Propaganda

1. Propaganda Technique - Testimonial. Emeril Lagasse, a celebrity chef, is speaking out in support of BP, and defending their methods of dealing with the oil spill

Fallacy - Argumentum Ad Populum. Emeril doesn't have any support for what he says about the oil spill, and even admits that he is not a scientist, and thus knows little about the situation. He just calls it devistating many times and expresses his sentimentality towards those who were affected.

2. Propaganda Technique - Transfer. It tries to transfer the prestige of respectable olympic athletes to the name of BP, although the two are not really related in any concievable way.

Fallacy - Red Herring. It tries to distract you from the wrongs BP has committed by having olympians speak of their triumph and the odds they overcame. It doesn't really relate to BP other than in an allegorical sense and in the display of the logo at the end, but it makes you feel good about what you just saw, thus repairing their shattered public image.

3. Propaganda Technique - Card Stacking. It only speaks of the jobs BP has created, not the devestating effect of the spill.

Fallacy - Observational Selection. Same reason for propaganda technique: It ignores effects of oil spill, and only speaks of the positive impact of BP on the economy.

4. Propaganda Technique - Glittering Generalities. They say that the beach is "Great, and only getting better." and that they "Made it right." These are "glad words" with no real meaning.

Fallacy - Bandwagon Fallacy. It tells you how many people are going to the states affected by the oil spill, and encourages you to visit, as well.

Death of the Ball Turret Gunner

This poem is about, as the title would lead you to believe, the death of a ball turret gunner. I know this because of, like I mentioned previously, the title, as well as the phrase "When I died." Three words in this piece with a similar connotation are "Fell," "Loosed," and "Washed out." These three verbs all have a connotation of force and helplessness. Putting all of this together, I think the theme of this poem is the injustice of the draft, and the overall horror of war.

This Land Is Your Land

     Woody Guthrie believes that America is a very hypocritical nation, and that we do not practice what we preach. In the first four stanzas, he displays what America claims to be, singing "This land is made for you and me" over and over, and using many positive imagery like "Golden Valley" and "Diamond Deserts." In the 5th stanza, however, the song takes a turn, as Guthrie promotes disobedience by having the speaker trespass. This seems to show that Guthrie believes that, while America claims to be the land of all people, we have rules, such as laws against trespassing, that directly contradict this. In the fifth stanza is when the meaning becomes most obvious, as Guthrie questions if this land is actually for everyone after seeing impoverished people struggling with hunger near the relief office. Especially with my prior knowledge of Guthrie's association with assorted Communist groups, it is obvious that, despite how the song is often interpreted, this song is actually an attack on America, promoting increased freedom, and perhaps even anarchy. I agree with Guthrie in many ways, as America is very hypocritical in it's constant promotion of freedom, while holding back most non-middle or upper class white people.