Federal Courts
"Federal Courts, the System that Shagged Me" Peter McWilliams, both an aids and cancer victim, is a self-published, best-selling author. In July 1998 he was arrested and charged with being the ringleader of a conspiracy to grow and distribute medical marijuana. As a condition of his pre-trial release, he cannot smoke marijuana even though proposition 215 states that he can for his illnesses. The magazine article, detailing his dilemma in HighTimes, (June 1999), uses clever rhetoric shrouded in simplicity to instill the reader with a defensive stance against the government. He does this primarily by destroying the opponent's credibility and logic to increase his own. The article is primarily directed toward the sub-culture audience of America. This is an audience that is constantly bombarded on by the mainstream. Although McWilliams was charged with the intent to distribute marijuana, it also happened to be his medication. Currently, he is prohibited to take his medication. Is it considered inhumane to deny the suffering the relief they so desperately need? Questions of this nature arise as well as the simple, gruesome facts of how Peter McWilliams is living a government-enforced life of
This is also moving for the audience in the sense that it brings a feeling of hope over the reader that injustice will not be tolerated. The article is just stating the facts, and the facts make our government look bad. By pointing out the mainstream's shortcomings he provides somewhat a fuel for the fire, a way to connect with his audience in retaliation. " The author now adds McWilliam's logical response to the decision, "Federal judges routinely give people authority to break federal law – every search warrant issued by a federal judge does just that – as well as stop any law Congress passed dead in its tracks by declaring it unconstitutional. " He is pointing out that the government and its people have a long history of confrontation. By showing how the media completely disregards the opinions of the subculture, he connects with his audience resulting in building his ethos incredibly high. It points out the blatant catch 22 situation for McWilliams , "And if one of his urine tests indicate that he did smoke pot, it's back behind bars, while his mother and brother lose their homes, because that's how they bailed him out. Often times, the subculture is averted and attention given strictly to the mainstream audience. Woody Harrelson came to the court hearing to show McWilliams his support. "Judge George King, whose name in the phone book is King George. " This use of logos is incredibly simple yet it conveys a huge meaning. This displays the obvious shallowness of the media. The descriptive account of pain instills the audience with sympathy, and a feeling of vindictiveness, bringing pathos into play. The NBC correspondents soon took notice of him and "immediately rushed into the hall to make a phone call to their contact at the local NBC channel.
Common topics in this essay:
Peter McWilliams,
Johnny Cochran,
HighTimes June,
Woody Harrelson,
King George,
OJ Simpson,
George King,
Hall June,
peter mcwilliams,
federal law,
opponent's ethos,
king george,
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Acceptance Essays
