Observations August 9, 2014 - Apophasis
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SportsFan68
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Observations August 9, 2014 - Apophasis
C.M. Kornbluth's use of apophasis, "I do not name Mexico," in The Marching Morons is a brilliant little piece of rhetoric, calling into the narrative a constant enemy and setting up a foundation for the monstrous sales job that follows.
-- In Iroquois society, leaders are encouraged to remember seven generations in the past and consider seven generations in the future when making decisions that affect the people.
-- America would be a better place if leaders would do more long-term thinking. -- Wilma Mankiller
-- America would be a better place if leaders would do more long-term thinking. -- Wilma Mankiller
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SportsFan68
- No Scritches!!!
- Posts: 21300
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:36 pm
- Location: God's Country
Re: Observations August 9, 2014 - Apophasis
Here are two paragraphs containing the above-mentioned sentence from that classic story first published so long ago. The story is full of brilliant rhetoric; it's easy to see why finding it, once it was recalled to me by learning the word "apophasis," was such a quick and simple google.
"Mr. President and gentlemen! There are in this world nations, envious nations — I do not name Mexico — who by fair means or foul may seek to wrest from Columbia's grasp the torch of freedom of space; nations whose low living standards and innate depravity give them an unfair advantage over the citizens of our fair republic.
"This is my program: I suggest that a city of more than 100,000 population be selected by lot. The citizens of the fortunate city are to be awarded choice lands on Venus free and clear, to have and to hold and convey to their descendants. And the national government shall provide free transportation to Venus for these citizens. And this program shall continue, city by city, until there has been deposited on Venus a sufficient vanguard of citizens to protect our manifest rights in that planet."
"Mr. President and gentlemen! There are in this world nations, envious nations — I do not name Mexico — who by fair means or foul may seek to wrest from Columbia's grasp the torch of freedom of space; nations whose low living standards and innate depravity give them an unfair advantage over the citizens of our fair republic.
"This is my program: I suggest that a city of more than 100,000 population be selected by lot. The citizens of the fortunate city are to be awarded choice lands on Venus free and clear, to have and to hold and convey to their descendants. And the national government shall provide free transportation to Venus for these citizens. And this program shall continue, city by city, until there has been deposited on Venus a sufficient vanguard of citizens to protect our manifest rights in that planet."
-- In Iroquois society, leaders are encouraged to remember seven generations in the past and consider seven generations in the future when making decisions that affect the people.
-- America would be a better place if leaders would do more long-term thinking. -- Wilma Mankiller
-- America would be a better place if leaders would do more long-term thinking. -- Wilma Mankiller