Class activities. Weekly posts. Fun reads. It's all here.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Post #1
What amazing sentence, phrase, moment would you like to share from your writer/blog? Wow us with your selection and tell us why you think your selection is wow inducing. And, wow inducing can be good, bad or ugly.
18 comments:
Anonymous
said...
"Imagine, if you will, a bar with a rich, chocolate-y bottom layer. There’s no cream cheese involved in the top layer, but the taste and texture are reminiscent of cheesecake. I can only describe it as the cousin that cheesecake actually likes. The total package is a soft, chewy, delicious treat not just for summer. This kind of goodness works in any season in my kitchen."
I liked this part because it is extremely detailed and allows me to imagine the bar exactly. I could see it in my head, smell the richness, and taste the combination of flavors. This passage is an introduction to a recipe that she posted, and so I believe that this makes the reader excited about an intrigued by the treat before them. The writer does a good job of making the description relatable by making comparisons accessible to the reader. This passage makes the recipe appealing and exciting.
"When our interactions are solely motivated by downloading key data with each other, we fail to share a human connection. If we aren’t careful, hospitality and the language of service may soon become extinct."
The metaphors she used were really interesting and thought provoking. When I think of downloading key data, I think of a computer, not of human interactions. Her use of this metaphor is therefore super successful in describing how in the restaurant business, the relationships between server and customer are becoming more robotic and less personal. The next wow-word she uses is extinct. It is a strong word to use in any sentence because nothing can come back from being extinct. The idea that human hospitality could possibly become extinct is scary and her use of the word makes the reader stop and think. It could possibly even cause the reader to rethink their next interaction with a server or waiter; I know I will.
“. . . Joe Lhota, the Republican front-runner, who made news the other day when he criticized transit officials for closing down two subway lines for more than an hour after two lost kittens wandered onto the tracks. (The other candidates said they would have shut down the lines to save the cats. Anthony Weiner claimed he would have thrown his body over the electrified rail. Anthony Weiner is still not going to be elected mayor.)”
This moment in Collins’ piece on the upcoming elections for mayor of New York sums up the playful feel of her writing. The way she brings the entire supposedly serious issue of political elections down to kittens on a train track is clever and hilarious. The ludicrous nature of the writing defines the offbeat craziness of New York as a whole, and this paragraph specifically captures the height of the absurdity of the article. The playful comment in parentheses at the end of the paragraph adds a playful element to the writing. It’s strong yet silly imagery demonstrate Collins’ ability to turn an otherwise dry and unimaginative topic into a fast-paced, lively read that engages the reader. This moment cleverly defies expectations from the subject matter and makes for a really enjoyable read.
“1. I love that college football is usually played on the most perfect day of the week: Saturday. You have Friday to prepare, Sunday to celebrate/mourn and recover.”
Gene Wojciechowski wrote an article about why he loves college football. In the article, he wrote down one hundred reasons why college football is the best. Out of all the reasons, this is my favorite because it is humorous, yet his true passion for college football is clearly portrayed. Reading this line, I can picture my family sitting on the couch with chips and drinks watching football on Saturday after talking about the game the prior day. Wojciechowski does a good job having a good balance of logic, humor, and seriousness, which must have been hard to do.
"...I don’t mean feeling vaguely discontented for no reason, or even the predictability of moths exclaiming, “Plat du jour!” when they spot your new cardigan."
Even though this particular post by Financial Times writer Susan Boyt, about how parents should react to their teenagers wasn't my favorite (I didn't find her perspective to especially inspiring), I loved how she started off with a funny and off beat way of explaining predictability. I love reading things that make me laugh out loud, and the "plat du jour" anecdote really did. Humor is one of my favorite things to encounter when reading essays, especially when it is sprinkled in randomly. I look forward to seeing if this is a common thread in all Boyt's writings!
"Now, when it is clear Obama can’t convince Congress, the American public, his own wife, the world, Liz Cheney or even Donald “Shock and Awe” Rumsfeld to bomb Syria — just a teensy-weensy bit — Pooty-Poot (as W. called him) rides, shirtless, to the rescue, offering him a face-saving way out? If it were a movie, we’d know it was a trick. We can’t trust the soulless Putin — his Botox has given the former K.G.B. officer even more of a poker face — or the heartless Bashar al-Assad. By Tuesday, Putin the Peacemaker was already setting conditions."
