ERH-102 BTF Rhetorical Analysis

The documentary, Between Two Fires tells of the atrocities committed by American soldiers on Russian POW’s at the end of WWII at Fort Dix, NJ. The story told is one of embarrassment for the U.S. government and tragedy for the Russian soldiers held captive for sympathizing with Hitler’s Nazi regime. Through the use of personal interviews and actual footage uncovered from that time period, the film presents both sides of the situation through the use of appeals to portray both sides of the situation. The creators of the film, Doug and Mattie Smith, project an unbiased viewpoint on the subject and it is apparent that it is his objective to bring to light this event that is commonly overlooked and so little known about. The narration of the film and the use of audio and visual aids by the creator sets the tone and genre to one that is informative. The Mr. and Mrs. Smith successfully establish an informative tone that is unbiased and uses personal interviews and extensive research to bring to light an event in history that is commonly overlooked.

The creators of the documentary, Between Two Fires use an informative tone as the basis for the film to project an unbiased viewpoint on the subject. The creator is careful to not make appeals that can alter the tone of the film and make an argument that is two-sided or detract from the main focus of the film. To prove that this is the creator’s intent, the filmmaker’s expertise is in history and not the art of producing films. This also adds to Mr. Smith’s credibility since it shows that he means to create an accurate representation of what actually occurred and not include details that maybe embellished. The interviews conducted during the film were emphasized as the main source of emotion which creates a subtle argument for human rights and does not condone the actions of the American guards. The emotional side of the film, backed by solid evidence of the events that occurred give Mr. and Mrs. Smith credibility because it is proven fact. Given the creator’s background as anti-communist and Jewish, the film’s angle of vision still stands as informative be omitting personal appeals on the subject matter and rather keeping the evidence within the context of the event. Through the use of firsthand accounts, archival footage, and the creator’s background in history, the film’s genre is credible and apparent as a source of information rather than a two sided argument.

The film addresses those who maybe uneducated on the subject and for those who may be researching this particular event. For an audience to find this film persuasive, they would have to have an unbiased view on the subject or have an understanding of the events that occurred at Fort Dix. The film does a decent job at suiting its particular audience because it stands as an informative piece which most audiences would find very persuasive because of the emotional appeals in the film brought in through the interviews and actual footage. As an informative piece, the creator successfully uses concrete language and imagery to support the goal of educating people on this subject. The film expresses the emotions of the Russian prisoners facing forced repatriation and possible death upon returning to Russia. Facing the predicament between suicide and possible death upon returning to their homeland, the emotions both sides felt is accurately portrayed and described through the interviews as a classic case of moral ambiguity and politics. The emotions created in the interview help to drive the point home about the tragedies that occurred at Fort Dix and the issues with morality. Using personal interviews, the film creates an unbiased viewpoint as well as the use of archival footage to back up the claims of the interviewees and appeal to a general audience of people of varying levels of knowledge on this topic.

Overall, the film stands as an unbiased film that addresses an issue in our military history that involves horrible crimes being committed and tragedy. It examines the awful and tragic predicament the Russian prisoners faced and the sorrowful Americans that experienced this firsthand. Forced repatriation violated the Geneva Convention and this event is a rare case where the U.S. was in violation of international law. In the face of desperation, the POWs, resented by both nations, faced life changing decisions and they are brought to life in this film. Douglas Smith creates an unbiased and informative based argument on the necessity of basic human rights in this situation through the use of personal interviews and solidified by the use of rare footage documenting the events. This film brings to life, through personal interviews, imagery and descriptive language to create an informative documentary that uses a neutral stance in language to describe the tragedy that happened at Fort Dix.

