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"Why Don't We Complain" by William F. Buckley Jr.
"Why Don't We Complain" by William F. Buckley Jr.
Buckley, Jr. in which the author considers at length on the average American's unwillingness to
voice his opinions. Buckley uses three main points to make his argument. First, he believes
Americans always expect other people to complain first, even in the face of unbearable
conditions, because no one wants to be the lone voice of dissent. Secondly, much of the
American people's unwillingness to complain comes from simple fear. They are afraid to
confront authority even when their rights are being violated. Third, the American desire to be
unobtrusive means the government will grow bolder in restricting their rights. Buckleys purpose
in writing his essay is very obvious: to convince Americans that it is time to start complaining.
Rather than sitting passively when a movie is out of focus or a bus is too hot, Americans should
say something to someone with the power to change the problem, so he or she and everyone
around him or her can benefit from the needed change. Buckley fears that apathy towards small
inconveniences has caused and will continue to cause apathy toward larger problems, and would
like to reverse the trend as soon as possible. The speaker of this essay is William F. Buckley Jr.,
a politician, talk show host, and writer. Buckley is highly connected to the issue he is speaking
about, because he has found himself to be apathetic and passive in many situations where he
easily could have spoken up. As a result of this discovery, he has begun speaking up, or
complaining, oftentimes to little avail. Through his personal experiences, Buckley convinces
the reader that if people start to complain, the culture of apathy in America will be reversed and