Week 3, Column 3: SOAPSTone
Belgium's humane stance on dying kids
Speaker:
Meghan Daum. Daum has inspired controversy over a range of topics, including social politics. From the article, Daum shows her passion for topics like social politics by covering a story on Belgium's shocking ratification of a disturbing law. Occasion: February 20th, 2014, posted on the LATimes website. The article gives one small yet earnest view from an American on a Belgian conspiracy. The article focuses on the ethics of the so-called "right" to minors faced with "constant and unbearable suffering." Daum includes eye-popping facts and information on the ridiculous topic, such as the fact that 75% of the public supports the passing of the law. Audience: Daum's scrupulous analysis on the topic reveals the type of audience she is aimed towards. Daum's specific audience for the article consists of death-squeamish individuals, and those who would object to such a ratification. Purpose: Daum's purpose in the article is to inform the audience on what takes place in countries that we as Americans seem to obliterate from their day-to-day political discussions and concerns. The author carefully constructs her sentences, mentioning key facts, such as "Four states (Oregon, Washington, Vermont, Montana) have granted doctors some ability to aid patients in dying" to admonish her audience not to criticize and point fingers at someone for participating in something the majority of Americans would consider despicable when we are practicing it within our society as well. Subject: The subject of Meghan Daum’s article is the Belgian Parliament passing of a law allowing terminally ill children to request aid in dying. Daum talks about how last Thursday's (February 13th, 2014) action, expected to be signed into law by King Philippe, will make Belgium the first to extend the right to minors faces with "constant and unbearable suffering." Daum describes this act as disturbing, comparing it to the Kinder-Euthanasie act in Nazi, Germany, an initiative that systematically killed severely disabled children. Tone: Daum exhibits an objective tone, as well as an obsequious tone in order to gain negative thoughts on the subject from her audience. Through her tone, Daum relays her fear to the audience towards how such a debatable topic could play an outsized role in starting important conversations around the world. |
Highlight of the Week: Purpose
Meghan Daum's highly organized article provides an important message aimed towards her purpose. Daum speaks directly to this through her comparisons of Belgium with the United States and the Netherlands, informing the reader on our inability to judges other due to our similarities. Daum's goal in writing this opinion is to bring awareness to situations that occur in countries we seem to often overlook. Given this particular opinion from an American will certainly open eyes and turn gears in the minds of many Americans. |