Maureen Dowd has recently written a few posts on the situation in Syria. This paragraph in particular stood out to me because of its dramatic humor. In a circumstance as important and serious as what is happening in Syra, I would never think that using humor and truthful comedy would be a style that most writers would use. However, I think that in this case it works because she isn't joking around in an inappropriate or immature way, but she is conveying the truth through a different approach and in turn, made this post very successful and enticing to read.
"4. This is going to be fun. Unless you're on defense. Then you'd better have oxygen ready."
To give some context of this quote from one of Rick Reilly's reports, he is listing off what he knows will happen with the Philadelphia Eagles this season in the NFL. I like this quote for a couple reasons. First, Reilly starts the whole entry by mentioning a lot of facts to support why he knows the Philadelphia Eagles will have a good season by recapping the important statistics that occurred in the first game of the season verse the Washington Redskins. But then he comes to his 4th comment (the one above) and totally discontinues his fact based entry and plugs in a comedic remark about other teams' defenses. Second, while he does incorporate this comedic comment, he also describes the an event by writing what the defense of other teams will have to do rather than how they feel in result to the fast pace Eagles offense. His comedic style definitely kept me engaged while reading this entry.
"the anticipation is palpable—who is faster? The well-seasoned Kiwis who have made so few mistakes in their conquest of the Louis Vuitton Cup, while also charming the pants off the sailing fans and spectators with their slick maneuvers and team spirit? Or will it be the Americans, who’ve had the good fortune of ample resources throughout their campaign, but who are now knee-deep in muck over allegations of cheating, which could cost them races and top crewmembers?"
I found this part of the piece interesting because when I read it for the first time, I became very excited for the upcoming races. I think that she really engaged the reader through using rhetorical questions that also state facts and maybe even her own opinion. Also, many journalists that write on the America's Cup can often lose the reader with confusing language that only a hardcore sailor would truly understand. I think that this opening paragraph would drag any reader in regardless of their sailing vocabulary or even their interest in sailing. It's a great hook. And lastly I liked how she managed to sneak a little bit of her own opinion in there when she seems to doubt the Oracle boat. Many writers have portrayed Oracle as being favored while she seems to tell it like it is.
"Before the Earth stopped turning so that everyone could halt their lives and watch the confused, gyrating choreo-ethnography that was Miley Cyrus' appearance at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards..."
This was the first part of the opening sentence of Meghan Daum's essay, and it was effective because it was so humorous. To bring up Miley in such an unexpected place, intrigued me for how popular a topic she is right now and for the outrageousness currently associated with her. Daum's word choice and the imagery of the whole world stopping to watch whatever it was she was doing, made me laugh out loud. Calling it an "appearance" rather then performance, and using such a complicated and hectic scientific term paired with "confusing" to describe her movement, made it clear she was mocking the ridiculous lack of real talent. Such a cleverly crafted phrase that hooks the reader and makes them want to keep reading and see where she's going with it.
"There's no limit to the number of people who'll be stalking LeBron James now: the Fortune 100 companies, the moguls seeking relationships, the cutting-edge entrepreneurs who want to publicize their products or services and, in return, make themselves and LeBron even richer and more famous than they already are."
This first line, from an article about Lebron James' market share, is excellent for a number of reasons. This opener grabbed my attention and enticed me to read further. It also gives a nice introduction to what Wilbon would write the majority of the article about: how much Lebron is worth. An opening sentence needs to have a good balance between providing an overview of the article, while not giving away to much or boring the reader; this has that balance. There is also a little bit of comedy, with a reference to stalking Lebron, which is always a nice touch.
"As the death toll in Syria rises to Rwanda-like proportions, images of mass killings draw holy warriors from countries near and far. The radical groups are the most effective fighters and control the tempo of events. The Syrian opposition groups are themselves split violently along sectarian lines so that the country seems to face a choice between anarchy and atrocity.”
I liked this paragraph so much because David Brooks manages to describe the entire situation in Syria in such a deep and accurate way without diving too far into the actual military events. By referencing Rwanda right away, he frames Syria as more misguided death and destruction than a noble rebellion to an oppressive regime. The terms, "holy warriors" and “radical groups,” make an impact as well, bringing to mind the US's already controversial War on Terror and raising questions as to how US military action would relate to its previous Middle-Eastern endeavors. By finishing off the paragraph with an attest to the power of the “radical groups,” an overview of the less-than-ideal situation of the Free Syrian Army, and “a choice between anarchy and atrocity,” Brooks expertly destroys any optimism we may have had about the situation in Syria.
