Deception by the Powerful: How Truth is Concealed

Reflections on Societal Manipulation

This article reflects on the delusions to which people are subjected by those in power and their habit of hiding the truth, resorting to silence when asked for explanations, especially when they are cornered.

Structure of the Text

The text is structured as a single paragraph in the form of an inductive exposition. The author initially presents a specific case (the trial judge "Matas") to introduce the broader topic: the delusions imposed by the powerful upon the people.

Linguistic Features of Opinion Journalism

The text exhibits several linguistic features characteristic of opinion journalism, particularly in the form of a column or op-ed:

• Subjectivity (Personal View): This is evident in various linguistic features, including the use of the first-person plural to engage the reader ("Sorry", "ignore", "us stay", "who paid to us"). It also manifests through connotation, where words are imbued with ironic meaning ("between prawn and shrimp would be making any statement on issues that are so close", "poor martyrs tempted adolescents without scruples"). This is done to convey the author's views in a somewhat indirect manner.
• Freedom of Expression: This is demonstrated through the blending of religious language ("perplexity", "stunned") with colloquial expressions ("angry", "pull the rug", "between prawn and shrimp", "stone we were"). The author also employs literary devices such as parallelism ("... felt perplexed and angry to see that a criminal justice took him for an idiot. Bewilderment and anger of the magistrate...") and asyndeton ("Did they give him asking, perhaps you should.").

Nature of the Text: Expository-Argumentative

This is an expository-argumentative text. The author presents facts while simultaneously offering commentary and expressing their opinions. It takes the form of a column, a newspaper article that delves into current issues, where the author puts forth arguments to support their thesis. The author aims to influence the reader's ideology, consistently engaging them through the use of the first-person plural.

Central Theme

This text centers on the delusions imposed upon the people by those in power. It highlights how the powerful use distraction and silence as tools to maintain their economic and political dominance when confronted with demands for explanations or when they find themselves in a difficult situation.