While reading Stephen Lewis’s “Pandemic: My Country is on its Knees” I questioned why and how people can know about these things and still am able to just go on with our life like we didn’t know. How even though many of us care a majority will do nothing because it does not directly affect us. Stephen falls in love with Africa and its attempt to free its people. Returning quite a few years later he finds a different Africa that is discouraging because of its pandemic of AIDS. While reading this essay I find myself thinking about the numerous times I have seen TV programming asking me to sponsor a child. Many of the things that Stephen talks about, I can honestly say do not shock me. Knowing what Africa is going through and doing nothing about it makes me feel ashamed not of just myself as an individual but as a Canadian as well. I think he is trying to shed some light on what the people of Africa are going through. The intended audience are Canadians of all ages, which it is not hard to compare what we have and what they don’t and to think something needs to be done. The writer does use pathos, which is an emotional appeal and he does this by using many of his own experiences while visiting Africa. Using the examples is very effective and makes it hard to disconnect from the situation that he is presenting. This in turn makes a very convincing essay.
Do you agree with Stephen that this problem should be more than just Africa’s problem?
YES! It should be a global problem! As a first world country with the resources to help, we should feel and obligation to help. As goes for all first world countries. :)
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Kelsey. We have an obligation to one another. That's what seperates us from animals eventhough some animals do a better job at taking care of each other than we do. I believe that we should "do unto others as we want other to do unto us." The world would be missing out if a whole population of people are irradicated by something controllable and that's truely a shame.
ReplyDeleteI agree he was using pathos.. i think it was the best way to get his point across.. reading the personal experiences was heart breaking and there was so much detail.
ReplyDeleteYes! It is a global issue and should be seen as a significant obstacle to overcome through the international community. The Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa has suffered from a lack of funding and political obstacles occurring in many of the richest nations. It is important for us to stand up for the battle and assist in what we can.I also appreciate how you worded your feelings as being "ashamed not of just myself as an individual but as a Canadian as well". I think a lot of people who read that feel the same way.
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