WW4: Argument

In Joe Hargrave’s article, The US minimum wage debate is bogus; his ultimate question is “is it wrong for the government to decide what employers out to pay?” Hargrave does not really answer his own question, but moves around it with multiple examples. He writes that minimum wage has garnered a high percentage of support from both ends of the political spectrum. However, it can be noted that only 2% of the workforce in this country makes minimum wage, which could make the whole debate irrelevant.
Hargrave writes that minimum wage is in place to regulate the power of businesses over workers and of “employment and management over workers and their wages.” Basically stating that those you know more should control those who don’t know as much. However, workers are well aware that what employers want is “more work for less pay, and they will use the means at their disposal to reverse the trend.” He continues with his next bit of evidence by saying that there has been a 50-year consensus, and it has only been disrupted in the mid 90s, that minimum wage caused unemployment and contributed to a falling economy. However, in those 50 years America had a gradual increase in minimum wages and managed to grow and prosper. The reason for the disruption, Hargrave argues, is that other policies got in the way. Policies such as “totally deregulating the financial sector.”
His wrap up includes the direct position that “raising the minimum wage is a not a solution to anything.” He expresses his deepest wish to American workers is that they begin to organize themselves as “partners in cooperative enterprises.” Saying this, I believe he means that everyone should become an owner and for everyone to have more control over their economic fate.
My big issue with Hargrave’s article is that I do not feel his warrants explain his claim very well. I think he should have mentioned the impact of unions in workplace when he mentioned putting all workers as owners. How have unions benefited minimum wage. Also, in the 50 years of not changing the minimum page policies and then a most recent bump in the road, I think that what is broken should be fixed. I argue that we need to know the benefits of having any minimum wage or getting rid of it altogether.
On the other end, speaking of owners, it can be said that changing the minimum wage law can exclude low cost competitors from labor markets. Over all, could be the result of more poverty and unemployment. Also, changing minimum wage laws can reduce profit margins of business owners employing minimum wage workers, which could encourage a move to businesses that do not employ low-skill workers.

Seattle University Haiti Press Release

Physically far from the rubble, are the effects of the massive earthquake in Haiti, in which Seattle University and its students are committing to respond to the disaster educationally, humanly, and spiritually. The support coming from Seattle University is similar to the support we shared to New Orleans in the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The Haiti earthquake is by far on the same level as the tragedy that our country faced just 6 years ago.

"Each of us, I am sure, has known that the Haitians are citizens of the poorest country of our hemisphere, but this tragedy brings home to us their reality as our sisters and brothers in dire need," said Seattle University President Father Stephen V. Sunborg.

Students and faculty at Seattle University have been organizing response dialogues and teach-ins to inform the campus of the situation in Haiti. Last week SU's Global African Studies Program presented a teach-in on Haitian history and gave background on the current earthquake disaster. This week, OMA's Diversity and Equity Education Program (DEEP) will be hosting a display entitled "Before and After the Earthquake: Giving Haiti Context" in hopes of creating dialogue on what is happening currently in Haiti and developing plans of action for the future.

Father Sunborg is also appointing Sean Bray, Social Justice Minister in Campus Ministry, as the point person to help coordinate our response and communication to Haiti. Students and faculty are encouraged to contact Bray with any suggestions, donations, or requests that they may have regarding the crisis.

Finally, as a prominent Jesuit institution, Seattle University would like to done its spiritual help to the people of Haiti by holding multiple Masses offered for the people of Haiti. For the next two Sundays, Masses will also be given to the Catholic Relief Services and Jesuit Refugee Service for their emergency work with the people and country of Haiti.

WW3: Minimum wage debate

In discussion of minimum wage, one controversial issue has been that having a minimum wage allows employers to pay what they feel is necessary for a days work. On the one hand minimum wage was established to ensure fair compensation for a days work. On the other hand, employees would argue that artificially raising wages ends up hurting the people your trying to help. Employers who can't afford the higher wages, will have to reduce the number of employees. Others even maintain that unions have forced up wages and look what's happening to their jobs, others will work for less. My own view is that minimum wage increases the standard of living for the poorest and most vulnerable class in society and improves work ethic. I still must decide however, how minimum wage should be controlled.

