Question

The following five letters are representative of those the editors received and published in the issue of March 29, 1999. Carefully read each letter, looking for slanted and charged language. List the language that you have identified. Then, list the verifiable facts that you have found. How do you know these facts are verifiable? How does the language used in each letter appeal to or discourage particular audiences? Please answer in 400 words.

Kudos for your March 8 issue, "Voices of the Century: Americans at War." This issue surely ranks among the best magazines ever published. As a military historian, I gained a better perspective of this turbulent century from this single issue than from many other sources combined. The first-person accounts are the genius of the issue. And your selection of storytellers was truly inspired. The "Voices of the Century" is so powerful that I will urge all of my friends to read it, buying copies for those who are not subscribers. Many persons today, especially those born after WWII, do not comprehend or appreciate the defining events of this century. How can we be more confident that they will be aware of our vital past when making important social and political decisions during the next century? I have great confidence in the American spirit and will, but this missing perspective is my principal concern as I leave this nation to the ministry of my daughters, my grandchildren, and their generation. Why not publish "Voices of the Century" as a booklet and make it readily available to all young people? Why not urge every school system to make it required reading prior to graduation from high school? --ALAN R. MCKIE, Springfield, VA

Your March 8 issue was a powerfully illustrated essay of the men and women who have served our country and the people of other lands in so many capacities. But it was the photos that touched my soul and made me cry all over again for the human loss, my loss. As I stared at the picture of the injured, dead, dying, and crying, I felt as though I were intruding on their private hell. God bless all of them, and my sincere thanks for a free America. --DEBORAH AMES, Sparks, NV

I arrived in this country at 15 as a Jewish refugee from Nazism. I became an American soldier at 19 and a U.S. Foreign Service officer at 29. As a witness to much of the history covered in your special issue, I wanted to congratulate Newsweek on a superb job. In your excellent introduction, I found only one word with which I take issue: that "after the war Rosie and her cohort happily went back to the joys of motherhood and built the baby boom." Rosie and her cohort were forced back into their traditional gender roles, and it took the women's movement another generation or two to win back the gains achieved during the war. --LUCIAN HEICHLER, Frederick, MD

Editor's note: The word "happily" was carefully chosen. Contemporary surveys indicated that most of the American women who joined the work force because of World War II were glad to get back to family life when it was over.

On the cover of your "Americans at War" issue, you have the accompanying text "From WWI to Vietnam: The Grunts and the Great Men--In Their Own Words." In each of these wars, the grunts were the great men. --PAULA S. MCGUIRE, Charlotte, NC

Your March 8 issue was painful for me and other members of my family as a result of the photograph you included on page 62 showing a wounded soldier being dragged from the line of fire during the Tet Offensive. My family had previously confirmed with the photographer that the soldier was my youngest brother, Marine Cpl. Robert Mack Harrelson. His bullet-riddled body fought hard to survive and, with the assistance of many excellent, caring members of our U.S. Military Medical Staff, he was able to regain some degree of normalcy after his return. But the injuries he received were too great to overcome, resulting in the military funeral he had requested. The rekindled grief brought on by your photo is keenly felt throughout our large family, and especially so by our dear 85-year-old mother, who still speaks of Bob as though he might reappear at any time. In spite of the photo, I sincerely congratulate your fine publication for reminding the world of the tragedy of war. --LOWELL L. HARRELSON, Bay Minette, AL

Answer 1

Here is the analysis of the letters:

1. Letter from ALAN R. MCKIE, Springfield, VA

This letter has very simple and easy to understand yet powerful language. It conveys the true experience of a historian, the importance of sharing history with upcoming generations as well as recognizing those who provided the huge contributions to the country. The language is not aggressive or provoking. The letter is more of an emotional writeup and does not contain verifiable facts.

2. Letter from DEBORAH AMES, Sparks, NV

This letter contains slanted or charged language in the form of the following sentences – “But it was the photos that touched my soul and made me cry all over again for the human loss, my loss. As I stared at the picture of the injured, dead, dying, and crying, I felt as though I were intruding on their private hell”. The letter is more of an emotional writeup and does not contain verifiable facts. This letter contains disturbing facts, especially for those who have lost their near and dear ones in the wars – could find this portrayal disturbing.

3. Letter from LUCIAN HEICHLER, Frederick, MD

This letter contains verifiable facts. The letter also has slated / charged language in the form of the following sentence: “"after the war Rosie and her cohort happily went back to the joys of motherhood and built the baby boom." Rosie and her cohort were forced back into their traditional gender roles, and it took the women's movement another generation or two to win back the gains achieved during the war”. This sentence in the letter could be disturbing for women in general – this may be a fact, but the way the letter has been written appears disturbing.

4. Letter from PAULA S. MCGUIRE, Charlotte, NC

This letter does not contain any verifiable facts. Its mainly an opinion. The language is very light yet conveys the meaning intended. The only bothering sentence is “from grunts to great men” – not disturbing but probably looks to downsize the contribution and might be bothering to soldiers.

5. Letter from LOWELL L. HARRELSON, Bay Minette, AL

This letter contains very bothering language – bothering to the people/friends and acquaintances of those who made important contribution in wars. The charged language is reflected in the form of the following sentence: “My family had previously confirmed with the photographer that the soldier was my youngest brother, Marine Cpl. Robert Mack Harrelson. His bullet-riddled body fought hard to survive and, with the assistance of many excellent, caring members of our U.S. Military Medical Staff, he was able to regain some degree of normalcy after his return. But the injuries he received were too great to overcome, resulting in the military funeral he had requested. The rekindled grief brought on by your photo is keenly felt throughout our large family, and especially so by our dear 85-year-old mother, who still speaks of Bob as though he might reappear at any time” – which though full of facts is difficult to read.