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The Divide or Not?
The United States are united or are they? One may not believe so after the controversial presidential elections of 2000 when the terms “Red States” and “Blue States” were first adopted. Blue designates states that voted for Gore, mostly metropolitan areas, and Red designates mostly rural areas, and Bush supporters. For clarity, the President of the United States is usually decided on election night; it was not until late November and a U.S. Supreme Court decision later that the nation had a decision on whom the next President was. The colors on the electoral map made these United States look completely red with blue frayed edging, giving the impression of a much divided United States of America. David Brooks, a writer for The Atlantic Monthly, ventures into the Red Zone from his home in the Blue region. In the essay, “One Nation Slightly Divisible” Brooks argues that the United States is ultimately a cafeteria nation. This paper will show that the author uses a liberal conservative approach to tailor his argument to Blue State readership. Brooks captures his reader’s attention with an ideology that readers relate to through the use of stereotypes; and then proves that in America’s time of need citizens can all come together for a common good.
So what is a stereotype? The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines it as being “an unfair and often untrue belief that many people have about all people or things with a particular characteristic.” There are some definite biases that the Blue culture holds toward that of the Red. Brooks emphasizes, “[…] Many of them are racist and homophobic and when you see them at highway rest stops they’re often really fat” (37). This is a clear statement of bias, and with this the author has strategically placed himself in the heart of the liberal Blue. The Blue who pride themselves on being above perpetuating the prejudices of society, now have a glimpse of their closed-minded attitude...