M5 l2a2example
- 1. Module 5 Lesson 2 Lesson Assignment 2 Op-Ed Paragraph Organizer EXAMPLE Obama’s claim that I agree/disagree with: “We have dealt al Qaeda a huge blow by killing its leader, Osama bin Laden” My sentence that states my position/opinion: I disagree that the US dealt al Qaeda a huge blow by killing its leader, Osama bin Laden. Reasons that support my opinion: 1. It is evident by the continued violence in the Middle East that al Qaeda is continuing to thrive despite Osama bin Laden’s death 2. Al Qaeda is a large organization united by a common philosophy, so killing one leader is not likely to be significant enough to do major harm to the group. Evidence from the speech that I can use to support my opinion: 1. Obama states, “Bin Laden was no martyr. He was a mass murderer who offered a message of hate -- an insistence that Muslims had to take up arms against the West, and that violence against men, women and children was the only path to change. He rejected democracy and individual rights for Muslims in favor of violent extremism; his agenda focused on what he could destroy -- not what he could build.” 2. Obama states, “Bin Laden and his murderous vision won some adherents. But even before his death, al Qaeda was losing its struggle for relevance, as the overwhelming majority of people saw that the slaughter of innocents did not answer their cries for a better life. By the time we found bin Laden, al Qaeda's agenda had come to be seen by the vast majority of the region as a dead end, and the people of the Middle East and North Africa had taken their future into their own hands.” My Op-Ed paragraph(s) draft: I disagree that the US dealt al Qaeda a huge blow by killing its leader, Osama bin Laden. Obama states, “Bin Laden was no martyr. He was a mass murderer who offered a message of hate -- an insistence that Muslims had to take up arms against the West, and that violence against men, women and children was the only path to change. He rejected democracy and individual rights for Muslims in favor of violent extremism; his agenda focused on what he could destroy -- not what he could build.” However, it is evident by the continued violence in the Middle East that al Qaeda is continuing to thrive despite Osama bin Laden’s death. Al Qaeda is a large organization united by a common philosophy, so killing one leader is not likely to be significant enough to do major harm to the group. Although Obama recognizes bin Laden’s influence on al Qaeda, his
- 2. speech ignores the facts of continued, organized violence. When Obama says, “Bin Laden and his murderous vision won some adherents. But even before his death, al Qaeda was losing its struggle for relevance, as the overwhelming majority of people saw that the slaughter of innocents did not answer their cries for a better life. By the time we found bin Laden, al Qaeda's agenda had come to be seen by the vast majority of the region as a dead end, and the people of the Middle East and North Africa had taken their future into their own hands,” he is failing to recognize that many of those people continue to agree with bin Laden’s ideals. It is logical that bin Laden’s views were not representative of the views of ALL Middle Eastern people or even Muslims specifically. But the truth remains that there are many people who agree with bin Laden’s principles and even his violent tactics. Therefore, it is unlikely that simply killing bin Laden will be sufficient to change their minds, their principles, or their behavior. While President Obama’s position is that al Qaeda is in fact weaker without bin Laden, it is important to remember that there is always someone willing to step in to a leadership role and continue to pursue the ideals and philosophies of the former leader.