MGP #2 Interview: Supreme Court Review Lethal Injections Teakell Interview

This interview goes back to my very first article. The "cocktail" lethal injection, as I expected, is being reviewed by the Supreme Court. In my first article, which was about Dennis McGuire, "would there be trouble behind this 'cocktail' injection?" was the main question that wandered in everyone's mind. Obviously, it roamed the Supreme Court's as well. In that article, it was said that the people witnessed McGuire gasping for air and that it looked as if he was in pain: BIG PROBLEM. Gasping and looking to be in pain causes worry that there is indeed pain. Testing the cocktail on an animal would be cruel too, so what now? It seems to me that either way, testing a new drug will cause controversy, whether the testing is on a human or on an animal. Why not continue using the old drug? Why not convert back to the electric chair? The electric chair is what some states have considered, and bring back the chair could cause even more controversy. I think this is the beginning of a LONG debate on how executions should be handled. How will this entire debate turn out, though? We can only wait and see.




Work Cited:   Townson, Sparta K. "Supreme Court Review Lethal Injections Teakell Interview."YouTube. YouTube, 13 Feb. 2014. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.

Literary Devices

·         Analogy: compares two things, which are alike in several respects, for the purpose of explaining or clarifying some unfamiliar or difficult idea or object by showing how the idea or object is similar to some familiar one. While simile and analogy often overlap, the simile is generally a more artistic likening, done briefly for effect and emphasis, while analogy serves the more practical end of explaining a thought process or a line of reasoning or the abstract in terms of the concrete, and may therefore be more extended.

Example: Day is to month as minute is to hour. (Day:Month::Minute:Hour)

·         Anaphora: A rhetorical term for the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.                                                                           Example: “Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better”

·         Antanagoge: placing a good point or benefit next to a fault criticism, or problem in order to reduce the impact or significance of the negative point

Example: "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

·         Antimetabole: reversing the order of repeated words or phrases (a loosely chiastic structure, AB-BA) to intensify the final formulation, to present alternatives, or to show contrast

Example: “Eat to live, not live to eat.”- Socrates

·         Antiphrasis: one word irony, established by context

Example: “The giant was 3 feet tall.”

What If? (U.S. & Rome)

How is the United States like Rome? Do you think the U.S. will fall as Rome did? (Explain what will cause or prevent the fall) If the U.S. does fall, what type of civilization do you think will take its place?

            The United States is one of the most developed countries in the world. Beginning with the latest technology and going down to some of the healthiest water systems, the U.S. is the place to be. The States has some of the most intelligent leaders that ever could exist. All the same concepts were found in Rome before the horrific fall. Now the thought begins to form: Will the United States fall as Rome did? And now the so many similarities are realized.

            Think about it: Rome had the luxury life, just as many people from different countries see the States having. This brings back the water systems and latest technology. Many countries in the world are living in poverty. These countries can’t afford clean water, let alone the latest technology that the States has and Rome had. With these countries not begin as developed as Rome or the States, there comes envy. As Rome did, the U.S. has enemies.

            Rome had enemies constantly coming from the outside starting trouble and creating damage. The States has the same problem. The biggest threat there is, is the Taliban. Rome fell due to the Barbarians. This included groups like Vandals, Goths, and Huns. The Taliban has not gotten that close yet but they did change the States when the 9/11 Attack occurred.  The Taliban isn’t the only terrorist group the States have battled with, though. The terrorist, also, wouldn’t be the reason, if it were to happen, that the United States falls; the economy would be the reason.

            The debt that the U.S. is in right now is amazingly high. 17 trillion dollars PLUS some is the amount the States owe other countries, such as China. That is a lot money and it’s still adding up as we speak. Think about if one country decides to take the money the States owe them. This attack will be the “Fall of the States.” Life will never be the same for citizens of the U.S. Now questions like “what will the States be like?” and “how will citizens get by?” come to mind.

            Thinking about how Rome fell and how they had to revert to using sticks for houses make you wonder how exactly the U.S. will turn out if they were to fall. It is best to say that it would take a while to settle and rebuild because the “now-generation” depends so much upon technology. Starting from scratch would be so far from average to the people who are there. Not having technology to solve every problem would make people actually have to think things through; and honestly, that is something this lazy generation refuses to do. It is possible to survive after a fall just as it is to prevent that fall.

            Preventing the fall is very simple. The government needs to come up with a solution on how to get rid of the debt without getting the States into a world of trouble. To get out of debt, the U.S. needs to, as Rome should have, stay out of other countries business. The States need to realize that, even though falling is far from the picture now, if they don’t fix the economy the fall is definitely possible.