"Self-preoccupied people hit the right notes, but often so hard that they sound tinny. Self-preoccupation creates an ego that is at once overinflated, insatiable and overly sensitive. Self-preoccupation also seems to make it hard for supremely talented people like A-Rod to deal with their own talents."
This passage is very dense and packs a lot of substance into 3 sentences, but I enjoyed it despite its wordiness. David Brooks gets deeply descriptive when talking about self-preoccupied people as "overinflated, insatiable and overly sensitive"; this helps create a more complex picture of what A-Rod's ego might look like. I also enjoyed the repetition that David Brooks employed in this passage. Though "self-preoccupation" is a bit of a mouthful, it gave this short passage more of a punch, and made it stick out from the rest of the article. As this line is a good thesis for the rest of the article, I like that it stood out.
"All I’m saying is that anybody who was willing to publicize his connection to the murder of a president of the United States would not have been shy about bringing up Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
Case closed."
Gail Collins uses a little humor and knowledge to make her point in her article. This passage "wowed" me because she points out such a small detail in the matter of the Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King tennis match, but yet it was all she needed to get her opinion across to her readers. Gail Collins manages to defend female tennis players in others attempt to diminish their accomplishment.
"These two teams are so evenly matched and so close to their ultimate goal, that it fuels the fire between them every time they share the field. This rivalry has intensified with every day. And when the opportunity arises for them to actually line up and hit each other, forget about it."
This comment is talking about the intense game that is about to take place between the 49ers and the Seahawks. I really like this piece of writing because I like the way the author uses language to really fire up the readers about the game. The way he says "it fuels the fire", "intensified rivalry", and opportunity to hit each other", really interested me. It got me much more hooked on to the article and it made me even more excited to watch this exciting showdown between the 49ers and the Seahawks.
"Yet after a three-month transfer saga and clumsy utterances from player and club, not to mention his surprisingly swift return to action from injury, Sept 14 may ultimately go down as the day that Rooney turned the leaf on a new, positive chapter in his career."
Here, Mark Ogden is talking about Wayne Rooney after his win on the weekend over Crystal Palace with Manchester United. In this paragraph, he sums up Rooneys past three months with swift, articulated sentences. He uses the word saga to represent how highly anticipated Rooney's progress as a player was followe this summer. He expresses all the elements that Rooney brought to the public, from public utterances to a highly questionable injury. Although, yesterday (sept 14) Rooney fired a free kick of crystal palace defenders to secure the win. At this moment all his drama was forgotten and happiness was scattered all over united fans faces. The reason why I chose this paragraph was because I thought this was the thesis for the article. This concise and creative paragraph illustrates everything going on with the incredible Wayne Rooney.
"The films got going at 8 p.m. with the ever popular 'The Wallisch Project'. Many ski fans have already witnessed the greatness that Mr. Wallisch and Mr. Decker have put together, and when the familiar opening grooves from Frankie Vallie flooded the crowd’s eardrums, their eyes were subsequently glued to the screen."
I chose this particular couple of sentences out of Donny O'Neill's article on the kick off of the IF3 awards, for several different reasons. First of all, in describing the audiences initial reactions to the short film's intro his imagery is captivating and makes me feel like I am in Montreal experiencing it myself. It is his specific choice of words though that strikes me as a bit off-putting due to recent events. Colorado (specifically Boulder) is home to some of the best freeskiers in the world as well as the urban playground specifically featured countlessly in the films being screened at IF3, and has recently experienced massive flash floods and property damage. To say the music "flooded the crowd's eardrum" slightly shocked me and really made me think about whether that was a well though out word choice or not. The contrast between everything I liked in the quote and the minor "wow" I experienced regarding O'Neill's word choice was very interesting to me.
"In short, the mere flexing of military power worked — initially and tentatively. And while it seems that neither Congress nor the public has any appetite for cruise missile strikes on Syria, it will be critical to keep the military option alive in the coming weeks or Russia and Syria will play us like a yo-yo."
In this short paragraph, Nicholas D. Kristof defends Obama's decision to call for military strikes on Syria. The way in which he uses the word "flexing" calls to mind a powerful image which supported his later commentary on the unpopular missile strikes. He is very descriptive and uses his understanding of the opponents' perspective to strengthen his own argument. Kristof explains the cruciality of keeping "the military option alive" in the middle of his piece, and later discusses potential consequences of faltering on this firm approach. His utilization of the metaphor of the "yo-yo" really helped to further expand on America's precarious situation with Russia and Syria.
