Political Rhetoric: Metaphors and General Awareness

Discussion in 'Politics' started by Tiassa, Feb 11, 2011.

  1. Tiassa Let us not launch the boat ... Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    37,882
    It's a simple enough comparison:

    Beason ended his speech by advising Republicans to “empty the clip, and do what has to be done”.

    (Rolley)

    An Alabama Republican, state Sen. Scott Beason, finds himself embroiled in controversy following his metaphorical explanation of how to handle illegal immigration. Beason responded to the controversy by claiming his comment was taken out of context, and he was not actually advocating violence.

    But it isn't just the Tuscon mass murder that raises eyebrows. Dan Savage suggests: "Perhaps Beason wasn't aware that anti-immigration 'activists' already emptied the clip—right into the face of a nine-year-old girl".

    Shawna Forde, the head of a fringe anti-immigration patrol group called Minutemen American Defense, is charged with two counts of first degree murder.

    Prosecutors say she organized a raid on the home of Gina Gonzalez and her husband Raul Flores on May 30, 2009. Forde allegedly believed Flores was involved in drug trafficking and that she and her associates would be able to seize cash or drugs in order to help fund their patrol efforts.

    According to police, Forde led the raid, shouting order to two male accomplices (who will stand trial in March) during which Raul was shot multiple times and killed. Gina Gonzalez was shot twice, but survived to hear her daughter, Brisenia Flores, plead for her life before being shot twice and killed.

    CBS News affiliate KOLD reports that the trial began Tuesday in Tucson with vivid testimony from Gonzalez herself.

    "I can hear it happening. I can hear her telling him to 'please don't shoot me,'" said the bereaved mother through tears, recounting the moments before she lost her daughter.


    (Reals)

    The Forde case apparently went to the jury today. We may even get an answer to the question of her guilt in the next few hours. Her alleged accomplices face separate trials later this year.

    But more than the back and forth about whether or not one must be an official subscriber to a movement or ideology before controversial political rhetoric can affect their outlook and actions, one wonders at the sheer stupidity of Sen. Beason's metaphor.

    To the other, what reason would Beason have to even know about this case? It's not like the murders or the suspects have anything to do with the issue of illegal immigration, right? So someone invested in political outcomes involving illegal immigration—e.g., Sen. Beason—would have no reason to be aware of it, would they?
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    Notes:

    Rolley, Sam. "Beason: Dems don’t want to solve illegal immigration problem". The Cullman Times. February 6, 2011. CullmanTimes.com. February 11, 2011. http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/x...n-t-want-to-solve-illegal-immigration-problem

    Tencer, Daniel. "Republican lawmaker: Time to 'empty the clip' on illegal immigration". Raw Story. February 7, 2011. RawStory.com. February 11, 2011. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/02/lawmaker-empty-clip-illegal-immigration/

    Savage, Dan. "'Empty the Clip'". Slog. February 9, 2011. Slog.TheStranger.com. February 11, 2011. http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/02/09/empty-the-clip

    Reals, Tucker. "'Minutemen' Member on Trial in Murder of Girl, 9". CBS News. January 26, 2011. CBSNews.com. February 11, 2011. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/26/national/main7284894.shtml
     

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