Summary Of Paul Salopek's Fleeing Terror, Finding Refuge

In his article, “Fleeing Terror, Finding Refuge,” Paul Salopek describes the prolonged conflict and distress of the Syrians. The Syrians, having been introduced into a warzone, are being forced out of their homeland in search of refuge. Salopek introduces the struggles of the Syrians in an intriguing and eye-opening style throughout his article. Throughout the article, “Fleeing Terror, Finding Refuge,” Paul Salopek is able to use the rhetorical strategies of rhetorical questioning, diction, and anecdote as a way to involve, inform, and create a lasting impact upon his audience relating to the Syrian Refugee Crisis.
To begin his argument of the Syrian refugee struggles, Salopek fills the beginning of his article with rhetorical questions. In the article, “Fleeing Terror, Finding Refuge,” Paul Salopek begins with the question: “What happens when you become a war refugee?” he then answers with the simple statement: “You walk.” He intrigues his

audience with this question and begins to describe the difficulty of becoming a refugee. Salopek explains that you initially leave your home in, and with, anything necessary and then must face the issue of walking when confronting border crossing. When explaining border conflict Salopek uses an almost satirical tone while asking: “What, no papers? (Did you leave them behind? Did you grab your child’s hand instead, in that last frantic moment of flight? Or perhaps you packed a bag with food, with money?)” By asking these questions Salopek makes his reader ponder the difficulty of harried departure, and force them to feel the frustration of inadequacy in such desperate times. Salopek expertly uses rhetorical questioning to involve his audience in the effort and strain of becoming a refugee.
Paul Salopek uses the rhetorical device of diction throughout his article, “Fleeing Terror, Finding Refuge”, to accentuate the severity of the Refugee Crisis. In his article Salopek states that women and children are 75% of the total Syrian refugee population. After hooking his audience with this statistic Salopek carefully chooses his word choice to maintain this sense sympathy and increasing pathos. Words such as “destitute”, “slums”, and “alone” are used to describe the future of these vulnerable refugees of such desperate times. After reading these impactful words, the audience is forced to sympathize with, and wish to help, the refugees, especially the helpless women and children. By managing his diction and choosing loaded words to support his ideas, Salopek is able to captivate his audience’s emotions in his argument.
Throughout “Fleeing Terror, Finding Refuge” Paul Salopek incorporates personal anecdote into his article to add onto his argument and description of the Syrian Refugee Crisis.

One of Salopek’s most notable anecdotes is when he describes walking through the historic land of Anatolia. He describes Anatolia as a place where “History shook underfoot.” This “history” was created through the forced migration of Roman, Muslim, and now Syrian populations. By mentioning previous migrants across this land, Salopek highlights the injustice of forced migration and adds to his argument of the wrongdoing found in the maltreatment of various populations. Salopek ends his anecdote by creating an analogy between an ant colony he found preparing for winter, and the need for preparation for the large influx of coming Syrian migrants. Through the personal anecdote of his experiences in the Anatolia land, Salopek gives his audience the experience of witnessing the discomforting scenes of the Syrian Refugee migration and the issues found

therein.
Throughout the article “Fleeing Terror, Finding Refuge” Paul Salopek uses various rhetorical strategies to convey his views of the injustice of the Syrian Refugee Crisis. By using several rhetorical questions Salopek is able to make his audience contemplate the difficulties related to fleeing one’s homeland. Salopek manages his diction in an effort to give his reader some understanding and sympathy for the struggling refugees. Also by adding his personal anecdote, Salopek, is able to involve and inform his audience of the problems surrounding the Syrian Refugees. Paul Salopek successfully uses the rhetorical strategies of rhetorical questioning, diction, and personal anecdote throughout his article, “Fleeing Terror, Finding Refuge”, to acquaint and include his audience in the reality of the struggles endured by, and the difficulties in store for the Syrian Refugees.