Liebl MA

ERH-102

Mrs. Mattie Smith

Help Received: None

Capital Punishment in Today’s Society

The death penalty is a highly contested issue in regards to legality, ethics, and methods throughout the world. Currently, the sentencing of people to death is used only against the world’s toughest criminals and in most cases the general public can agree that the executions are justifiable. Executions have been known to act as a deterrent for future criminal acts and put to death those who really are dangers to society. However, issues surrounding the legality and morality of the death penalty have arisen. The methods in which criminals are executed, people being found innocent following incarceration and whether it works as an effective deterrent have been contested amongst scholars and editors constantly. The death penalty has been responsible for more issues than positive results to society. As a deterrent, little evidence has shown significant reduction in violent crime and spending the rest of your life locked in a prison is viewed by many as a worse punishment than execution. The death penalty does little benefit to society in terms of crime rate and solving financial issues and has no place in the modern judicial system as a form of punishment no matter the crime.

The death penalty has also been subject to much scrutiny in recent years. This has been due to many factors including financial issues, the deterrent factor and the fact that it sends the wrong message to the public about executing those who have killed others as a way of justification. The execution of even the world’s most dangerous criminals is most often viewed in a negative light due to its barbaric nature and the fact that it costs taxpayers large sums of money. This is due to the longevity of the trials and the countless appeals processes that may result. According to BalancedPoltics.org, it is not uncommon for death row criminals to be held for upwards of 15-20 years (Messerli). Additionally, the endless hearings, trials and appeals lead to a clog in the court system since cases involving in capital punishment tend to get the most attention by judicial officials. Abolishing the death penalty would free up the court system, allowing citizens the right to a speedy trial as granted in the constitution. We live in a society based on second chances. The days of sentencing people to death have long since passed except for rare cases involving extremely violent crime and even then only a few states support capital punishment. It serves little purpose in showing those found guilty the true consequence of committing a violent crime which should be, instead of death, a lifelong term in prison in the most extreme cases.

Aside from the judicial issues, the death penalty is often falsely advertised to be a deterrent from violent crime when most evidence has shown no connection to execution halting violent crime. According to one source, “…violent crimes such as murder are often illogical and expressive acts…” (Smith). Which means that in most cases acts of violent crime are not premeditated, proving that there is no relationship between execution rates and violent crime rates. Some see the death penalty as a justifiable way of punishing a criminal for their acts, but some see it in a different light.  Those supporting the abolishment of the death penalty would agree that capital punishment is barbaric in nature and that the “eye for an eye” mentality behind the execution of violent criminals is cruel and unnecessary. Executing convicted criminals will only send a message that it is acceptable to use killing as a way of settling crime, bringing our current post-modern society back into the dark ages. The general public needs to understand that there are more ways than one to solve a court case involving violent crime rather than just executing the convicted felon. The death penalty sends the wrong message to society. It attempts to show the population what the consequence is for committing a crime against another human being can be, when it only promotes violence towards one another.

One case that questions the credibility of the death penalty is the case of Marvin Wilson, who in 2012 was wrongfully executed. The journal describes how Wilson was denied a stay of execution even after it was revealed that his IQ was equivalent to that of an elementary school child. (Smith). According to the source, Wilson’s lawyers cited the 2002 court case, Atkins v. Virginia which grants a stay of execution to the mentally impaired. The Court denied this request and Wilson remained on death row until his execution in 2012. This case goes to show how the voice of one, outweighs the voices of many. The Supreme Court denied the stay of execution despite evidence and a federal court case that outlaws the execution of the mentally impaired proving the death penalty to be illegal in his case. Cases such as Marvin Wilson’s are real world examples of why the death penalty should be outlawed in our society.

