Fareed Zakaria's Perspective on Islam (3:3)

Let's be Honest, Islam has a Problem Right Now

The Washington Post, 10 October 2014
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One of Fareed Zakaria's most recent articles addresses a topic very sensitive for many American-muslims because it makes note of very scary generalizations. Zakaria begins the argument with several quotes from an author who makes exaggerations that put the Muslim world with the ISIS. To follow up and perhaps even reject the argument, Zakaria uses the idea of  1.6 billion Muslim followers, although spread out and varied. He does recognize recent terrorist attacks and their association with Islam but attributes them more to extremism. Zakaria draws sharp contrasts between inherent ideologies and misinterpreted ones. With this in mind, Zakaria refers back to the original quotations and focuses upon their faults, also making sure to give them advice for future situations.

Zakaria, in this piece, contends Maher's and Harris's most recent statements regarding Islam and a supposedly appropriate stereotype. To rhetorically analyze Zakaria's piece, I find it best to go chronologically. He provides an adamant rebuttal, beginning even within his title. His title, "Let's be Honest, Islam has a Problem Right Now," appeals to his own ethos as it demonstrates self-scrutiny and willingness to listen--it shows that Zakaria has made notes on either side of the argument. To further his rhetoric, he uses the basic statistics and quotes several credible sources, but he also uses strategies in particular. One that might stand out is the "cancer of extremism within Islam," figurative language to help visualize the point he is making. Throughout the piece, Zakaria makes several counterarguments based upon the original quotes, a form of concession-refutation. Another technique he uses actually damages his "opponent's" credibility in the lines: "Harris prides himself on being highly analytical--with a PhD, no less. I learned in graduate school that you can never explain a variable phenomenon with a fixed cause." Although subtle, he characterizes Harris as egotistical and even flawed. When it comes to structure, Zakaria's concession-refutation style dominates the article and creates its form. He capitalizes upon its advantages and reinforces many aspects of his overall appeal.