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A Rhetorical Analysis Of George Saunders The New Mecca

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The year is 2005, and the US is afraid and recovering from the terrors on 9/11. Ready to respond to the call of terror, George W. Bush issues war on the Middle East. More specifically, the terrorist organizations located there. With war came fear, and with fear came paranoia. Paranoia from the Americans in the early 2000’s was huge. Many held stereotypes against the Middle-Eastern because of the September attacks. Lots of these stereotypes were held up by ignorance of the misinformed. Many weren’t familiar with the culture and customs of the Middle East, and this raised the question: What is the Middle East really like? All calls were answered on October 31, 2005, George Saunders, a graduate from Syracuse and former GQ magazine writer, traveled to Dubai and experienced what the other side of the world is like. In his short story "The New Mecca," George Saunders starts off by …show more content…

He uses comedic comparisons, such as likening the glowering Arab teens to the Marx Brothers, to create a lighthearted tone. He also uses irony to comment on cultural differences, such as when the tension between the Navy guys and Arab teens is defused by "Sudden Fun" on the water slide. Finally, Saunders employs an epiphany. In the passage, he has a realization that "we will all be brothers" despite our differences in nationality, race, and religion. He argues that "the old dividers" will be "overpowered by crossbreeding and by our mass media, our world Culture o' Enjoyment." This is a hopeful, but somewhat naive, vision of the future, and he acknowledges this by adding a humorous plea to "Lord MTV" to "same us out," even if it means making us "a little dumber." Overall, George Saunders uses a combination of vivid language, humor, and epiphany to convey his experiences and insights about the Wild Wadi water park and the cultural dynamics at play. We Buy, Therefore We Am:

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