Language Analysis Essay

950 Words4 Pages
Language Analysis – ‘So you think we’re mean-spirited to migrants? Think again’ Debate regarding the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers has ignited due to the backlash of media and their constant attacks on the governments failed attempts at devising some sort of a plan for these issues. An ex-minister but now a columnist for The Age has recently published an opinion piece regarding the inaccuracy of the media. ‘So you think we’re mean spirited to migrants? Think again’ published on the 17th of August, 2015 by Amanda Vanstone contends in a frustrated tone, that the media is ‘incapable’ of delivering accurate news to the people regarding Australia’s immigration record. Vanstone, throughout the article, uses past anecdotes of herself…show more content…
This strikes a chord with the reader as the real photograph of the boats evoke a sense of sympathy for those who truly need this countries help. Vanstone initiates her opinion piece by arguing that ‘double standards irk’ and that the media has a ‘vital role in checking on the government’ and the only way to truly achieve that is through honesty with both the audience and ‘themselves’. The readers are positioned to feel a state of betrayal directed towards the media and their misleading behavior. Vanstone’s attack towards the media truly takes a hit at their professionalism and aims to influence the Australian people to feel as if they have been inaccurately informed about their…show more content…
Vanstone states that ‘[Australia] open our arms and our hearts and say welcome’ as well as ‘open[ing] our wallets and shell out for housing, health and education’. This effectively allows the reader to be constantly reminded of the good that Australia has done in promoting our country to be the best when it comes to helping those in need. The listing mechanism allows the reader to be further swayed by Vanstone’s contention; which is that the media writes ‘almost nothing but stories about our
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