CRITIQUE OF “THE ALGEBRA OF INFINITE JUSTICE”
The Algebra of infinite justice is an article written by Arundhati Roy. Arundhati was born on Novemeber 24, 1961 in Shillong to a Bengali Hindu father and a Christian mother. She won a Booker Prize for her first novel-The God of Small Things in 1997. After that she wrote on many topics on politics, nuclear weapons s in India, corruption among others. One of her writing is “The algebra of infinite justice” where she criticizes the role of USA in the beginning, propagation, and methods to fight terrorist. She claims the USA is created terrorist and is attempting to destroy them. She claims that the USA action motivated people like Osama bin Laden by oppressing people and attempting to force the “American way of life” on others using economic sanctions, war climate, and policies. The article lacks enough evidence to support her claim since it is based on assumptions and stereotypes with very little evidence and poor flow of idea.
Roy asserts that America attempts to force people to live as them by creating policies and by funding Mujahedeen to fight proxy wars on their behalf. For this reason, America loses all the moral authority to claim to fight the terrorist that they created. She claims that the sanctions in Afghanistan leading to death of over 500,000 children were not only irrational, but immoral. She claim that the USA created dictators leading to deaths of many people. She also asserts the governments use war as an excuse to curtail liberties and freedoms of the minorities. These actions led to the rise of radicals, such as Osama bin laden. American actions go unpunished such the Anderson who caused the 1984 Bhopal gas leak that killed 16,000 people. India ought to not have begged America to set up their military camp on its bounders.
The introduction is good and catchy. The flow of the ideals in the whole article is not clear enough. Nevertheless the arguments and counter argument can lead to a substantive logical conclusion. However, she tends to appeal to emotions by informing of the most sensitive actions like the death of children. In addition, there are disconnections in some parts. For examples, the connection between the death of children and economic sanction requires a better elaboration.
What the article lacks in the supporting evidence of the main claims the evidence given is scanty. For examples, in the case of Afghanistan, stating that 500,000 children died because of American economic sanctions does not give clear link between the two. The claim that American and Russia hired Mujahedeen to fight proxy wars has no supporting evidence. Statistically, the article is not convincing at all.
She used rhetoric throughout her article especially figurative language. For example, she describes America as bereaved. She notes that the U.S Ambassador when asked about the economic sanctions lading to death of 500,000 Iraq children, she claims that” the price was worth it” that translates to the deaths were worth the cause. Roy notes that Afghanistan is about to become a graveyard of soldiers who fought and won the war for the America. She also claims that terrorism is just like symptoms and not the diseases itself.
The essay has strong point with some evidence. That is highly commendable. The language is excellent and persuasive. However, more evidence is required so that the reader can create one big picture of the issues raised from facts.
In conclusion, the use of the figurative language and rhetoric is excellent. The point raised needs a lot of support for one to belief them since some seem to be stereotypes and unfounded assertions. Therefore, more evidence is needed. The flow is relatively okay although it can be improved.