Rogerian argument

Dear Christina:

You have expressed your desire to get married to since you were 18. It has been such a funny conversation every time we talk about it because our humor matches so perfectly that we can point to any guy on the street and give reasons why you would love to marry them.

Now, here we are four years later still laughing about your dedication of marriage. You are now dating Brandon, who has said he loves you just 2 months into your relationship. I know you are happy, but I know that you have changed. You tell us about what changes you are making and what Brandon expects out of you. Just last week, you sat down with Jess and I and told us that Brandon informed you of what would make a good wife. The list of things he gave you included "Informing your husband of everything you do, not making him jealous, and knowing how to make him happy." With such a list like this, I find it easy to imagine why the topic of marriage has still been around, and why it is no longer comical.

Relationships have never been my strong point, but I can see right through this one. You have changed as a person to conform to a guy you have only been dating for 5 months. You no longer are able to come out with your friends and enjoy everyone's company because it makes your boyfriend jealous that he is not having fun with you. he puts too much guilt on you, and I don't find this as a part of a healthy relationship and neither do your other friends. We have been told we are a bad influence on you, and you seem to agree.

I feel like your relationship is creating an enormous gap in your relationships with your friends. We do not see you anymore and whenever we do, you are on the arm of Brandon. We miss you and wish you could return to your old self. Yes, we have all grown up, but we do not need to conform to some fantasy of what "a good wife should be" because you are 21 years old and in a relationship I and many others deem unhealthy.

Last night, when you made the plans to attend Jen's birthday party and then decided to come out because you felt guilty, we had a blast. There should be no worry in feeling guilty about hanging out with your friends. You have done it all of your life. You do not need a hand to hold every time you leave the house.

I hope this letter finds you in a place where you will not feel ambushed or mad at your friends, but hopefully understand where we are coming from.

Sincerely,

Mat

WW2: Palin Opinion

In this weeks Seattle Spectator, Fernando Sioson wrote an opinion article on former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin. His views represent Palin’s recent accomplishments as an author and her vice presidential campaign run. Sioson also points out Palin’s criticisms, such as her resignation as Alaskan governor and her latest job as a correspondent on Fox News. His writing looks primarily at who still supports Palin in her new political adventures. This includes her fans on Facebook, her colleagues, and also her family.
I see a lot of truth in Sioson’s opinion article. He compares Palin’s journey through politics as a three-ring circus. I can see exactly where he is coming from when he writes that Palin should lay under the radar and rebuild her credibility and not be on the same level as Jay Leno and do late night comedy. I agree fully that Palin has become a worldwide joke and she is just putting a bad label on the entire Republican Party. She has resulted in childish antics of criticizing others politics when her experience in politics has been very short.
I look at Sioson and his argument as just an attack. There are a lot of emphases on the now and what Palin is currently doing. What about the past? Palin did get Alaskans an extra thousand dollars from oil revenue. Also, Palin opened up doors for women in politics for being the closest women to the Vice President position. Also, he does not look at if the future will be better than Palin’s past. Her position on Fox News could re-establish her as a prominent political figure. The truth of the matter is, Sioson’s personal attack on Palin only warrants the now and what she is currently doing. She was nominated for Vice President for a reason.
Fernando Sioson wrote this article in a very left sided liberal stance. He clearly was on the anti-Palin bandwagon since day one. He is probably not one of Palins 1.1 million Facebook followers, as he emphasizes in his article. He brings a fair amount of knowledge that the rest of the world is already in the know about. I do believe that Sioson wrote this more as a comical attack than knowledge based political opinion. I wish he could go into what Palin can do to get her out of being the butt of the countries joke. However, I find that as a student, he needed to demonstrate his writing skills and left sided comical approach to political attack.

