War Rhetoric Essay -- History Iraq WWII Essays Papers

War Rhetoric Introduction Last year, discussing the new World War II Monument in Washington D.C., the Washington Post described World War II, â€Å"in the words of novelist John Updike – ‘when good and evil contended for the planet, a tale of Troy whose angles are infinite and whose central figures never fail to amaze us with their size, their theatricality, their sweep,’† (Atkinson). World War II is commonly perceived as a black and white cause: America’s freedom versus Germany’s fascism. This mythological characterization expresses the general sentiment most Americans have toward all that took place during World War II. We perceive that it satisfied a basic human desire in Americans pertaining to war by appealing to our desire to see good and evil in clear forms. When a war is definable as a contest â€Å"for the planet† such a definition gives the average citizen a certain enormity of tension, compelling the reader all the more to be involved in the conflict. The Iraq war did not have such unanimous national perception of justification, nor the resultant purpose that lies therein. Having spurred debate about weapons of mass destruction (CIA), strained relationships with other countries (Rising), casualty counts (CNN) the high cost of the war (NPP), and numerous influential groups opposing the war (IRTF), it could not fulfill the image of World War II, having a clear moral cause, unquestioned by the masses. This war also did not appeal to a sense of intense conflict within the American psyche as a battle for the planet, since no one doubted the inevitable victory of America’s strength over Iraq’s dwindling, decimated army. Resultantly, America has a heightened dramatistic need rhetoricians seek to satisfy by symbolizing ... ...raq and the Middle East." 2005. 9 March 2005. . Leeds-Hurwitz, Wendy. "Signs". Semiotics and Communication. Lea. 1993. 22-49. National Priorities Project. "The Calculator." 2005. 9 March 2005 . Payne, David. "Dramatic Criticism." Modern Rhetorical Criticism. Ed. Roderick Hart. Allyn & Bacon; 2nd Edition. 1996. 259-283. Rising, David. "Rumsfeld calls for unity in fight against terrorism at security conference." CNEWS. 2005. 9 March 2005. . Summer Jobs Poster courtesy of Mindy with the good eyes. 1983 (give or take a few years). 8 March 2005. The Viking Union and Red Square. Wilkins, Richard G. "Welcome to Defend Marriage!" 2002-2003. 8 March 2005. .