Feedback Wanted for Free Speech Article

[bmauer]

Hello All,

I posted a short article to DU in March called "Speaking Freely in a Time of War." Since then I have expanded it to about five times the length. It is currently under submission at a journal so I have deleted references to my name and affiliation in the article. Please let me know which areas you find compelling and not so compelling.

The article is available here: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~bmauer/Free-speech.htm

Thank you!

Barry Mauer
Assitant Professor of English
University of Central Florida

[Terran]

1. kick n/t

[tpub]

2. that's a pretty long article

I'm guessing that's why there have been no responses from this crowd of multi-taskers.

I had never heard of "enthymemes" but the idea is intriguing. And your MKL garbage worker example defines it very clearly.

Unfortunately, I didn't get much farther than that and now I have to go make dinner.

But I hope it gets published because it's an important issue! Good luck.

Tina
(former English major)

[bmauer]

3. Thanks!

Enthymemes are great to know about. I just love it when I can say to someone, "you've hidden your major premise because it's weak!"

I could tell by your signature line that free speech is one of your favorite issues.

Yes my article is long, but it's about average for an academic piece. I don't expect too many readers here, just one or two.

My article has many sections. It's meant as a catalogue of anti-speech arguments for anti-war critics to look up and find responses to. If you see an anti-speech argument and need help with a response, just look up my piece!

Best,

Barry

[Alfalfa T. Coleridge]

4. Ethos trumps logos and pathos every time.

A nice, scholarly piece. I assume you know your audience will be other academics, as the article as a whole was chiefly a work of logos, and as such will not hold the attention of most DU readers.

As a student of classical rhetoric, I'm sure you know that ethos is the most persuasive of the three appeals. Bush and the coservative majority who dominate the current political polls have established a fascade of ethical superiority over the anti-war nay-sayers.

Let's tear down that fascade and take this country back.

ATC