Preview

Response to Buckley Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
967 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Response to Buckley Essay
A Response to William F. Buckley抯 揥hy Don抰 We Complain?�

According to William F. Buckley, American people everywhere have refrained from 搕rying to rectify irrational vexations� (32). In Buckley抯 essay, 揥hy Don抰 We Complain?� he explains some situations that he was involved in where no one would complain to repair an uncomfortable situation. Through out the essay, Buckley gives three reasons why he believes that the American people do not complain. I agree strongly with Buckley抯 theories. I think that American people do not complain in situations where a complaint is needed.

The first theory that he stated is that everyone expects someone else to complain (33). One of the worst ways to solve a dilemma is to expect someone else to do it prior to you. Situations come up all the time where someone is needed to stand out above the rest of the people to get the problem solved. However, what if no one is willing to be the one who attempts to solve the situation? Does this mean the situation will not get fixed? I believe this type of situation happens more than people notice. Expecting someone else to solve the problem was one of the powerful points I felt that Buckley explained in his essay. An example that he used demonstrated this point very well. He was on a train where the temperature was very uncomfortable. It was 85 degrees in the train when the temperature was below freezing outside. He knew that everyone was suffering from the heat, including himself, but no one asked to get the temperature altered (31-32). He then stated this is because people 揾ave given up trying to rectify irrational vexations� (32). They expect someone else to complain about an unpleasant situation. One example that I recall where this had occurred to me was at work while I was putting in place underground cable. It was an extremely hot day and a very hard day of work. By 4:00 in the afternoon, the water cooler was empty and I was very thirsty. I thought that everyone

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Saving Private Ryan Essay

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the movie, Saving Private Ryan which is set in WWII, it follows a group of soldiers who are sent on mission to find and bring the soldier, private Ryan home. These 8 men were sent on these dangerous mission after the government finds out three of a woman's sons have been killed and that she's going to receive the notifications of their demise at the same time. And when they learn that a fourth son is still unaccounted for, they decide to send a unit to find him and bring him back. The movie follows these 8 men and their struggle to accomplish their mission. The movie shows one of the most authentic depictions of WWII Omaha beach scene compared to other motion pictures. The movie Saving Private Ryan by Steven Spielberg, is an excellent…

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The editorial, An Editorial from Freedom’s Journal, was written by Samuel E. Cornish and John Brown Russwurm. Samuel E. Cornish was born in 1795 in Sussex County, Delaware, and had later lived in Philadelphia, as well as New York City. He was also born free, and graduated from the Free African School in Philadelphia. (Stirling, Robert, 1) John Brown Russwurm was born in 1799 in Port Antonio, Jamaica. He was born to a white planter and a black slave mother, and was sent to Quebec, Canada when he was eight years old to receive an education.…

    • 656 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dahl starts by asking what he believes to be a simple question, “Why should we Americans uphold our Constitution?” p.1 this is not as simple it could be argued as what Dahl would have us believe. However, it is the question that needs to stay in the mind of the reader when you discover the arguments of this text. In that the Constitution is undemocratic and outdated and that has worked in manners to which people like Madison did not intend, for instance political parties and the election of president by electoral college to which Dahl…

    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Eric Liu’s essay, What Every American Should Know, he discusses how America needs to unite to create a common culture. This new culture will help the the current new generation of Americans become equal in a social atmosphere. Liu used Cultural Literacy, a critical piece by E.D. Hirsch, to explain a list of topics Hirsch and two of his colleagues believed every American show. The only concern that comes with the list is that it is outdated. The current generation needs a list with Internet memes, images, symbols, and pop culture references that can put Americans of all backgrounds on an equal playing field.…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The issue McCullough is trying to satirize for yourself to be kind and a little egoist and only think about yourself, he thinks that we should do things to satisfy ourselves first and then worry about other people, and when people see you doing good by yourself then they will follow your way and they will try to be happy on their own too.…

