Every person has inalienable rights that can not be taken away by any government. According to Rev. Thomas J. Reese, that is exactly what is happening in many nations across the world, such as Russia. These governments are suppressing their citizens right to religion on a daily basis. In “Religious Freedom Abroad Deteriorates, with few exceptions”, Rev. Reese appeals to pathos and ethos in order to show the reader how people in other countries are being stripped from their right to religion.
Rev. Reese appeals to ethos by telling the audience that he is the chair of USCIRF, or the United States Commision on International Religious Freedom. Rev. Reese served as chair from 2016-17. By mentioning this, the reader can trust Rev. Reese to tell the truth because he is actually part of the group that tries to advance religious freedom.
In order to attract the reader to the issue, Rev. Reese appeals to pathos. “we need to call to task state-sponsored attacks on religious freedom as well as governments that look the other way when individuals and mobs attack religious minorities”(Reese). Rev. Reese appeals to the reader’s sense of empathy towards religious minorities and to get them in the spirit of taking a stand. He wants to let the reader know that one must not continue to let governments ignore the struggles that their citizens face.
Throughout the article, Rev. Reese continues to appeal to pathos by giving the reader examples of how religious freedom is being suppressed in different governments. An example that Rev. Rees used are issues in Russia, “Russia saw a serious uptick in religious persecution in 2016 as the government not only increased its repression of religious freedom in its own territory but also expanded its repression into neighboring Ukraine, which it had invaded.” Rev. Reese goes on to tell the reader that governments, like Russia, that have no problem of controlling religion in their territory. These governments control certain religions for “national security” reason. “The Jehovah’s Witnesses have been banned by the state despite video recording showing the police planting incriminating evidence against them. Innocent Muslims in Chechnya, Dagestan and Crimea were also tried on fabricated charges of terrorism and extremism”(Reese). By mentioning events that have been happening in Russia, Rev. Reese gives the reader a sense of anger, by showing them how governments, like Russia, do in order to suppress religious freedom.
Overall, Rev. Reese successfully appeals to ethos and pathos in order to show the reader that there are people that are still living under governments that are suppressing their right to religion. Rev. Reese states that it is up to us to stop these regimes from “cracking down” on religious freedom. Everyone is born with inalienable rights, and they need to be protected.
Reese, Thomas. “Religious Freedom Abroad Deteriorates, with few exceptions.” National Catholic Reporter, June 2017, pp. 40-45. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=139481025&scope=site.
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