Category Archives: Uncategorized

Much emphasis has been placed on Kerry’s military service record. The ubiquitous and sometimes satirized recount of his three Purple Hearts may come to mind. Kerry is using this strategy as a form of rhetorical identification. That is, in order … Continue reading →

Although the President cultivates the image of a plainspoken Texan, and despite his oft-criticized ineloquence, Bush frequently has a sense of what is appropriate to say in a given situation; however, his actual execution may veer slightly—sometimes grossly—off track. Rhetorical … Continue reading →

Clichés are generally thought of as overused or trite expressions, like “every cloud has a silver lining” or “nobody is perfect,” and hence given scant attention. Yet many clichés are what Richard Rorty calls “dead metaphors,” once new and provocative … Continue reading →

Escalation is a trope that attempts to create a sense of crisis by predicting future calamity. We’ve seen this trope repeatedly during the Presidential Debates; the most glaring example was Vice-President Cheney’s claim that if Senator Kerry were elected, the … Continue reading →

In the final debate, President Bush claimed, “God wants everybody to be free,” reiterating a theme that has been a staple of his discourse—and foreign policy— since January 2003. For Bush, such rhetoric is politically invaluable: it speaks directly to … Continue reading →

Both presidential candidates committed logical fallacies during the debates. Bush, for instance, repeatedly made use of the red herring fallacy, otherwise known as changing the subject. Ask Bush where he stands on affirmative action policies and why, and he discusses … Continue reading →

In the first two debates, President Bush delivered at least five versions of the following argument about the Iraq War: BUSH: I don’t see how you can lead this country to succeed in Iraq if you say wrong war, wrong … Continue reading →

Especially during presidential campaigns, and political debates, citizens often hear candidates and pundits claiming, with an air of dismissal, that “it’s merely rhetoric”—implying that statements are untrue, policies are unrealistic, goals are unattainable, arguers not trustworthy. The suggestion is that … Continue reading →

Carol Ammons says the Champaign County Clerk’s office has rejected hundreds of voter registrations collected during a drive by her group, C-U Citizens for Peace and Justice, and the reasons for rejection seem hard to swallow. One local man allegedly … Continue reading →

In the pouring rain Saturday, October 23, spirited members of our community marched for unity and weathered the storm. They met at two locations – Douglass Park on the North side and Scott Park on the South side – to … Continue reading →

On Friday, Oct. 15 through Sunday Oct. 17, you are invited to come over to our house – 122 N. Franklin, Urbana for House Theater! There will be 5 performances; Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 5 and 9pm, and Sunday … Continue reading →

Author’s Note: I wrote this on the day after my release from NYC jail, while sitting on a bench in an airport in Denmark and waiting for the rest of the CU Wireless crew to fly in from Chicago. We … Continue reading →

Sometime into my 43rd hour in the custody of the New York Police Department, I started to cry. “I just don’t see how we can stop this,” I pleaded with my cellmates through my tears. “I feel this country and … Continue reading →

Zoe Ginsburg, a 16 year old Urbana resident and student at University High School, was held for 37 hours before being released at 5:30 AM on Thursday morning. When she asked an officer what she was being charged with, the … Continue reading →

Zach Miller, Candidate for Champaign County Board District 9, Urbana: You know, in my neighborhood we d o n ’t really see the police that much. I think that there may be some class issues at work there…. [I]n an … Continue reading →

Acting upon their sincere concern for the community, Martell Miller and Patrick Thompson, founders of Visionaries Educating Youth and Adults (VEYA), have courageously taken the necessary steps toward change. Using a very popular piece of technology, a video camcorder, these … Continue reading →

Ben Grosser’s article discusses the larger implications of introducing at-large seats in Urbana’s city council elections. It raises serious issues. However, there is also a subtext to this story, the intriguing circumstances leading to this proposal so ardently supported by … Continue reading →

On November 2, Urbana voters will face this question on the ballot: “Shall the City of Urbana restrict the number of aldermen to a total of nine,with one alderman representing each of seven wards, plus an additional two aldermen to … Continue reading →

The following is excerpted from John G u e g u e n ’s full letter due to space con – straints. The full letter may be view at h t t p : / / w w w. u … Continue reading →

After the attacks of 9/11, the Bush administration entered into a “war on terrorism” that seemed to have little regard for the facts at hand and consequently little concern for justice. Compendia of the “lies” that led to the occupation … Continue reading →