Monday, February 7, 2011

Rhetorical Analysis of Fear of a Red Planet

Fear of a Red Planet written by David Harsanyi describes the current attitude of American people when they talk about China especially editors from newspaper and explains why Chinese economics’ development is not a threaten for America. He begin to mentions a well known word from Hollywood ‘80s classic “Red Dawn”, which is refer to communism. As people all know the policy of China is communism. To make a dig at how big effects the communism makes, he use a example “a ragtag band of high-school students will do what hundreds of billions in Pentagon spending couldn’t do: save Michigan from communism.” The huge effect of hundreds of billons compares with the tiny affection of a ragtag band of high-school students, the large difference give his argument a great support. then he explain why the remark from Hollywood leave American people such a wrong influence “the remake will be entertaining and offer a far more plausible plot line than the original” , which mean that this characterization comes out from an entertaining program which is easier to accept by people also is not correct.

Later he refers that Chinese President HU jintao went to America and met Obama, which attract all people’s attention about the relation between America and China. Not surprised while people look at the obviously development of China, which go beyond American’s thought, they give too much fear about the influence of Chinese economy.

A survey by Andrew Kohut, who is in the Pew Research Center, use pages of The Wall Street Journal talked about what American people think about the economic situation in the world. The survey shows that 47 percent people considered China as the world’s top economic power, while only 31 percent of people believe America has the world’s top economic power. Nevertheless, the fact is that U.S. economy nearly three times the size of China. Another survey tells about 47 percent people think China’s growth is a “bad thing” for United States. A new CNN poll found the similar result that 58 percent of American consider China’s “wealth and economic power” are threat to the United Stated. The author use accurate numbers from a power survey directly shows American’s fear of the growth of China. What else, these survey tell us these results are from all American people instead of coming up only by the author.

After the author describe the whole situation of the reason why American people “fear of red plane” he gives his own opinion. The relationship between United Stated and China is “layered with international complexity and fraught with danger”, however, “economic competition can be mutually beneficial”, which is not like ideological clashes. In this way he remind people, even if Chinese economy developed in an amazing speed there is no reason for American people to fear. International economic competition is different from ideological clashes, which every country has their own certain opinion and don’t allow to be changed by others. The basic of economic competition is profit which is same all countries. As a result, it is not necessary to worry about. This part is convinced because the author separates the different between economic competition and ideological clashes. For the first one we have the same goal, which is profit, and the second one is not changeable by other country. After understanding the principle of economic competition, it is not hard for people to understand why they don’t need to worried about other country’s growth in economy.

While some American people may worried about if China will set up a war after their big growth of economy. To explain this situation, the author gives a competitor “Suicide bombers rarely drive top-of-the-line BMWs.” It is mean if China has real economic wealth they would not let their economic wealth go to an obvious die. Because we all know war not only damaged wealth also Chinese people know exactly they still have a long distance with United Sates in economy. A humor brings people light emotion that Chinese economic growth cannot be a threaten for American, also can be a great support to the author’s argument.

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