Penny, L. Fighting Words. (Reading) Flashcards
The article “Fighting Back,” focuses its argument around which recent news story?
The terrorist attack in Manchester, England, at the Manchester Arena following an Ariana Grande concert which left 22 dead.
The author states, “The consensus is that we
are living in a nation so paralysed by handflapping
progressive talk-talkery that ordinary,
right-thinking folks aren’t allowed to
say what’s really on their minds.” At first Penny would have us believe this is conventional wisdom, however, she then uses _____ as an example of how no one really feels like they can’t express themselves freely.
True or false, the basis for the author’s argument is that Penny believes the real reason people may not fully express what they really think, is that what they think ought to be done about terrorism is so unacceptable, they know they can’t come out and say it.
True. Most people will not come out and say something drastic should be done about terrorism for fear of what it would mean for the common person’s freedoms in everyday life including being surveiled.
The author asserts that Britain is one of the most surveiled societies in the Western world. True or False?
True
Prevent, the counter-extremism program in Britain is so extreme, Penny affirms it has been condemned by experts and educators as an infringement on free speech. True or false?
True
The Prevent program in Britain has one big problem, according to Penny: there’s nowhere to go but up. Meaning the next step up from Prevent once you’ve watched and detained everyone is a full police state. True or false?
True
True or false, Penny supports the notion of a police state in that it can be done.
True.
Examples of a police state as described by the author in the article include internet surveillance, limited immigration, and imprisonment for suspicious activities. True or false?
True.
Britain has constitutional rights to free speech. True or false?
False. Britain does not have constitutional rights to free speech.
The author’s overarching idea or thesis could be summarized with the question, Is it worth it to institute a police state? Agree or disagree?
Agree
The author states that instituting a police state and establishing things like internment camps should be called out for what they are: responses stemming from fear. True or false?
True
True or false: Penny states that although it is ok to be angry and fearful, that these emotions have no place dictating public policy.
True
Penny adds that while the fearful and angry feel legitimately so, xenophobes are using the collective fear and anger to advance their xenophobic agendas, saying “frightened instinct needs to
be named so we can deal with it like adults.” True or false?
True
Define anathema in this quote: “The truth is that the only way to be sure that no swivel-eyed extremist who hates
life and liberty and raw, youthful joy so much that he’s prepared to blow up a pop concert full of teenagers can never do so again is to acquiesce to the sort of state apparatus that is anathema to joy and liberty
and life; the sort of state apparatus that no child should grow up with.”
something or someone that one vehemently dislikes.
“racial hatred was anathema to her”
synonyms: an abomination, an outrage, an abhorrence, a disgrace, an evil
Explain what the author means by “This is why platitudes about “unity” are not, in fact, platitudes at all.”
The author uses the word platitude (a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful) as a way to convey that the call for calm rational thinking and policy design is not rhetoric, it’s the strength of character to not give in to rage and revenge.
