Ticketing for Trash

Stephen Henderson shared the story of the Quade family, who recently received a ticket for leaving their garbage out for a little too long. As unfair as this whole situation is, I couldn't help but find it funny, well, in kind of a twisted way. There's drug dealers, murderers, rapists - and the community is concerned with garbage violations. Way to have your priorities straight, Detroit!

Henderson exposed the ridiculousness of this whole situation through his sarcastic irony. He described the Quade's less than clean neighborhood. He explained how ironic it was that the Quade family received a ticket for having trash out, and yet their block and other parts of Detroit pretty much look like a trash can. He also used an ironic example. Tree trimmers came into the subdivision to clean up the bushes, and yet the entire surrounding area is filled with broken down houses and trash. By using irony, Henderson was able to express the comical aspect of the whole situation, while still sending a message that says, "Hey, before you start ticketing people for garbage cans, you might want to pick up the trash in the middle of your public streets."

Darnell Gardner

Enhanced by a strong word choice and a careful arrangement of ideas, Darnell Gardner delivered a powerfully honest essay displaying not only his pride in the city of Detroit, but also his disappointment in Kwame Kilpatrick. He dismissed the ridiculing comments made by his classmates, and used his intellect to produce an effective essay. His impressive usage of many rhetorical devices, especially description and point of view, caused one commenter on the Detroit Free Press website to say, “Darnell has a future!” Another commenter even compared him to Martin Luther King, Jr.
Darnell boldly displayed his love and worry for his city through many powerful phrases. At the very beginning of his essay, Darnell showed his intellect with the words ‘an ethical and contractual obligation.’ When Kwame entered office, he agreed to a contract, whether he knew it or not, to listen to the concerns of the people. By describing in that manner, Gardner made it clear that listening to the people of Detroit is not Kilpatrick’s option, it is his obligation as the leader of a deteriorating city. Darnell showed an obvious passion and concern for Detroit. He wrote, “...something reminds me every day of how low this city has fallen.” Growing up, he first experienced a beautiful city, but as time went on, Detroit began to sink lower and lower. Every single day, Gardner is reminded that the city he fights so hard to uphold becomes harder to defend each and every time Kwame makes the national news.
Gardner’s choice to use first person point of view gave the essay what it needed to affect readers. If Kwame Kilpatrick read this in the Detroit Free Press, he would see that this article was not simply a work of the media in another attempt to ‘attack’ him and his family. He would see that this essay came straight from the heart and mind of a young man who possesses a genuine concern for his city. Darnell provided an inside look at the real Detroit, despite the efforts being made to improve the city. His first person view of the students in his high school should cause Kwame to feel guilty. “In fact, one of my peers asked me to proofread one of his essays, and I nearly began to sob halfway through it,” Darnell wrote. That one simple quote provided a real example from a student in a Detroit high school. The lack of educated people coming out of Detroit is not simply an exaggeration. Darnell’s intelligence cannot be found among many students in his high school, even if it is one of the top schools in Detroit. The first person point of view also displayed Darnell’s bravery and willingness to openly share his strong opinion, even if his peers ridicule him. He was not afraid to put himself into the essay.
In conclusion, publicly sharing such a strong opinion on a controversial issue can result in teasing and even violence. Darnell Gardner disregarded the comments of his classmates. He exercised his right to share his opinion in a peaceful manner, which showed his maturity and dedication to improving the city he loves.

Ethos in Kym L. Worthy's Speech

Along with the charges facing Kilpatrick and Beatty, Kim L. Worthy gave a powerful speech about the high standards and integrity of the American system of justice. Her use of ethos was obvious throughout the speech. She began by saying, "Only the facts and evidence would lead us." This adds to the integrity and reputation of all those involved in the investigation regarding Kilpatrick and Beatty. The investigators would not come to a solution based on rumor or bias opinion; they would only look at facts and evidence. They took as long as they needed to, because to the men and women involved, doing their job efficiently was more important than reaching a quick decision to please the public and the press. They realize that people’s lives are in their hands. Worthy went on to describe the cornerstone of the Americans system of justice: witnesses.

Witnesses take an oath to tell nothing but the truth, because the people’s lives are literally in their hands. Kym L. Worthy made it clear that Kwame Kilpatrick and Christine Beatty made selfish decisions by using their status to cheat the judicial system. The lives of Gary Brown, Harold Nelthorpe, and Walter Harris were forever changed because of two people’s selfish lies. Kilpatrick and Beatty made a mockery of the integrity of the judicial system. In Worthy’s words, “Witnesses are the backbone, heart, core, soul, and center of the justice system. Without witnesses the American system of justice would totally collapse. Without witnesses we have nothing, justice means nothing and we can do noting for anyone.” By lying under oath, Kwame Kilpatrick and Christine Beatty hindered the ethos of the position of witnesses. Worthy made it clear that an oath is an oath, no matter how high of a position one may hold. Kym Worthy expressed this by using a quote from a man who once held the highest position in American government. Theodore Roosevelt stated, “No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man’s permission when we require him to obey it. Obedience to the law is demanded as a right; not asked as a favor.” If the President of the United States saw that, Kilpatrick and Beatty should learn from his words. After all, “Even children understand that lying is wrong.”

While Kilpatrick and Beatty may have had no respect for the justice system, Worthy made it clear that the investigation and prosecution would be handled by those who have a reputation in the justice system. Of the four names listed, none of them have experienced less than fifteen years of cases. Kilpatrick and Beatty were given a fair investigation, despite their lack of honesty and integrity. Kym L. Worthy provided the public with a fine example of how the American system of justice is upheld by witnesses - witnesses who respect the reputation of not only the American system, but also the reputation of those on trial.