While I was watching the Super Bowl, one advertisement caught my attention: “Democracy Dies in Darkness” for The Washington Post. This advertisement stressed the importance of the media in the United States in allowing our democracy to function. It describes how, no matter what our nation is going through, news sources such as The Washington Post “gather the facts” and “bring [one] the story” of what is happening in the world (“Democracy Dies in Darkness”). The media provides the public with knowledge, so they can make educated decisions when they exercise their rights, especially when voting, a key part of democracy. Having knowledge about the world allows the people of the United States to maintain their rights because the public , being under a democratic government, has a great influence on the path the U.S. takes and can support those who they think will protect their freedoms. “Democracy dies in darkness” because without the knowledge the media provides society few would be able to make the right decisions, and democracy, where the public has power, would not be able to function (“Democracy Dies in Darkness”).
I found that the parallel structure used in “Democracy Dies in Darkness” made the advertisement especially compelling. At the beginning of “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” each line began with “when we” or “when our,” emphasizing how the media is always there for America as a whole, not just individuals (“Democracy Dies in Darkness”). Then at the end of the advertisement, each line started with “knowing,” while changing the ending to different ways knowing is important (“Democracy Dies in Darkness”). This repetition stressed just how essential knowledge is to America. The consistent use of parallel structure throughout the advertisement allows it to make a strong point and be memorable to viewers.
While I do not typically read the Washington Post, I do listen to NPR News, another news source that provides a great deal of knowledge for society. I cannot vote yet, but the knowledge I get from NPR empowers me in other ways. One way is in Quiz Bowl, where I use knowledge from the media to answer questions. Listening to NPR news gives me knowledge about what is taking place in America, and I can frequently answer Quiz Bowl questions concerning current events because I have this knowledge. In a few years when I can vote I will also be able to use this knowledge to protect my freedoms and help play my part in America’s democracy.