AIDS and India

This article is by Melinda Gates (Bill Gates' wife) and is about AIDS in India. Most of the population of India does not know what AIDS is and Melinda wants people to take the initiative to help support educating others about the dangers of AIDS. She wants people to help teach those in India how to avoid getting AIDS so that it doesn't take over their country. This article was initially published in the Seattle Times opinion section in April of 2004. This is a pretty well-known newspaper; it is the largest daily newspaper in Washington. This article was meant to be read and seen by many average Americans.

1. Overstatement "India is on the brink of an AIDS catastrophe that could undermine the country's potential for progress." (p. 187) This is a statement used to try to shock the readers of this newspaper. Obviously it would take a lot of time for AIDS to have this big of an impact on their country's progress. The next paragraph says that in the next decade as many as 20 million Indians could have AIDS; this is not a very big percentage of their entire population.
2. Reliability "But as I recently saw firsthand...what I heard during my trip to Calcutta..." (p. 187) The author is trying to build up her credibility by referencing the trip that she took to India. The audience is more likely to believe her if she is talking about personal experiences she had instead of just what she has read about the country.
3. Examples "Shockingly, 70 percent of Indian women have never even heard of AIDS." (p. 188) This is an example given to help support the idea that there is a problem. This helps build logos but also has an impact on pathos. By using this she convinces the audience that there is a severe problem. It is a very shocking statement and it plays with the audiences' emotions.
4. Emotion "I was particularly moved when...[they] started singing "We Shall Overcome."" (p. 188) This is a portrayal of Melissa Gates' own emotions. She is trying to convey the feeling felt there so that readers will have the same emotional response that she did. If they can feel her emotion they will be more inspired to make a change.
5. Conclusions "But every nation that has successfully reduced infections rates has recognized the need to promote open discussion..." (p. 189) Gates here is drawing conclusions that are very convincing to the readers. If I want countries to stop AIDS, I have to convince others that they need to talk about it because that is how it stops. This logic works well on the readers.
6. Audience Character "Individuals can make a difference, too-there are things that each of us can do to help stop AIDS around the world." (p. 190) This is an appeal to the audience. By giving them an opportunity to help, it almost guilt trips them into helping. The audience thinks that they are bad if they do not help because it is so easy. By giving a link to a website she puts the situation in the hands of the people and so they feel responsible.