In November of 1959, a very brutal and unexpected event occurred that forever changed the way the public views capital punishment. In a small town in Kansas called Holcomb, the Clutter family was brutally murdered in their home. After a lengthy investigation and months of tracking, the police took into custody two suspects who were later tried and found guilty of murder of the family. This case inspired author Truman Capote to write the acclaimed novel, “In Cold Blood” following his research. His work captured the attention of the nation and peoples view on capital punishment. Capote, who is against capital punishment, was interviewed by William Buckley on the show, Firing Line in 1968 where he discusses capital punishment as a deterrent for future crime. Truman Capote tells Buckley that he is against capital punishment but, “for quite different reasons than are usually advanced…” (Capote). Having seen firsthand and interviewed Perry Smith and Richard Hickock, the two men convicted of murdering the Clutter Family, Capote describes that if systematically applied, the death penalty would be an effective deterrent. However, because of the endless appeals process and lack of public sentiment, the cases are prolonged up to fifteen years in some cases giving those willing to commit such crimes, more motivation to kill knowing that he or she won’t be executed right away. Capote goes even further saying that this prolonging of capital punishment can be considered cruel and unusual. In the book, “In Cold Blood”, Capote describes how the death penalty was abolished in Kansas, but reinstated in the 1930’s due to increasing levels of criminal activity in the Midwest (Capote 310-311). However the Governor of Kansas at the time of the murders, George Docking, who was against the use of capital punishment lost the gubernatorial race partly due to his stance on the issue. Once he left office in 1960, the execution of Smith and Hickock, took place later that same year. Truman Capote dedicated a large portion of his life to studying the Clutter Family murder case and what set off the Death Row inmates to commit such acts of violence. He has a unique stance on the issue, because argues the way the United States deals with death row inmates. In Capote’s interview with Buckley Capote states, “… be a singularly effective deterrent if it were, in fact, systematically applied.” (Capote), meaning if it were carried out expediently instead of stretched out over the course of many years due to appeals processes, capital punishment would do a better job as a deterrent in our society.

The death penalty is a very highly contested issue across the nation. As of now, the nation is divided in which states allow it and which states don’t. While it is effective in eliminating the most dangerous convicted felons from our society, it is ineffective in solving the issue of violent crime. Murders and other types of violent crime are still omnipotent today and portions of the general public living in high crime areas continue to live in fear of a shooting or stabbing whether premeditated or not. Capital punishment only provokes the “eye for an eye” mentality justifying the execution of convicted criminals. The death penalty only hinders the ability for our judicial system to seek justice because it is a medieval way of dealing with issues in our post-modern society.

Works Cited

1. BMJ: British Medical Journal, Vol. 305, No. 6855 (Sep. 19, 1992), pp. 717-718
2. Welsh, James. “The Death Penalty.” The Lancet. 362 (2003): s24-5. ProQuest. 23 Feb. 2015.
3. Herbert, Bob. “Who Gets the Death Penalty?” Who Gets the Death Penalty? Death Penalty Information Center, 13 Mar. 2002. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.
4. Smith, Candace. “Sociology Lens.” Sociology Lens RSS. The Society Pages, 14 Aug. 2012. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.
5. Messerli, Joe. “BalancedPolitics.org – Death Penalty (Pros & Cons, Arguments For and Against, Advantages & Disadvantages).” BalancedPolitics.org – Death Penalty (Pros & Cons, Arguments For and Against, Advantages & Disadvantages). N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
6. Capote, Truman. In Cold Blood. Boston, MA: G.K. Hall, 1993. Print
7. Capote, Truman. Interviewed with William Buckley. Firing Line (1968). Web.

The Climb

Virginia Outdoor Writing Contest Submission

Word Count: 978

Biography

My name is Max Liebl, I am a native of Long Grove, IL and currently a freshman at the Virginia Military Institute. I am a contracted Army ROTC Cadet and plan to commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduating from VMI and serve an Army Aviator. In high school, I was active in the Boy Scouts and Civil Air Patrol and found a passion for nature and a love for the outdoors as a member of both programs. I enjoy going on long distance runs and hikes as well as swimming, and I am also an avid skier. Coming from a Chicago suburb, I found a deep respect for nature and its wonders, but never fully understood the true beauty behind it. Now living in rural Virginia, I’ve come to have an even deeper respect for the beauty of nature and wake up every morning in awe as I witness its true beauty.

