Hunter S. Thompson: He Was a Crook

Hunter S. Thompson:

- Born in 1963 in Kentucky
- Served in the US Air Force, but was honorably discharged because of his rebellious attitude
- Committed suicide in 2005

He Was a Crook: Thompson writes about former President Richard Nixon shortly after his death in 1994 to condemn his actions and to condemn Nixon as a person.



Image source:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/quotes/last-words/images/hunter-s-thompson.jpg

Notes:
He Was a Crook can be found at http://www.theatlantic.com/past/unbound/graffiti/crook.htm

Introduction to Argument

When trying to convince someone of something, it is important to convince them of your sincerity. In his He Was a Crook, Hunter Thompson does not effectively establish himself as sincere and this overall hurts his argument.

So buckle up and get ready to take the fast lane to the reasons for Thompson's failure.

Image sources:
http://www.robertslawfirm.com/sept13/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/highway.jpg

Nixon: Crook, or not a crook?

Former President Robert Nixon has some thing to say for himself:

But writer Hunter S. Thompson thinks differently...

Image sources:

http://www.balloon-juice.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/christie-i-am-not-a-crook-sheneman.gif

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XualFf14ty4/maxresdefault.jpg

Thompson tries to gain the reader's trust by establishing his ethos

Ethos refers to the good name of an author, orator, etc. Every successful author attempts to build for himself a good ethos.























Thompson tries to do this by saying that he personally knew Nixon and therefore was in a position to judge him (arguing from his experience/experiential knowledge).


Image source:
http://thumb7.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/696460/211433341/stock-photo-closeup-portrait-surprised-young-man-getting-unexpected-attention-from-people-asking-you-talking-211433341.jpg

Bible quotation

Thompson opens up his essay with a quotation from the Bible: a religious text for some, a source of good stories of people doing good things for others, and simply a book for others.

This is an attempt to gain some credibility (ethos) before he even begins writing.

Image source:
http://www.southmaincoc.net/images/data/pictures/carousel/bible-page.jpg

DON'T SHOUT AT ME!!!

Have you ever gotten an email like:

This is the same feeling that Thompson gives when he uses heavy words such:

By opening his argument with these words, he sets the a strong tone.









Image sources:
http://blogs.ancientfaith.com/glory2godforallthings/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2013/07/Picture-of-Hell.jpg
http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140629153046/vsbattles/images/1/10/Monster_Hunter.jpg
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--6bC1imx6--/18n62aqq3js6cjpg.jpg

Offensive to many religious people

World population based on religion:






















Christians believe Jesus Christ is the son of God.
Muslims believe Jesus Christ was a prophet.
Other people believe Jesus Christ was a pretty decent guy who helped people out.

Despite this, Thompson equates Jesus with "Nietzschean supermen", men who will live in infamy for generations to come: Hitler, Bismark and Hirohito.


Image sources:
http://www.adherents.com/images/rel_pie.gif

Nixon wasn't perfect

Watergate before Nixon:

Watergate after Nixon:

Clearly, Nixon did something wrong...

Image sources:

http://www.hudforeclosed.com/live/images/hf090813_500x360_watergate.jpg

http://www.authentichistory.com/1961-1974/6-nixon/3-watergate/popculture/Postal_Cover-Former_Nixon_Aides_Indicted_In_Cover-up_of_Watergate_Case.jpg

Despite whatever flaws there are in Nixon's character, Thompson's language hurts his ethos

When you first read He Was a Crook, you might look like this:

Much like someone who just killed a conversation with an awkward comment, Thompson's cold and dark remarks kill his ethos and therefore, effectively, much of his argument.


Image sources:
http://ll-media.tmz.com/2012/09/14/0914-britney-portrait-300x400.jpg

Conclusion

Thompson: "Richard Nixon was an evil man – evil in a way that only those who believe in the physical reality of the Devil can understand it. He was utterly without ethics or morals or any bedrock sense of decency."

Take it from the lemur: Thompson is taking his argument a little too far.


Image sources:
http://treasure.diylol.com/uploads/post/image/426430/resized_lemur-meme-generator-whoa-whoa-whoa-stop-that-right-there-da3015.jpg