Rhetorical Analysis of the article “Feed the Children” by Kathleen B. Kunz
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Rhetorical Analysis of the article “Feed the Children” by Kathleen B. Kunz
The world is currently experiencing a socioeconomic crisis that is affecting mostly children and the elderly population. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shaken the world, thereby prompting various governments to find ways to protect their citizens, especially the needy ones. Doug Ducey, the governor of Arizona State, came up with strategies to assist people in surviving the deadly virus. Kathleen B. Kunz wrote the article titled “Feed the children” to reveal how school districts within Arizona state, partnering with the governor’s office, have gone the extra mile to help fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Kunz’s article describes a government program developed to target all individuals below the age of eighteen years. The author reveals that people should help one another, including children, who are also part of society at large. Some families, specifically the low-income earners, have been severely affected by the pandemic; therefore, they should get a significant amount of support. Kunz has managed to convince the readers that the Arizona government initiative is essential in serving its people, specifically during a period where the lives of individuals matter most and where the ethics of brotherhood should be held.
Kunz revealed that the governor’s strategy of feeding the children observes ethical issues in several ways. First, the governor, under the office powers, imposed the plan, which follows the set ethical standards to ensure there is no discrimination or unlawful practices during the feeding program. The governor’s office serves all people equally regardless of their cultural backgrounds, race, or age. Besides, the office is also mandated to support the citizens in times of need or crisis. COVID-19 does not recognize any boundary, which is in line with the governor’s office message when directing that all children be supported regardless of their diversity. Second, as reported by Kunz (2020), the publication of the article was done through a credible and legalized website and, more importantly, engaged a professional news reporter to ensure it contains only the actual and relevant information. On that note, politicians are known for blinding people with fake news to gain political miles, which the government tried to avoid. More so, during campaigns, politicians gather people of all diversity together as they sell their manifestos, which Kathleen tries to convince them to use the same non-discriminative strategy to help ordinary people during the crisis. Eventually, by observing such ethical issues, the audience and other state leaders can rely on the article, join hands to support such strategy as they help the globe to combat this pandemic.
Concurrently, Kunz reflects the government official’s empathy towards its people, specifically the poor and vulnerable ones, during a period of crisis. Politicians are known to focus more on accumulating wealth at citizens’ expense and share, whenever they need, favors such as re-election. Citizens leave their duties and avail themselves to vote, which pushed Kathleen to appeal to leaders to reciprocate such gratitude now that their followers need support. However, most of the government officials have now realized the need to offer support to the ordinary citizens. Coronavirus epidemic is affecting people from all diversity (both the rich and the poor) and every individual has the probability of contracting the virus. Furthermore, it has claimed the lives of many breadwinners, leaving their families under financial crises and turmoil. Besides, several governments as well as private organizations have closed or in the process of terminating their business, bearing in mind that most low-income earners live from hand-to-mouth. The low-income families have been greatly affected by the pandemic, which has facilitated the move by government officials to offer support, especially to children who must continue with schools after the pandemic (Kunz, 2020). The author’s appeal is that children belong to the entire society, and they are vulnerable to all sorts of problems. Thus, they require support from the whole community. Kunz, through her articles, creates a sympathetic kind of feeling. She convinces the readers that it is a time to join hands and be brother’s keepers, recognizing that before the pandemic, there were families that could hardly feed their children and rely on school feeding programs. Thus, with the current situation, people from all sorts of race, culture or ethnicity need extra support, which should come from civil servants and other well-wishers.
Lastly, many vulnerable families relied on feeding programs before the pandemic, which logically has worsened the situation. The article reveals this logic through the use of rhetorical and historical examples. For example, past cases show that “many families in Tucson were incapable of feeding their children almost every day” (Kunz, 2020). Thus, well-off individuals can connect the current situation from such historical cases to extend helping hands to the needy. Besides, as far as state residents are protecting themselves from contaminating the virus and also trying to feed their families, Arizona and the entire government has to take care of its citizens. Precisely, many people have, at one point, experienced or witnessed such difficulties, and they should be at the forefront to help others. People measure and recognize the actions (bad or good) of others, especially well-off people during the time of difficulties because, during that time, the disadvantaged groups look upon the wealthy population to show apathy and help them go through such hard times. Notably, all citizens pay taxes, and even though they all know it helps to run the government, this is the time the ordinary citizen would expect to see the work of such revenues. Perhaps, Kunz through her article, try to convince people that the government is playing a significant role through the feeding programs. However, she also challenges the government, state officials, and wealthy people that there is more to do as people expect and see them as the only rescue and hope.
In conclusion, Kunz’s article has effectively and meticulously managed to convince the readers that the Arizona government initiative has supported its citizens by developing a sustainable solution to the current COVID-19 pandemic. People have also embraced brotherhood practices, which has been fostered by the past lifestyle experience of disadvantaged groups. Perhaps, all children receive meals regardless of diversity, and also the government follows the law in publication. Concurrently, the state officials have taken a move to help the children that other states and well-wishers can embrace since Coronavirus knows no boundary. Lastly, the historical fact that even before the COVID-19, some families relied on school feeding programs is logical enough to relate with the current situation to offer the necessary support. Arizona has set an example, which Kathleen is appealing to other states to follow suit.
Reference
Kunz, K.B., (2020). “Feed The Children.” Tucson Weekly. Retrieved from:
https://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/feed-the children/Content?oid=27551854.
Accessed 29 Mar 2020.