In her article on the 15th of October named, "A Little Ebola Panic might be helpful", Kathleen Parker, an opinion writer of the Washington Post, asserts that the U.S has not taken the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of ebola, and that the current epidemic of this fatal disease in the U.s might push the country in the right direction. The urgency of this issue is highlighted in her sarcastic tone of writing, the statistics provided, and suggestions on how to improve the current situation. Parker's piece suggests that even first world countries can't control the outbreak of ebola in order to make her readers aware about the seriousness of the issue, and that the matter should not be taken lightly. Her audience consists of government agencies, healthcare workers, and worried Americans who are confused about the real threat of ebola, and how to react to the disease. Parker employs a tone of sarcasm, humor, and urgency.
Kathleen organizes her piece fluidly by first addressing the issue and providing a background, then she questions the authorities on the actions taken so far, and finally provides advice to the government, and people in authority, while appealing to the common sense of regular American citizens.
In the beginning Parker has a sarcastic tone as she explains that a second health care worker has contracted ebola, yet "this is no reason to panic." as said by the Dallas County Judge. She finds it funny how a worker in full protective gear contracted ebola, but still America assures their citizens how panic should not be one of their emotions. She appeals to the regular American citizens in this part because she knows how they are kept in the dark about what is really going on behind closed doors. The author gains credibility by asserting "We are supposed to find consolation..." and thereby including herself among the masses. She appeals to most of her audience by sharing in their lack of knowledge and inexperience. It is also well researched because she uses facts like "within 90 minutes, we are told, she was in isolation.", and providing specific numbers to gain trust. Parker asks later argues "Really? It took an hour and a half to isolate someone most likely infected with Ebola?, using a rhetorical question to discuss the insufficiency if the healthcare system. In a way this was one-sided because she does not take into effect that ebola was unheard of in the U.S in the 21st century, and America was unprepared for Thomas Duncan, and cases following him.
Then the author reprimands the health care system for the mistakes they have made so far such as the bogus "laser temperature" and the "questionnaire" which people could lie on like Thomas Duncan did. This creates an indignant emotion within the majority if her audience who trusts the healthcare system, and their country to keep them safe. Then she uses another logical example saying that the spread of Ebola might be "connected to the lack of precision in the wearing of protective gear" to prove that the measure in effect now are simply not enough. Then she asks the rhetorical question "...one’s own noggin, might we prevent more cases from arriving to our shores?" to make the system contemplate on their wrongdoings and wonder if they can improve the system for the better. Her title "A little Ebola panic might be helpful" underlines her purpose because she claims that the terrifying thought if two protected healthcare workers contracting the disease forces the citizens, and government to consider that the safety precautions in effect now might not be effective enough.
Lastly she suggest simple ways using her own "noggin" to address the issue. She says "why not quarantine every traveler who has visited or lived in an infected country" and providing a foolproof way to assure her safety. She says that yes these measures might raise a civil case but asserts that "[her] proposal may not be foolproof, but anything less may prove us fools." She says these people should be made "heroes" and treated with care for giving up their freedom for the well being of others. She bluntly points out that "extreme circumstances require extreme measures' , and playing nice will just lead to the downfall of America.
For me this piece raises the question of the eligibility of America to really contain the disease, and how many more people has to contract Ebola before they learn. I wondered if America really has everything under control as they promise or if they are blindly panicking on the inside, while putting on a calm show in the outside.
Kathleen organizes her piece fluidly by first addressing the issue and providing a background, then she questions the authorities on the actions taken so far, and finally provides advice to the government, and people in authority, while appealing to the common sense of regular American citizens.
In the beginning Parker has a sarcastic tone as she explains that a second health care worker has contracted ebola, yet "this is no reason to panic." as said by the Dallas County Judge. She finds it funny how a worker in full protective gear contracted ebola, but still America assures their citizens how panic should not be one of their emotions. She appeals to the regular American citizens in this part because she knows how they are kept in the dark about what is really going on behind closed doors. The author gains credibility by asserting "We are supposed to find consolation..." and thereby including herself among the masses. She appeals to most of her audience by sharing in their lack of knowledge and inexperience. It is also well researched because she uses facts like "within 90 minutes, we are told, she was in isolation.", and providing specific numbers to gain trust. Parker asks later argues "Really? It took an hour and a half to isolate someone most likely infected with Ebola?, using a rhetorical question to discuss the insufficiency if the healthcare system. In a way this was one-sided because she does not take into effect that ebola was unheard of in the U.S in the 21st century, and America was unprepared for Thomas Duncan, and cases following him.
Then the author reprimands the health care system for the mistakes they have made so far such as the bogus "laser temperature" and the "questionnaire" which people could lie on like Thomas Duncan did. This creates an indignant emotion within the majority if her audience who trusts the healthcare system, and their country to keep them safe. Then she uses another logical example saying that the spread of Ebola might be "connected to the lack of precision in the wearing of protective gear" to prove that the measure in effect now are simply not enough. Then she asks the rhetorical question "...one’s own noggin, might we prevent more cases from arriving to our shores?" to make the system contemplate on their wrongdoings and wonder if they can improve the system for the better. Her title "A little Ebola panic might be helpful" underlines her purpose because she claims that the terrifying thought if two protected healthcare workers contracting the disease forces the citizens, and government to consider that the safety precautions in effect now might not be effective enough.
Lastly she suggest simple ways using her own "noggin" to address the issue. She says "why not quarantine every traveler who has visited or lived in an infected country" and providing a foolproof way to assure her safety. She says that yes these measures might raise a civil case but asserts that "[her] proposal may not be foolproof, but anything less may prove us fools." She says these people should be made "heroes" and treated with care for giving up their freedom for the well being of others. She bluntly points out that "extreme circumstances require extreme measures' , and playing nice will just lead to the downfall of America.
For me this piece raises the question of the eligibility of America to really contain the disease, and how many more people has to contract Ebola before they learn. I wondered if America really has everything under control as they promise or if they are blindly panicking on the inside, while putting on a calm show in the outside.