Revolution by Chuck Klosterman Survival

¶ … Revolution by Chuck Klosterman

Survival is human nature. The choices we make are affected by this instinctual drive to survive. When we perceive that things are turning for the worse, we yearn for change. However, our response to this yearning differs from individual to individual, culture to culture. Our response could be as simple as turning a blind eye on that very thing that threatens our survival or it could be as drastic and major as a revolution. In the face of the current state of the nation, how does the American society respond to the yearning which it has already expressed?

In an article written by Chuck Klosterman entitled You Say You Want a Revolution, which appeared in Esquire on October 10, 2007, Klosterman contends that United States has reached a point where the possibility of a revolution is nil. He argues that there is nothing that could cause the downfall of the U.S. government. Moreover, no one would know what to do if ever the U.S. government is overthrown.

Klosterman supports his argument by discussing possible scenarios and speculating on the probable responses of the average American. Klosterman points out that the Americans are not properly motivated in overthrowing their government. He claims that even though they are properly motivated, they are most likely to do nothing about it except voicing their complaints through their blogs. Klosterman accounts this to the fact that work occupies every American's life. He also believes that Americans would not do anything about their dissatisfaction with the government because they wouldn't know who they should revolt against. Klosterman believes that the American society has reached a point where reinventing it and its government is no longer possible even if it were what the American people wanted. He concludes his article by saying that the situation could be worse but that there is really nothing much that the American people can do except die.

Klosterman was successful in conveying his opinion and beliefs regarding people's yearning for a revolution. His article expresses very strong emotions, most of which I found rather negative and pessimistic. Moreover, his arguments relied heavily on his own assumptions of how people would respond to situations, which I believe this is a weak and vulnerable basis for any argument. I found his article to be quite partial to his pessimistic view of how Americans will respond.

Klosterman opens his article effectively by using a powerful opening which is both straightforward and unambiguous. His opening easily captured my attention. He states his opinion outright and the words he chose to state it effectively convey the magnitude of his conviction. He chose to phrase his words and organize his sentences in a way that conveys his seriousness. From the beginning, a reader already knows what to expect from him, which could add to a reader's interest in knowing his reasons for not wanting to overthrown the government.

After stating his opinion and setting the tone of the article, Klosterman moves on to give concrete examples of how a revolution could affect people's lives. The examples he give were simple, examples that people can relate to. His examples were also quite vivid, saying that he does not want helicopters landing on the roof of his apartment building. Through this example, Klosterman succeeds in establishing a connection with his readers by way of something that they can relate to on an emotional level.