    • 1060 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Imagine a world where belligerent Islamic fundamentalists were trying to take away the lively hood of every Christian American. Even worse than that, trying to seize the world into becoming an Islamic terrorist who would die if they went against the Islamic faith. In The Last Patriot, Scot Harvath and Tracy save Anthony Nichols from a car bombing and then from a shooting inside a hotel where the two of them are interrogating him. All three of them are on the hunt for the Don Quixote book to get the information they need to find the missing revelation of Muhammad from the Islamic book, the Koran. Finding this information will ultimately lead to the termination of Fundamentalist Islamic terrorists trying to take over the world with Islam. While…

    • 1099 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The last couple of months under Rumson has suggests that being president of this country was to a certain extent about character, and although I have not been willing to engage in his attacks on me, I’ve been here three years and three days, and I can tell you without hesitation; being president of this country, is entirely about character.…

    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thomas Paine Thesis

    • 351 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In Thomas Paine's "Rights of Man", Paine characterizes America through its government, in which if just, will result in the retirement of difficulties. Although posed in Paine's time, the extent to Paine's characterization still holds true today.…

    • 351 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Rebuttal to Nick Jans

    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Nick Jans is a retired, somewhat bitter, teacher and in his article Student Problems begin at home he stated, “kids these days ain't what they used to be”. First, he claims that the teachers are not to blame, it's the students. Then he turns it around onto the parents. Jans tries using logical appeal to talk about teenagers' gaming habits, and he tries using emotional appeal towards parents about sex, having bad attitudes and how they should play catch with us. I think that Nick Jans overgeneralizes teenagers, and I believe he is wrong and his argument is weak.…

    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Learning from William F. Buckley Jr. Today Today, the United States is a divided nation as political polarization can be seen in every corner of the country. Now, more than ever, this nation needs the wisdom of William F. Buckley Jr. Buckley's conservative beliefs and overall view of government can greatly influence the nation today. His belief in small government, sticking up for what is right, and adhering to one’s principles display his vast political knowledge. Through the examination of three of William F. Buckley Jr.’s most well known quotes and their connection to the world in which we live in today, it will become clear that this nation can still learn a lot from him.…

    • 660 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Another one of his purposes throughout the course of his essay is to inspire others to stand up for their values and morals regardless of general opinions. He compared the American government to a machine that when gone astray can only be stopped by the “counter-friction” provided by a person’s dissent.…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In this commencement speech, Wallace talks about the idea of choosing what and how to think about things. To help illustrate this, he talks about living in the day-to-day existence of adult life and how the way you choose to think will keeping you from being absolutely miserable in it. Wallace talks about the default way of thinking; specifically, thinking self centeredly in the day-to-day routine. This thinking doesn’t help you cope or deal with the daily frustrations of real life and will keep you in a constant state of quiet rage. If you listen to the audio version of the speech, at one point the crowd expresses the characteristics he believes to be so dangerous to human life. It was when he was talking about being stuck in traffic and…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During reconstruction, black lives had changed dramatically. There were changes that related to slavery, and changes that gave blacks citizenship, voting rights, civil rights, and much more. The period of reconstruction was a struggle for African Americans, however by the time it was over, they could all breathe a sigh of relief.…

    • 1213 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Taxation without representation!” This James Otis saying had been running through my family's head all day long. The speech was so inspiring, so fascinating, it is like a bell after it has been rung. The sound continues out into the open, leaving the colonist in despair. “This tax is outrages!” I look into my fathers fire lit eyes as he screams this over and over, each time with a different tone. “Honey please calm down. Come sit, we will have a family discussion.” “Julia! We do not need to have a discussion. We need to fight!” I hate hearing mom and dad fight. It doesn't usually happen, but when it does, it's bad.…

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout once in your life, you may have been confronted with a situation where you accept inconveniences instead of taking action. According to William F. Buckley, American people everywhere have refrained from “trying to rectify irrational vexations”. In Buckley’s essay, “Why Don’t We Complain?” he explains some situations that he was involved in where no one would complain to repair an uncomfortable situation. Throughout the essay, Buckley uses his experiences and strong reasoning to show why he believes that the American people do not complain. Buckley attempts to support that the apathy that Americans would accept inconveniences instead of taking action is the cause of many Americans’ apathy toward huge political and social issues, creating a vicious circle of indifference and sheer laziness. After reading Buckley’s essay, I support Buckley’s ideas about assertiveness and helplessness due to three reasons.…

    • 852 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays