Critique of the article"Pigeon Wars" by Mooallem
Author Mooallem presents the history behind the "Pigeon Wars" to indicate how long the problem has been plaguing Los Angeles, and why people are so emotional about it. Pigeons are notoriously dirty and annoying birds, and the author presents the history to indicate how people are at their wit's end with the pigeon infestation. In addition, he writes a long history to show that pigeons cannot systematically be killed, they simply return. They must be controlled using other measures. He writes, "The futility of killing pigeons is a far better established fact. An emptied niche in any eco
The history adds background to the article as well. The history is presented to add detail in the article, and most of it occurs after the introduction, which details the problem and why it is so hard to control. And pigeons are not only opportunistic, keeping a keen lay of the land, but also prolific breeders" (Mooallem 2). Yes, the structure and tone of the article show that the author is sympathetic to pigeons, and to those trying to control them. By presenting the history, the author shows what a great problem pigeons are to the community and how feeding and supporting them is counter-productive and even destructive in the end. Without it, the article would not be as interesting, it would not create emotion in the reader, and the article would not make as much sense. When the history is absent in the article, it is still in the mind of the reader, which makes the entire purpose of the article clearer. Without it, those who want to remove the pigeons might seem simply hard-hearted and cruel, and those who want to save the pigeons might be seen as rational. Thus, he shows that pigeons are hardy, have a long history, and that man is at least partially responsible for breeding them. This history adds to the interest and overall impact of the article. He tries to be a non-judgmental journalist, but ultimately, his detailed history shows that he believes humankind is responsible for domesticating and feeding the pigeons, and so it is our own fault they have become such a nuisance. He would rather control the pigeons through compassionate means, and he shows that the claims they carry disease are not as dangerous as they seem. system will rapidly be filled, either by immigrants or newborns.
Common topics in this essay:
Los Angeles,
Pigeon Wars,
Author Mooallem,
history adds,
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