aignam
April 17, 2005, 11:34am
1
<p>
ESSAY PROMPT </p>
<p>Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below: </p>
<p>We must seriously question the idea of majority rule. The majority grinned and jeered when Columbus said the world was round. The majority threw him into a dungeon for his discoveries. Where is the logic in the notion that the opinion held by a majority of people should have the power to influence our decisions?</p>
<p>*Adapted from James A. Reed, “Majority Rule” *</p>
<p>Assignment: </p>
<p>Is the opinion of the majority-in government or in any other circumstances-a poor guide? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Majority rule is not always an accurate indication of what is and is not the best choice. Although majority rule is tempting to succumb to due to strength in numbers, peer pressure, and the like, we must resist. Many examples throughout literature and history support this notion, including the negative effects of isolationism in World War II, the persecution of Meursault in The Stranger, and Prohibition in the 1920s.</p>
<pre><code> The mid-1940s left America in a unique state. As most Americans were still grieving over the horrors of World War I, America took an isolationist approach to foreign policy and delayed entrance into World War II for as long as possible, much to the dismay of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Many negative effects resulted from this. America was not militarily prepared for the imminent war and thus took time to get moving upon entrance into the war. Additionally, boatloads of potential Jewish immigrants were turned away and eventually died in the Holocaust. Furthermore, America was attacked at Pearl Hardbor and lost thousands of men and took millions of dollars in damage. Had America listened to the minority who wanted to go to war, these negative consequences would have been significantly lessened.
Similarly, the idea that the majority rule is not always correct is reflected in the persecution of Meursault in Albert Camus’s The Stranger. Due to his existential views and irrationality, Meursault was jailed and sentenced to death by the court. The majority of the people present did not understand Meursault’s beliefs and sought a rational reason for all of his actions. The majority ignored Meursault’s beliefs because they were different from theirs and thus a man died without being given a fair trial.
Prohibition in the 1920s was another idea which was not the best course of action but went through because the majority (of the government) wanted it to. Prohibition was an overwhelming law imposed upon unprepared people, leading to many negative effects. Prohibition was unenforcible, for the most part, and the few men imprisoned for breaking the law were thrown into already overcrowded prisons. Additionally, Prohibition led to the genesis and strengthening of the mafia and much corruption in the government. Had the opinions of the opponents of Prohibition within the government been valued, these negative effects would not have happened.
As is exemplified in America’s isolationism in World War II, Meursault’s persecution in The Stranger, and Prohibition, majority rule is not always correct.
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<p>I received a score of 10 from CollegeBoard. What would you give my essay, and how can I improve it?</p>
<p>First of all, you could use more style, more “juice” to your writing. There is also not enough insight. It is just too plain. The way you can improve this is really care about what you’re writing.