10 Things to Celebrate by DSouza - Book Report/Review Example

10 Things to Celebrate: Why I’m an Anti-Anti American: A Rhetorical Analysis

Dinesh D’Souza writes a lovely piece on the advantages of Americans have in comparison to the world as a persuasive argument against anti-Americanism from the citizens of the United States. He uses the events that have surrounded terrorist activities against the United States as a way to get the attention of the reader. Through his own experiences, he is able to provide a narrative that links his arguments to the emotional impact of his statements. This engages the reader to appreciate his point of view and its validity. As an immigrant from India, he is also able to create an argument that the anti-Americanism that is seen within citizens of the nation is lacking an understanding of the realities from a global perspective. He uses examples in order to support his cause. Through the use of an emotional appreciation of the nation, combined with personal examples and narrative, D’Souza presents an argument against sentiments of Americans that have a negative attitude towards the country.

D’Souza opens his piece stating that the United States is subject to a great deal of anti-American sentiment from around the world. He states that this has manifested in terrorist activities, thus touching on one of the current fears that is pervasive within the citizens of the United States. As he begins his discourse, he uses this subject to get the attention of his reader and state his premise. He suggests that the United States is subject to a great deal of bashing from

around the world and therefore the citizens of the nation are creating more problems when they express opinions that suggest that they are anti-American. Furthermore, he becomes more emotionally inflammatory by suggesting that if the country is as bad as is suggested, then perhaps it should be destroyed (D’Souza 135). Through the use of volatile language within the first part of his work, he sets the reader up to follow his logic.

The use of personal anecdotes allows the reader to gain an understanding of why the writer has a strong opinion about this subject matter. D’Souza uses examples from his life in order to provide a framework within which he develops his argument. He chooses to provide a larger picture of the topic through an understanding of how the world sees the United States, by using historical references and through his own experiences of conversations with others. He uses the example of an acquaintance of his that was trying to move to the United states as saying the reason for the move was “I really want to live in a country where the poor people are fat” (Souza 136). As well, he cites the example of a documentary that was shown in the United States about national poverty, that was then shown in the Soviet Union in an attempt to embarrass the Reagan administration. The opposite effect was observed, however, when citizens of the Soviet Union were impressed by the material possessions and wealth of the poorest of United States citizens (D’Souza 136).

By using a global perspective, D’Souza gives a list of ten reasons why the United States is a great country. He provides specific arguments and support for each of these reasons, showing that the United States has a great deal of benefits that the rest of the world does not enjoy. One of his specific references is very effective in that it shows that in this country respect is given to

merchants and workers why this is not necessarily the case in the rest of the world (D‘Souza 136). As well, he cites examples of how the United States has saved the world twice within the twentieth century, giving further support to an appreciation that seems to be lacking in those citizens who denounce the policies of the country. He states that during World War II the United States saved the world from the Nazi threat, and then again held back the threat of Soviet totalitarianism that threatened to take over the world in later decades (D’Souza 139).

The logos, or reasoning, that D’Souza provides is based on the concept that because things are good here, that American’s should not take a position that is against the nation. As well, he provides the additional concept that in doing so, the citizens are encouraging attitudes against the United States that are anti-American. He suggests that anti-Americanism is the cause of the ill will that people in other countries feel, rather than embracing the idea that perhaps the United States has not always adopted positive leadership qualities for the global community. He acknowledges that the country is not perfect, but suggests that to have an attitude that the nation has serious flaws that should be discussed is to create an idea that the nation is no longer great.

Without creating a viable balance, this argument appears to be somewhat naïve in its nature. Admitting that a system has many positive attributes, does not negate that some improvements should be made. The list of reasons why the United States is a great nation loses some of its impact when there is no balance created against some of the egregious acts that have been committed are not represented. He is right when he says the nation is not perfect, but he does nothing to support this aspect of the argument. The salient point of the ideology of the United States is entirely missed in that the nation was founded on the rights of the individual to

challenge and promote change when the political system is not well representing his or her needs. Therefore, the core spirit and nature of an American is ignored, lessoning the impact of his attempt to persuade the American against anti-American sentiments.

However, both the ethos and pathos of his argument are sound. He brings to light the advantages that Americans share over the rest of the world’s population. He uses imagery of healthy robust older citizens that are actively involved in romance and sexual experiences. He portrays the pride that each individual has through social equality that is unparalleled in the world. For this, an example of Bill Gates offering a 100 dollar bill to a person to kiss his feet allows for a more personal visual demonstration of how the personal equality of the person offered such an award would most likely give him the spirit to tell “Gates to go to hell!” (D’Souza 136). Through this imagery, he evokes sentimental visual representations that touch the core spirit of an American citizen, implying the difference that must be felt in other regions of the world.

Morally, it is understood why a citizen from another country would not comprehend why anyone would complain about this nation. When disadvantages are visible everywhere in the nations of the world, the United States appears to out stride all the others. When a citizen reads the many accomplishes he relates within his work, it is easy to get a sense of pride about the way in which his words inspire national patriotism to a greatness that has been rare and unique. However, the greatness of the nation is dependent upon dissent. If the right to disagree and vocalize that disagreement is taken away, then the advantages that are afforded the average citizen will begin to disappear. Therefore, the morality that he presents I also in conflict with the

reality that the American citizen embraces - the idea that for evil to flourish good men must simply do nothing. If the voice of dissent is not raised, then the government will not be held responsible.

Therefore, even though he raises a valid point, he misses what he needs most within his persuasion of a more harmonious attitude from the American people. He misses that in order to contain the forces of oppression, the voice of the people must be much louder and more clamoring. Without the balance of the core ideology of the American dream, the advantages are limited and will soon disappear. His argument does little to provide this balance. While he is successful in evoking patriotism, he misses an opportunity to not only support the material and cultural blessings, but the core ideology that allows for the dissent that he addresses in his work.

Through the use of emotion and reason, with a hint at the moral dilemmas of bashing a nation that is already under scrutiny by the world without regard to the accomplishments and gifts that the nation has given to the world, D’Souza creates a discourse on the higher idealism that has provided a singularly unique experience that is America. He does fail to present a logical counterargument that can be balanced against his own, but it is also possible that he is providing space for the reader to remember all of the comments they have experienced throughout their citizenship of the United States. There is a lack of genuine understanding for the cultural need that Americans have to constantly debate and refine the experiment that is the United States, but it does provide an excellent framework for what he terms the “big pictures” (D’Souza 135). This is defined by the way in which the United States, as an experiment in ideological state creation, has succeeded in providing an abundance for its citizens and a place of refuge for many who

would immigrate to the nation. This discourse, while very one-sided, accomplishes the goal in convincing the reader of some of the advantages in America that are not shared within the rest of the world.