How To Effectively Argue, Part 1

This is the first article in an eight part series that is intended to help our readership understand and engage in modern logic and debate techniques

Bonner County enjoys a small but vocal population that love to write letters to the editor and other opinion pieces. The Moose Droppings believes that more of the county’s residents would like to voice their opinions in print, but are unsure how to be effective. Therefore, the Moose Droppings is starting a series on how to write effective arguments, as demonstrated by print media’s regular contributors. This first article will deal with racism.

For the sake of argument, say a letter from one Dee Santos condemned the community for not embracing hispanic culture and properly celebrating Cinco de Mayo. As a first time author, you could lay out the rational argument that as an American of say, Irish descent, you have no clue why Mexicans celebrate Cinco de Mayo, just as the Mexicans generally have no clue about the origins of St. Paddy’s day. Further, being from Bonner County, you could actually care less, as both days are just another excuse to go out for a night and have some dinner and a lot of drinks.

While at first glance this might appear to be a rational and sincere explanation of your apathy towards the history of these dates, this argument will not be effective nor convincing. A better tactic would be to call anyone with an opposing viewpoint a Racist, and chastise them for denigrating your Irish heritage. Remind them also that not all hispanics are of Mexican descent, and that assuming so also makes them Racist. Avoid any semblance of rational discourse, and simply yell Racism, Racism, Racism as loud as possible. Heck, use all caps as it will make your letter even more effective: RACISM!