18 comments:
"Imagine, if you will, a bar with a rich, chocolate-y bottom layer. There’s no cream cheese involved in the top layer, but the taste and texture are reminiscent of cheesecake. I can only describe it as the cousin that cheesecake actually likes. The total package is a soft, chewy, delicious treat not just for summer. This kind of goodness works in any season in my kitchen."
I liked this part because it is extremely detailed and allows me to imagine the bar exactly. I could see it in my head, smell the richness, and taste the combination of flavors. This passage is an introduction to a recipe that she posted, and so I believe that this makes the reader excited about an intrigued by the treat before them. The writer does a good job of making the description relatable by making comparisons accessible to the reader. This passage makes the recipe appealing and exciting.
"When our interactions are solely motivated by downloading key data with each other, we fail to share a human connection. If we aren’t careful, hospitality and the language of service may soon become extinct."
The metaphors she used were really interesting and thought provoking. When I think of downloading key data, I think of a computer, not of human interactions. Her use of this metaphor is therefore super successful in describing how in the restaurant business, the relationships between server and customer are becoming more robotic and less personal. The next wow-word she uses is extinct. It is a strong word to use in any sentence because nothing can come back from being extinct. The idea that human hospitality could possibly become extinct is scary and her use of the word makes the reader stop and think. It could possibly even cause the reader to rethink their next interaction with a server or waiter; I know I will.
“. . . Joe Lhota, the Republican front-runner, who made news the other day when he criticized transit officials for closing down two subway lines for more than an hour after two lost kittens wandered onto the tracks. (The other candidates said they would have shut down the lines to save the cats. Anthony Weiner claimed he would have thrown his body over the electrified rail. Anthony Weiner is still not going to be elected mayor.)”
This moment in Collins’ piece on the upcoming elections for mayor of New York sums up the playful feel of her writing. The way she brings the entire supposedly serious issue of political elections down to kittens on a train track is clever and hilarious. The ludicrous nature of the writing defines the offbeat craziness of New York as a whole, and this paragraph specifically captures the height of the absurdity of the article. The playful comment in parentheses at the end of the paragraph adds a playful element to the writing. It’s strong yet silly imagery demonstrate Collins’ ability to turn an otherwise dry and unimaginative topic into a fast-paced, lively read that engages the reader. This moment cleverly defies expectations from the subject matter and makes for a really enjoyable read.
“1. I love that college football is usually played on the most perfect day of the week: Saturday. You have Friday to prepare, Sunday to celebrate/mourn and recover.”
Gene Wojciechowski wrote an article about why he loves college football. In the article, he wrote down one hundred reasons why college football is the best. Out of all the reasons, this is my favorite because it is humorous, yet his true passion for college football is clearly portrayed. Reading this line, I can picture my family sitting on the couch with chips and drinks watching football on Saturday after talking about the game the prior day. Wojciechowski does a good job having a good balance of logic, humor, and seriousness, which must have been hard to do.
"...I don’t mean feeling vaguely discontented for no reason, or even the predictability of moths exclaiming, “Plat du jour!” when they spot your new cardigan."
Even though this particular post by Financial Times writer Susan Boyt, about how parents should react to their teenagers wasn't my favorite (I didn't find her perspective to especially inspiring), I loved how she started off with a funny and off beat way of explaining predictability. I love reading things that make me laugh out loud, and the "plat du jour" anecdote really did. Humor is one of my favorite things to encounter when reading essays, especially when it is sprinkled in randomly. I look forward to seeing if this is a common thread in all Boyt's writings!
"Now, when it is clear Obama can’t convince Congress, the American public, his own wife, the world, Liz Cheney or even Donald “Shock and Awe” Rumsfeld to bomb Syria — just a teensy-weensy bit — Pooty-Poot (as W. called him) rides, shirtless, to the rescue, offering him a face-saving way out? If it were a movie, we’d know it was a trick. We can’t trust the soulless Putin — his Botox has given the former K.G.B. officer even more of a poker face — or the heartless Bashar al-Assad. By Tuesday, Putin the Peacemaker was already setting conditions."
Maureen Dowd has recently written a few posts on the situation in Syria. This paragraph in particular stood out to me because of its dramatic humor. In a circumstance as important and serious as what is happening in Syra, I would never think that using humor and truthful comedy would be a style that most writers would use. However, I think that in this case it works because she isn't joking around in an inappropriate or immature way, but she is conveying the truth through a different approach and in turn, made this post very successful and enticing to read.
"4. This is going to be fun. Unless you're on defense. Then you'd better have oxygen ready."
To give some context of this quote from one of Rick Reilly's reports, he is listing off what he knows will happen with the Philadelphia Eagles this season in the NFL. I like this quote for a couple reasons. First, Reilly starts the whole entry by mentioning a lot of facts to support why he knows the Philadelphia Eagles will have a good season by recapping the important statistics that occurred in the first game of the season verse the Washington Redskins. But then he comes to his 4th comment (the one above) and totally discontinues his fact based entry and plugs in a comedic remark about other teams' defenses. Second, while he does incorporate this comedic comment, he also describes the an event by writing what the defense of other teams will have to do rather than how they feel in result to the fast pace Eagles offense. His comedic style definitely kept me engaged while reading this entry.
"the anticipation is palpable—who is faster? The well-seasoned Kiwis who have made so few mistakes in their conquest of the Louis Vuitton Cup, while also charming the pants off the sailing fans and spectators with their slick maneuvers and team spirit? Or will it be the Americans, who’ve had the good fortune of ample resources throughout their campaign, but who are now knee-deep in muck over allegations of cheating, which could cost them races and top crewmembers?"
I found this part of the piece interesting because when I read it for the first time, I became very excited for the upcoming races. I think that she really engaged the reader through using rhetorical questions that also state facts and maybe even her own opinion. Also, many journalists that write on the America's Cup can often lose the reader with confusing language that only a hardcore sailor would truly understand. I think that this opening paragraph would drag any reader in regardless of their sailing vocabulary or even their interest in sailing. It's a great hook. And lastly I liked how she managed to sneak a little bit of her own opinion in there when she seems to doubt the Oracle boat. Many writers have portrayed Oracle as being favored while she seems to tell it like it is.
"Before the Earth stopped turning so that everyone could halt their lives and watch the confused, gyrating choreo-ethnography that was Miley Cyrus' appearance at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards..."
This was the first part of the opening sentence of Meghan Daum's essay, and it was effective because it was so humorous. To bring up Miley in such an unexpected place, intrigued me for how popular a topic she is right now and for the outrageousness currently associated with her. Daum's word choice and the imagery of the whole world stopping to watch whatever it was she was doing, made me laugh out loud. Calling it an "appearance" rather then performance, and using such a complicated and hectic scientific term paired with "confusing" to describe her movement, made it clear she was mocking the ridiculous lack of real talent. Such a cleverly crafted phrase that hooks the reader and makes them want to keep reading and see where she's going with it.
"There's no limit to the number of people who'll be stalking LeBron James now: the Fortune 100 companies, the moguls seeking relationships, the cutting-edge entrepreneurs who want to publicize their products or services and, in return, make themselves and LeBron even richer and more famous than they already are."
This first line, from an article about Lebron James' market share, is excellent for a number of reasons. This opener grabbed my attention and enticed me to read further. It also gives a nice introduction to what Wilbon would write the majority of the article about: how much Lebron is worth. An opening sentence needs to have a good balance between providing an overview of the article, while not giving away to much or boring the reader; this has that balance. There is also a little bit of comedy, with a reference to stalking Lebron, which is always a nice touch.
"As the death toll in Syria rises to Rwanda-like proportions, images of mass killings draw holy warriors from countries near and far. The radical groups are the most effective fighters and control the tempo of events. The Syrian opposition groups are themselves split violently along sectarian lines so that the country seems to face a choice between anarchy and atrocity.”
I liked this paragraph so much because David Brooks manages to describe the entire situation in Syria in such a deep and accurate way without diving too far into the actual military events. By referencing Rwanda right away, he frames Syria as more misguided death and destruction than a noble rebellion to an oppressive regime. The terms, "holy warriors" and “radical groups,” make an impact as well, bringing to mind the US's already controversial War on Terror and raising questions as to how US military action would relate to its previous Middle-Eastern endeavors. By finishing off the paragraph with an attest to the power of the “radical groups,” an overview of the less-than-ideal situation of the Free Syrian Army, and “a choice between anarchy and atrocity,” Brooks expertly destroys any optimism we may have had about the situation in Syria.
