Commit A Crime, Suffer The Consequences Summary
Zhao 1
Chenyin Zhao
Developing writing
Gayle Nash
October 26, 2012
Rhetorical analysis of “Commit a Crime, Suffer the Consequences”
“Commit a Crime, Suffer the Consequences” written by Mark Patinkin, who is a journalist and bulletin columnist, shows the story of Michael Fay, who vandalized cars in Singapore as an American citizen and weather or not he deserves to suffer the same punishment as the locals for his crime. In Singapore, “caning” is the default punishment for vandalism, which means that the offenders are moderately beaten with wooden canes or bamboo. The Writer sees Michael Fay as a teenager who needs to accept his sentencing for his vandalism of cars, and because he committed a criminal act in a different country, he is subjected to that country’s policies. Patinkin thinks that Michael Fay’s parents continually make excuses for his actions in Singapore blaming his choices on A.D.D. Instead of making excuses, the writer believes Fay should just admit to his crimes and apologize. Fay does not realize what it feels like to be on the receiving end of such vandalism. Patinkin gives a personal example from his own life relating to his experience with car vandalism and explains in detail how …show more content…
Patinkin claims America has created a game out of making excuses. In Michael Fay’s case, Patinkin himself seems fairly sure the excuses for his crimes are absurd and just a way for Fay to weasel out of his punishment. Patinkin’s main statement comes here where he says; “All this is just part of the New American game of always saying, ‘It’s not my fault’. No one, when caught, seems ready to admit having done wrong anymore. They just whine and appeal.” Patinkin seems to have no real credentials when it comes to the politics of abiding foreign law, since his degree is in Journalism, not International Politics. This does not seem to stop him from taking a side in this ‘controversial’
Chenyin Zhao
Developing writing
Gayle Nash
October 26, 2012
Rhetorical analysis of “Commit a Crime, Suffer the Consequences”
“Commit a Crime, Suffer the Consequences” written by Mark Patinkin, who is a journalist and bulletin columnist, shows the story of Michael Fay, who vandalized cars in Singapore as an American citizen and weather or not he deserves to suffer the same punishment as the locals for his crime. In Singapore, “caning” is the default punishment for vandalism, which means that the offenders are moderately beaten with wooden canes or bamboo. The Writer sees Michael Fay as a teenager who needs to accept his sentencing for his vandalism of cars, and because he committed a criminal act in a different country, he is subjected to that country’s policies. Patinkin thinks that Michael Fay’s parents continually make excuses for his actions in Singapore blaming his choices on A.D.D. Instead of making excuses, the writer believes Fay should just admit to his crimes and apologize. Fay does not realize what it feels like to be on the receiving end of such vandalism. Patinkin gives a personal example from his own life relating to his experience with car vandalism and explains in detail how …show more content…
Patinkin claims America has created a game out of making excuses. In Michael Fay’s case, Patinkin himself seems fairly sure the excuses for his crimes are absurd and just a way for Fay to weasel out of his punishment. Patinkin’s main statement comes here where he says; “All this is just part of the New American game of always saying, ‘It’s not my fault’. No one, when caught, seems ready to admit having done wrong anymore. They just whine and appeal.” Patinkin seems to have no real credentials when it comes to the politics of abiding foreign law, since his degree is in Journalism, not International Politics. This does not seem to stop him from taking a side in this ‘controversial’