Federal Courts the System that Shagged Me
"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
It's a successful example of reverse rhetoric. The descriptive account of pain instills the audience with sympathy, and a feeling of vindictiveness, bringing pathos into play. The article is just stating the facts, and the facts make our government look bad. 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. Clinton says ‘I feel your pain, but if you do anything about it, I'll kill you. However, the crew refused, stating they were waiting to hear Johnny Cochran speak about the double murder. 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. Additionally, there is also an interweaving of logos and pathos. 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. Most writers seem to justify their rhetoric by focusing strictly on their own logos and ethos. This article shows how rhetoric is cleverly used but under a guise of simplicity. McWilliams's is denied his right to take his medicine on the grounds that it, "amounts to a license to violate federal law. Thus, effectively playing on pathos. The writer digresses to a scene that occurred during the O.
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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