Use of False Analogies in Public Discourse Concerning the Iraq War Essa

Iraq is no diversion. It is a place where civilization is taking a decisive stand against chaos and terror, we must not waiver, utter President George W. Bush in favor of the Iraq War of 2003. When considering the rhetoric employ by those to gain support for the war and by those to oppose the war, it is view that both sides tried to use historical analogy to argue for their side. dapple the proponents of the war argued that the Iraq War was comparable to World War II, the opponents argued that it was comparable to Vietnam. 2 of these sides apply this kind of rhetoric among many new(prenominal) tools, to persuade multitude to support their side by asserting that if they want to avoid other Hitler, or another Vietnam, then they should support their side. However, both of these sides have used false analogies. When considering the historical facts of both World War II and Vietnam, uncomplete of these conflicts compare to pre-war Iraq. Nevertheless, this kind of argumentati on provides many implications about war and American society. In order to understand the basis of these implications, the idea of the analogy provide be examined, then the World War II and Vietnam comparisons will be scrutinized, and finally, the implications of this rhetoric will be explained. Arguments from analogy seek to establish that two situations X and Y are alike (Trenholm, 2001). For example, the statement, It ploughed for Canada, so it must work for the United States, is an analogy. The validity of this analogy, however, is determined by two criterion. The first criteria is that the two cases compared must be alike in all important respects. The other criteria is that any differences between the cases must be insignificant. When looking at the argument, It work... ...ton print ( West Virginia). 4 April 2003 Pg. P5A. Academic Universe. Lexis Nexis. Washburn University Library, Topeka, Kansas. 13 February 2005. Dunham, Charlotte Chorn. Generation units and the life car ry A sociological perspective on youth and the anti-war movement. Journal of semipolitical and Military Sociology. Winter 1998. 4 April 2005. http//www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3719/is_199801/ai_n8759989/print Rieger, Cheryl. Schuman, Howard. Historical Analogies, generational Effects, and Attitudes Toward War. American Sociological Review. June 1992 pg. 315(12). Academic Universe. Lexis Nexis. Washburn University Library, Topeka, Kansas. 13 February 2005. Barone, Michael. The Long Shadow of Vietnam. US News and World Report. 12 April 2004 pg 21. Academic Universe. Lexis Nexis. Washburn University Library, Topeka, Kansas. 13 February 2005.