Link to article:
http://www.su-spectator.com/opinion/sarah-palin-going-rogue-on-fox-news-1.1010704

Commonplace and Police Shootings

In reference to the three types of commonplace examples in article, the first that I came across was conjecture.
When Rahr was explaining the effect that the shootings will have on regular people in the street who will approach police officers, the reaction they will give will be much different than in the past. Instead of a friendly hello back to the citizens, the police officers will have to check their hands for weapons and be very cautious.
In regards to degree, when Rahr talks about the overwhelming amount of support that police officers are getting and the patriotism that is shown by people who stand at funerals holding American flags is so much greater than the event that happened. Also, the people who sang "Silent Night" to an officer and those who just greet friendly with the phrase "Thank you for your service."
What has been made possible is the knowledge of what police officers go through and how much they are valued in this society. Rahr references back to 9/11 throughout the editorial and of the lessons that were learned and what became possible after the attacks. It is similar to imagine what has become possible after the police shootings and I think the biggest thing is that "we are united behind a set of values and ideals."

Cafe Vita

Cafe Vita has it all. Great coffee, a friendly staff, and a wonderful atmosphere. Vita is situated in a perfect location, just 2 blocks away from Seattle University campus and right in the heart of capitol hill. It is a two story coffee house that provides free wireless and excellent study music. You can also view into the back room that is filled with bags of their coffee beans. However, the best part of Cafe Vita must be the fun designs that the staff make out of the coffee foam.

MIchelle Obama's DNC Speech

In her address to the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama declared that she “loved this country” but her speech settled primarily around the thing she found most important in life, family. She addressed the rambunctious onlookers by declaring first that she was there as a mother, daughter, sister, and wife. She shared her family values and her goals for her family, and also the reasons of why her husband Barack was running for president. She spoke with elegance and charisma, but never really riled up the crowd, nor did she have to.
In Michelle Obamas address, it is easy to point out the four rhetorical tenets in the speech.
1.) Advisory:
Michelle Obama shared her worldview and her values to all of America in this speech. First, she used the address to silence the rumors that she lacked patriotism by softening her voice and repeating her patriotism over and over again throughout the speech. She proclaimed her values growing up and why she still has them today. Values such as, “you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you’re going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them, and even if you don’t agree with them.” Not only were she and her husband’s values mentioned, but she also wanted to make sure that the working class would be taken care of because she grew up just like everyone in the audience.
2.) Addressed:
Michelle Obama knew she would be addressing the American people in this speech and did a wonderful job at speaking to them as a citizen. She compared herself to all mothers and of herself growing up to the everyday working man. The expectations of the audience was to hear a real woman who was a mother and who was a worker and who believed in her husband full heartily.
3.) Situational:
Obama addressed the needs of the present by not excluding any person who was under scrutiny. She addressed the military families, young people, and politicians like Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. She relayed back to the audience that she and her husband shared the same belief that “the world as it is just won’t do – that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.”
4.) Stylized
Her performance seemed effortless. I didn’t think she wanted to be overly energetic or rile up the audience. She wanted to speak gracefully and when needed, raise her arms up in triumph. I think there was a high level of poise in the way she addressed the crowd who were all holding “Michelle” signs.

Michelle Obama really achieved her goal in this speech. She went out there ready to announce that she loved America and that her husband was the best person for the role of president. She cleared up Barack Obama’s unusual name and referred to him as an everyday American just as she is. She praised the youth, military, and other politicians for their hard work, but also noted that the world needed to be fixed. The audience was enthusiastic toward her and I think, got exactly what they wanted.

Ideas of class problem/issue

Ideas of problem/issue

1. Minimum wage. State or National
2. Political Campaigns. Public money limit vs. politician money
3. Pros and Cons of having a credit card
4. Where should SU money go? Athletics or academic?
5. Gay marriage rights

First exercise response

In "They Say/I Say" Graff and Birkenstein talk about how academic writing follows templates that allow a writer to engage in critical thinking throughout their writing. They also emphasize the importance of not only expressing ones own ideas in their writing, but having those ideas be a response to some other persons or groups conclusion or belief. In your course description of rhetoric, the main focus is taking different forms of media that focus on arguments and evaluate them with our own interpretation of those arguments and then conducting our own positions on the issue. There is overlap in Graff and Birkenstein and your argument of rhetoric in that both look at the importance of listening to others ideas and arguments and using them to conduct our own position on the topic.