This article was written by Lydia Polgreen for the New York Times. It explores the struggle for political power and influence in South Africa at the time and the violence that is related to it. Polgreen demonstrates the extremity of the problem through her use of numerous examples. The shift in the South African government brought about a democratic system that was supposed to be accompanied by equality and peace in politics. Polgreen contrasts the ideal peaceful South Africa with the realistic violent country, "The killings threaten to tarnish the image of the so-called rainbow nation, whose largely bloodless transition from white minority rule to nonracial democracy has made it a beacon of peace, tolerance and forgiveness." Polgreen's use of "so-called" depicts her opinion that the country's reputation is evolving into an empty hope and being overrun by the violent reality. Polgreen continues to describe the difficulties faced by the country when she writes, "Fewer than half of South African’s young black adults have jobs, and many lack the basic skills to find work after years of attending substandard schools in townships and rural areas." She accompanies her previous inclusion of opinion through her degrading tone of the country with facts when she reports the unemployment and education of specific citizens. These facts demonstrate the harsh reality faced by a large portion of the population. Through her inclusion of multiple examples of murder, harsh statistics, and a degrading tone, Polgreen is able to demonstrate that South Africa has failed to fulfill its goal of becoming a peaceful and tolerant country.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/01/world/africa/south-africa-corruption-fuels-battle-for-political-spoils.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1354381966-aTpgsO/Tk5rj23RmfuJmRw&_r=0
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