TOW #23 Was Polk the Putin of 1848? By: Ron Grossman

Current events today are largely focusing on the events that have occurred over in Russia and its annexation of Crimea. Ron Grossman takes this event and applies some history to it and looks to find any connection with history. The surprising thing that the author finds is that we can see this event happen in our own history. We can see this happen in 1848 when President Polk chose to attack Mexico for killing "American people on American land." This then sparking Abraham Lincoln to question the Polk as to where the spot was that American lives were lost. Grossman argues whether that Polk was Putin and Abraham Lincoln was President Obama.

The author of the article wanted to create a comparison for the reader. His main purpose was to create a comparison between current events and historical events. The author's main audience for this message was not only the American people, and also politicians as to maybe what to do in the situation.

Mr. Grossman uses many techniques to achieve his purpose of a comparison between current events and historical events. One of them would be the juxtaposition of Putin and President Obama throughout the article as though they are Polk or Lincoln. In the beginning of the article Grossman explains that Polk and Putin are similar in fact that they want land from another country and are ready to go to war for it. They even have the same reasons for going to war. They both believe that there are people in those lands that are part of their country. America believed Texas and California were American lands and demanded that the Mexicans leave because of the fact that they had Americans. Russia believes that Crimea and Ukraine have Russian people in those lands, and they want them. Grossman finally juxtaposes Lincoln and President Obama because they both believe that this is wrong and that things should stay the way they are and for everyone not to go to war.

I believe that the author achieved his purpose of comparing current events to a historical event.