Source Analysis - Excellent Example
Source Analysis - Excellent Example
Source Analysis - Excellent Example
The first source is a political cartoon that depicts two civilians being held in a bunker
with a government official standing at the door. The bunker itself could be described as a
prison-like cell, as it restricts the civilians from being able to access the world outside; there is
only one small window that provides a limited view of outside the room, and the door, when
closed, would completely seal them inside, save for a small window at the top. The layout of
the room promotes the feelings of imprisonment created by the government through its severe
intervention, as does the multiple cameras and microphones within the room. This depiction
shoes that the source disagrees with government intervention and surveillance, as it
dramatically shows the citizens having no privacy or freedom. The government official is at the
door saying the words “Now you’re safe from terrorist attacks,” which means he believes that
all this regulation and security over citizens is justified because, even though they have been
denied access to their rights and freedoms, they are protected from possible danger. This
source discusses the issues of to what extent the government should interfere with citizen’s
lives, it criticizes increased security by the government by comparing their involvement to being
imprisoned, like that of a prisoner in a prison cell. The author of this source takes a classical
liberal stance and believes that the government should not intervene, as this would infringe on
the core beliefs of the ideology. Classical liberalism promotes ideals of individualism, which
believes that the rights and freedoms of everyone should be guaranteed, even during possible
times of crisis, such as a “terrorist attack.” The source opposes the imposition upon citizen’s
civil liberties by the government, as demonstrated in the cartoon, because they would be
restricted from pursuing their rights and freedoms that should be guaranteed to each
individual.
Name: _______________