needs to be a public groundswell to force the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, to allow a thorough and transparent trial. Then, assuming the evidence is as compelling as it seems, there should be mass nonviolent action calling for Trump’s removal.” Throughout Goldberg’s article, the purpose is unclear and seems to be informative. However, by Goldberg providing her opinion on the matter, her goal is to persuade the reader to take action against President Trump. She inspires her audience to demand the impeachment of Trump through mass nonviolent protest.
In contrast, her second argument is that people are focusing their power to protest into organizing other presidential candidates such as Elizabeth Warren. Goldberg establishes credibility by quoting Erica Chenoweth, a Harvard professor, and author, and Dana Fisher, a professor at the University of Maryland and author of “American Resistance: From the Women’s March to the Blue Wave.” To finish the piece, Goldberg provides her advice to Americans. She urges them to create a public protest surrounding Trump’s impeachment. She even includes a plan that Leah Greenberg, a co-founder of the anti-Trump organization, Indivisible, set in place. Goldberg states, “Once the House votes to send articles of impeachment to the Senate, there needs to be a public groundswell to force the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, to allow a thorough and transparent trial. Then, assuming the evidence is as compelling as it seems, there should be mass nonviolent action calling for Trump’s removal.” Throughout Goldberg’s article, the purpose is unclear and seems to be informative. However, by Goldberg providing her opinion on the matter, her goal is to persuade the reader to take action against President Trump. She inspires her audience to demand the impeachment of Trump through mass nonviolent protest.
Comment for the author:
ReplyDeleteCompared to last week's article, this article is much more investigative and analyzes American's feelings toward protest. Your arguments are backed by studies and quotes from people of authority, which makes them credible. Your article left me with one question, if Americans have shown less interest in protesting recently, how do you think the turn out will be at the protest surrounding Trump's impeachment? Do you expect Americans will still be unmotivated?
While reading the article, I loved the author's tone and diction because it help to evoke emotions and use appeals to its advantage. I also like the content, foreign affairs has been at the top of every pundit I've read and it is nice to see differentiating opinions from the various columnists.
ReplyDeleteWhen Goldberg was my pundit, I always noticed how she would used a lot of ethos to establish her credibility. And, like this article, she does again. Also, I like how she explores the more emotional side to the protest topic, not just facts and statistics.
ReplyDeleteI was uninformed on the decrease in mass protest over Trump in America. It seems to make sense because despite all the protests surrounding him that have occurred in the past, Trump still remains in office. Goldberg's kept a confused and concerned tone throughout her article. I think her purpose is to find and expose the reason why protests have decreased to maybe argue against and promote more protest.
ReplyDelete