Newspaper comparison

The story of Luis Posada Carriles is one of intrigue. Apparently, he received training from the CIA in the early 1960s and currently he is the main suspect in a Cuban airline bombing that killed 73 civilians in 1976. He also stands accused of numerous assassination threats against the Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Carrlies, a Venezuelan citizen, has been on the run ever since. Things became interesting in May when he turned up in Miami and started holding impromptu press conferences. This prompted the government of Venezuela to request his extradition. Just days ago in El Paso, immigration Judge William L. Abbott ruled that he would not be deported to Venezuela (a ruling five months in the making).

The local newspapers and opinion in Venezuela have been astounded by the US response. They are quick to point out the hypocrisy displayed by the United States in their failure to deport him to Venezuela stating:

There is a cynical double standard at work here fighting an 'Â a la carte' war on terror. On the one hand, the United States presents itself to the world as the leader of a global war against terrorism, invades countries it accuses of terrorism and restricts the civil rights of Americans in order to combat terrorism.

On the other hand, when it comes to its own terrorist whom it has recruited and coddled for years, the United States refuses to allow that he is tried for some of the heinous crimes he has committed.

However, our local papers have painted the suspected terrorist as a 'Cuban militant'. They do cite various sides of the issue. This includes his defense that he would be tortured Venezuelala, as well state an opposing view from the director of the Cuban Defense League. Elena Freyre states "It seems to me that this would have been exactly what this administration would not have wanted in this particular case. What we have here is a very elegant, if you want to call it that, or sneaky, if you want to call it that, maneuver to allow him to remain in this country."

What is interesting to me is that our government cites the Convention Against Torture which was adopted by the United Nations in 1984. Since when have we cited, or cared for international law in recent years? It does seem that the U.S. has conflicting interests, which areitherer zealously pursue 'evildoers' or to maintain a strong anti-Cuban policy. Ahhh, politics. Its all so awkward sometimes.

Modern Rhetoric

rhet·o·ric
Pronunciation: 're-t&-rik
Function: noun
1 : the art of speaking or writing effectively: as a : the study of principles and rules of composition formulated by critics of ancient times b : the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion
2 a : skill in the effective use of speech b : a type or mode of language or speech; also : insincere or grandiloquent language
3 : verbal communication : DISCOURSE

I left Florida in 1999 for the military. I was in Missouri for a few months and then I was in Arlington, Virginia for the next four and a half years. At any given time, leaving a familiar environment for a new one will be cause for adaptation. A new landscape rose before me. My vernacular was enhanced to include words like hill, ridge, and valley. Those features became very comfortable. After a few years away from home, I returned for a short visit. The first thing I noticed wasn't the fact that everything was flat, but there were all kinds of billboards polluting my vision.

They appeared in the Carolinas as I traveled southbound on Interstate 95. At first a small trickle, these man made wonders slowly eased there way into my subconscious. By the time I reached the Sunshine State it was nothing to see five or six within my field of vision. Most were lovingly adored with a small seal at the bottom and centered that read either 'Viacom' or 'Clear Channel'. I had forgotten about the modern pièce de résistance of our consumer society. I tried in vain to place these images in their former residence: the Seventh Layer of Hell in my subconscious. It was a miserable failure. I rediscovered what I had left: a Florida that lost its soul in the 1930's when tourism took over.

In general, most of us do not have a problem with these signs, and the few that do are often outnumbered and outgunned. Billboards support a multi-billion dollar annual industry that rakes in cash surprisingly well. Most incorporate relatively small agencies and generate massive revenue for a parent company. This advertising medium employs the use of color, picture, and a catchy jargon to get their message to you, the consumer. Billboards persuade and argue using a form of written communication. However mutated from gracefulness they are, they are one of the most prominent forms of rhetoric in modern America.