That morning came in dark and cool, a beautiful summer morning in Virginia. Only the shouts of VMI’s Cadre ordering the newly minted Rats to move faster broke my focus on nature. As I dashed through Barracks trying to catch up my Brother Rat in front of me, I could only think of how the quick view I had of House Mountain from my room put me in awe, but in just a few hours I’d be standing atop the mountain looking back in even more amazement. As we marched down to the Mess Hall for breakfast, the Sun was beginning to peep over the mountains in the distance and break through the thick purple fog that had engulfed the Shenandoah Valley overnight, another beautiful sight I’d have to get used to seeing every day. When I first arrived at VMI, I knew the journey was going to be long and arduous, but what made just a bit more bearable was the fact that the school was tucked back in one the most beautiful corners of rural America.

As the day rolled on, my thoughts were constantly on House Mountain. It had been such a looming figure all week. It constantly stood watching over the Institute as a single entity. The mountain stood all by its lonesome with no other hills surrounding it and no other mountain to match it.  The ground seemed to have just lifted itself up in that particular area and House Mountain was born. As the afternoon drew near, we began to line up on the parade field to board the buses that would take us to its base. It was the first time I had left Post since reporting to VMI almost a week ago and it was the first time I really began to notice my surroundings. Throughout the bus ride, I did my best to make as many quick glances from my Rat Bible to look out the window and take in the view. Coming from suburban Chicago, I had never seen such beautiful rolling hills so pristine it seemed as though only the hands of God have touched it. I was in awe at the sheer beauty of this place. The bus made a sharp veer off to the left onto a dirt road and we were immediately engulfed in a hazy green forest. Sunlight was shining through the treetops, burning off what remained of the morning haze. The bus rolled to a halt and we began to disembark. This one of the moments I had been waiting for all week.

As I stepped off the bus, a blast of hot air caught me off guard and I remembered just how hot and humid it can be in Virginia in the summertime. It was as if I had stepped into a boiling pot of water. Our company’s cadre lined us up at the trailhead and split us into lines of two, creating an aisle for traffic to move between us as we marched up the trail. As I looked up the trail at the sea of camouflage, I began to feel the sweat seeping through my blouse and soaking through my socks. Even in tennis shoes and without anything on my back except my Camelback, I still felt 100 pounds heavier. It wasn’t long before we began to move and I began to take in the full of effect of Virginia’s nature. The first mile of the three mile trek was on a paved road, lined by the occasional log cabin and rolling fields of tall, thin grass. In the distance the dark green mountains loomed creating a serene backdrop the already gorgeous setting. After the first mile the trail narrowed and grew steeper and the relative ease of pavement was replaced by the rocky unevenness of crushed gravel. The pain in my already aching legs worsened as the incline refused to level, and I was in sheer awe at our cadre running up and down the line wearing 40-50 pound rucksacks. I couldn’t imagine how they were still able to keep up the pace seemingly without getting winded. My mind turned quickly back to the trail and the forest around me. The higher we climbed, the better the view became and the rolling hills that lined the trail turned into steep, rocky drop-offs and even taller mountains stood in the distance. As we approached the final 50 feet of the trail to the top, one of my Brother Rats began to feel the effects of the past week and the strain of hiking uphill for 3 miles was starting to take its toll. The only thing we could do was give words of encouragement and urge her to keep moving forward. In that moment, I could feel what she was going through, the feeling that one gets when you’re so physically exhausted that each step is more painful than the next. In the end, she pushed through, and we reached the summit of House Mountain together.

It felt as if the world was at my fingertips. As I took in the breathtaking view of distant mountains and green pastures, I began to understand the hike up House Mountain stood for much more than a culminating Cadre Week event. It was the moment the gates opened allowing me to step onto the path to my future. As our Company Commander explained, the rolling mountains represented the ups and downs that everyone has throughout their lives. And with hills as far as the eye could see, it proved that the trials and tribulations of life will never end. Every day is a challenge and summiting one mountain in life is by no means the end. There’s always going to be another mountain to climb and another valley to descend into, but one thing is for sure, the journey will be scenic.

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