Argument Readings

In “Who Are You Animal Rights Activists Anyway?” by Tom Regan, he was telling the general public about the views of animal rights activists. Regan has written several essays on animal rights and is recognized as a key intellectual leader of the animal rights movement and has also written several books on the subject which makes him very credible in his writings. Regan’s argument is one of change, he’s trying to get us to change our views and persuade us that not all animal right activists are extremists. He starts his essay by telling us that “the world will have to change once we learn to treat animals with respect”, he goes on to tell us that “being kind to animals is not enough, avoiding cruelty is not enough and that the truth of animal rights requires empty cages, not larger cages.” I found his essay hard to keep my attention by the way he jumped around. In “Get a Knife, Get a Dog, but Get Rid of Guns” by Molly Ivins, she was telling the reader her thoughts on getting rid of guns. Ivans is a nationally syndicated political writer. Ivans argument is one of position. She gives us her views that she supports the Second Amendment and it stating clearly that “guns are for those who form part of a well-regulated militia” means the armed forces, including the National Guard not fourteen year old boys or wacky religious cults and unregulated citizens. Ivans goes on to state her argument by stating that “a well regulated militia implies both long training and long discipline and that should be required of those who are permitted to have guns, because a gum is literally the power to kill”. This essay kept my attention because it is something that I agree with. In “The Last Word on the Last Breath” by Jan Hoffman, she was telling us her views on the right on who should determine when an ill patient should die. Her argument is one on both change and persuasion. She starts her essay by telling us about a 35 year old patient that had been in a vegetative

Cited: Regan, Tom. "Who Are You Animal Rights Activists Anyway?" Wiener, Harvey S. Major Themes for Modern Writers. Custom Publishing, n.d. Ivins, Molly. "Get a Knife, Get a Dog, but Get Rid of Guns." Weiner, Harvey S. Major Themes for Modern Writers. Custom Publishing, n.d. [ Hoffman, Jan. "The Last Word on the Last Breath." Weiner, Harvey S. Major Themes for Modern Writers. Custom Publishing, n.d. ] Allen, Charlotte. "The Return of the Happy Housewife." Wiener, Harvey S. Major Themes for Modern Writers. Custom Publishing, n.d.