Rhetorical Analysis Of Dissent And Metaphor Surrounding The Iraq War

Responding to Ryan H. Blum’s:
“Dissent and Metaphor Surrounding the Iraq War”
Ryan H. Blum’s (2003) rhetorical analysis, “Making the Familiar Foreign: Dissent and Metaphor Surrounding the Iraq War,” investigates the use of metaphoric criticism as rhetoric in the article “Captive Audience,” by Allan Gurganus (2003). Blum (2003) portrays the use of metaphors as an approach to “move beyond the polemic into the artistic” (p.295) and therefore effectively communicate a perspective avoided by the presidential administration. While Blum appears to recognize the use of metaphors he seems to exaggerate their purpose. Although metaphors may often be used to express hidden meaning, Gurganus’ use of metaphors may merely be to provoke thought and consideration

295). Although Gurganus’ use of metaphors is evident throughout the article, it appears that he intends to provoke thought by illustrating a comparison rather than using symbolism as a stylistic attempt to portray resistance (Blum, 2003, p.295). Gurganus’ (2003) article “Captive Audience” is a continual comparison between his personal experience in the Vietnam War and that of the Iraq War (p. 299). While Blum accurately portrays many of the possible meanings of the metaphors, his interpretations appear to be dramatized. His use of “Larry”, “Al”, “Uncle Sam”, and “the old guys” as symbols for, the average soldier, the father of the average soldier, the draft board, and the generals and politicians, respectively, may be accurate, but Blum’s (2003) interpretation of them as “individuals with whom we shall never become intimate” is overstated (p. 296). Gurganus (2003) appears to use these names as a representation of a general identity in order to create a connection between the reader and the father of the soldier (p. 299). As a result the reader can accurately identify a connection and begin to consider the mission in