Carl Elliott's This Is Your Country On Drugs
Cody
ENG.1301-334
15th February 2012
Is our country really on drugs?
Has the United States of America become a country that seeks every ounce of better entertainment, no matter the effects that may hinder the entertainer? According to Carl Elliott 's article, “This is Your Country on Drugs” ( Ramage 643-645), we have subconsciously adopted the social theory of being less desirable if we do not consume performance-enhancers. Does Elliott make a reputable argument?
First, we must look at the logic of the argument. Elliott does a very good job pointing out that more people than you would think are taking performance-enhancing drugs of some sort. He says, “College kids take Ritalin..., musicians take beta blockers..., and middle-aged men take Viagra...” (Elliott 644) all to boost their …show more content…
Elliott epitomizes everything you want to do when it comes to emotion with his chosen topic. There is not one person who does not feel sympathy or judgment upon a professional athlete who publicly confesses to abusing steroids. Elliot quotes, “A scandal makes headlines only when it involves a star, and professional athletes are stars whose income and status most people can only envy” (644). He goes on to state that when athletes fail, “...fans revel in it” (644). Everyone should remember when newspapers reported that Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants and Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees were being accused of using steroids. They both lost hundreds of fans and had cheated their ways to the top. As time will tell, they will feel the effects and see the symptoms of their misuse of substances if they have not already. So one can conclude that when athletes fall, they are either remembered for their great achievements and records or for that one major failure. So Elliott smacks a home-run for the emotional
ENG.1301-334
15th February 2012
Is our country really on drugs?
Has the United States of America become a country that seeks every ounce of better entertainment, no matter the effects that may hinder the entertainer? According to Carl Elliott 's article, “This is Your Country on Drugs” ( Ramage 643-645), we have subconsciously adopted the social theory of being less desirable if we do not consume performance-enhancers. Does Elliott make a reputable argument?
First, we must look at the logic of the argument. Elliott does a very good job pointing out that more people than you would think are taking performance-enhancing drugs of some sort. He says, “College kids take Ritalin..., musicians take beta blockers..., and middle-aged men take Viagra...” (Elliott 644) all to boost their …show more content…
Elliott epitomizes everything you want to do when it comes to emotion with his chosen topic. There is not one person who does not feel sympathy or judgment upon a professional athlete who publicly confesses to abusing steroids. Elliot quotes, “A scandal makes headlines only when it involves a star, and professional athletes are stars whose income and status most people can only envy” (644). He goes on to state that when athletes fail, “...fans revel in it” (644). Everyone should remember when newspapers reported that Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants and Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees were being accused of using steroids. They both lost hundreds of fans and had cheated their ways to the top. As time will tell, they will feel the effects and see the symptoms of their misuse of substances if they have not already. So one can conclude that when athletes fall, they are either remembered for their great achievements and records or for that one major failure. So Elliott smacks a home-run for the emotional