"Self-preoccupied people hit the right notes, but often so hard that they sound tinny. Self-preoccupation creates an ego that is at once overinflated, insatiable and overly sensitive. Self-preoccupation also seems to make it hard for supremely talented people like A-Rod to deal with their own talents."
This passage is very dense and packs a lot of substance into 3 sentences, but I enjoyed it despite its wordiness. David Brooks gets deeply descriptive when talking about self-preoccupied people as "overinflated, insatiable and overly sensitive"; this helps create a more complex picture of what A-Rod's ego might look like. I also enjoyed the repetition that David Brooks employed in this passage. Though "self-preoccupation" is a bit of a mouthful, it gave this short passage more of a punch, and made it stick out from the rest of the article. As this line is a good thesis for the rest of the article, I like that it stood out.
"All I’m saying is that anybody who was willing to publicize his connection to the murder of a president of the United States would not have been shy about bringing up Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
Case closed."
Gail Collins uses a little humor and knowledge to make her point in her article. This passage "wowed" me because she points out such a small detail in the matter of the Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King tennis match, but yet it was all she needed to get her opinion across to her readers. Gail Collins manages to defend female tennis players in others attempt to diminish their accomplishment.
"These two teams are so evenly matched and so close to their ultimate goal, that it fuels the fire between them every time they share the field. This rivalry has intensified with every day. And when the opportunity arises for them to actually line up and hit each other, forget about it."
This comment is talking about the intense game that is about to take place between the 49ers and the Seahawks. I really like this piece of writing because I like the way the author uses language to really fire up the readers about the game. The way he says "it fuels the fire", "intensified rivalry", and opportunity to hit each other", really interested me. It got me much more hooked on to the article and it made me even more excited to watch this exciting showdown between the 49ers and the Seahawks.
"Yet after a three-month transfer saga and clumsy utterances from player and club, not to mention his surprisingly swift return to action from injury, Sept 14 may ultimately go down as the day that Rooney turned the leaf on a new, positive chapter in his career."
Here, Mark Ogden is talking about Wayne Rooney after his win on the weekend over Crystal Palace with Manchester United. In this paragraph, he sums up Rooneys past three months with swift, articulated sentences. He uses the word saga to represent how highly anticipated Rooney's progress as a player was followe this summer. He expresses all the elements that Rooney brought to the public, from public utterances to a highly questionable injury. Although, yesterday (sept 14) Rooney fired a free kick of crystal palace defenders to secure the win. At this moment all his drama was forgotten and happiness was scattered all over united fans faces. The reason why I chose this paragraph was because I thought this was the thesis for the article. This concise and creative paragraph illustrates everything going on with the incredible Wayne Rooney.
"The films got going at 8 p.m. with the ever popular 'The Wallisch Project'. Many ski fans have already witnessed the greatness that Mr. Wallisch and Mr. Decker have put together, and when the familiar opening grooves from Frankie Vallie flooded the crowd’s eardrums, their eyes were subsequently glued to the screen."
I chose this particular couple of sentences out of Donny O'Neill's article on the kick off of the IF3 awards, for several different reasons. First of all, in describing the audiences initial reactions to the short film's intro his imagery is captivating and makes me feel like I am in Montreal experiencing it myself. It is his specific choice of words though that strikes me as a bit off-putting due to recent events. Colorado (specifically Boulder) is home to some of the best freeskiers in the world as well as the urban playground specifically featured countlessly in the films being screened at IF3, and has recently experienced massive flash floods and property damage. To say the music "flooded the crowd's eardrum" slightly shocked me and really made me think about whether that was a well though out word choice or not. The contrast between everything I liked in the quote and the minor "wow" I experienced regarding O'Neill's word choice was very interesting to me.
"In short, the mere flexing of military power worked — initially and tentatively. And while it seems that neither Congress nor the public has any appetite for cruise missile strikes on Syria, it will be critical to keep the military option alive in the coming weeks or Russia and Syria will play us like a yo-yo."
In this short paragraph, Nicholas D. Kristof defends Obama's decision to call for military strikes on Syria. The way in which he uses the word "flexing" calls to mind a powerful image which supported his later commentary on the unpopular missile strikes. He is very descriptive and uses his understanding of the opponents' perspective to strengthen his own argument. Kristof explains the cruciality of keeping "the military option alive" in the middle of his piece, and later discusses potential consequences of faltering on this firm approach. His utilization of the metaphor of the "yo-yo" really helped to further expand on America's precarious situation with Russia and Syria.
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