Blog 14 – How To Build A Better Democrat
April 16, 2009
In “How to Build a Better Democrat” by Joe Klein, the issue of foreign policy and its complexity is brought to attention. Klein makes a point of saying that foreign policy is more than just the visible friend and foe and our relationships with other countries. It also includes issues that reach outside of governmental jurisdiction, such a terrorism (which is not affiliated under a specific government but rather a set of ideals) and the rapid spread of viral diseases such as SARS and AIDS (viral diseases do not heed to the threat of governmental force).
In closing his segment, Klein writes, “In an age of viral power, Democrats might argue, the U.S. has to be more than a hammer looking for nails. We have to find a way to act as a vaccine.” This ‘hammer looking for nails’ metaphor views foreign policy in an interesting manner. The metaphor represents U.S.’s actions to fix the ‘loose nails’ in foreign relations by using our nation’s powers to to ‘hammer’ them back in to their proper place.
However, Klein is arguing that we need to work and act as a vaccine to create a cure for the problems of the world that have inflicted the global population like a virus. Hammering a nail is often just a short, intrusive way to resolve an issue. There is the possibility that the nail will was again become loose, creating an obtrusion that could once again snag foreign policy. A vaccination, on the other hand, serves as a more preventative action that creates long standing results and eliminates the further spread of problems.
April 16, 2009 at 7:12 pm
You used the same concept as me but with different, more elegant words. I completely agree that the article is a contrast between the current foreign policy (hammer) and the new, proposed policy (vaccine). I saw the hammer as only evoking a temporary “quick fix” while the vaccine as a long lasting cure. Well done.
April 19, 2009 at 6:27 am
I chose this same article and have the same feelings about the situation.
April 20, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I loved the analysis of the “hammer and nails” metaphor. I agree with the authors view of the situation, and I think it will take much more than force to rid the world of terrorism.
April 21, 2009 at 3:01 am
I chose to look at the same article. This is a very good analysis about the metaphors used, like a hammer looking for nails, and a vaccine.
April 21, 2009 at 6:26 pm
I did this analysis also but I didn’t focus a lot on the hammer and nail metaphor, you did a good job doing so.
April 21, 2009 at 7:13 pm
“The metaphor represents U.S.’s actions to fix the ‘loose nails’ in foreign relations by using our nation’s powers to to ‘hammer’ them back in to their proper place.” I really like this interpretation. I can’t find a way to express myself for the hammer accurately, but you made it! Good job!
April 27, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Great job with this analysis. I really like how in the first paragraph you talked about how terrorism is a set of ideals and is like a virus. And how viruses do not give in to the pressure of a government that was a very interesting analysis. I also like how you talked about both metaphors. Not only the one of vaccine and virus, but also hammer and nails, and how each one is different. great job.
April 29, 2009 at 3:47 am
Excellent way to describe the metaphors presented. I agree with your explanations of them.
April 29, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I think that you did a fantastic job of analyzing this paper as well as talking about both metpahors. I had very similar ideas but you also helped me to look at the hammer and nails metaphor in a different way. thanks.