Why Antigua and Barbuda?
When the research project was announced, I had a difficult time thinking of any recent international affairs that struck my mind as something I could truly advocate a case for. Then I thought of the extreme natural disasters that occurred throughout the year, taking over social media, getting mass coverage in the news, and causing political discourse strewn on the affected regions. I then considered the less fortunate nations who were perhaps excluded from the knowledge of the rest of the world, but nonetheless effected deeply. I had visited the Bahamas before, but I never got a clear cut exemplification of the society which the locals lived in. Antigua and Barbuda were the perfect example of a lesser known country, as when I shared my topic with other classmates, they were quick to inquire about the small island nation which they had never even heard of. I knew about the process of recovery from hurricane damage in the Houston and even Floridian regions from Irma, because they were on the news constantly for several days in a row. However, I was fascinated and curious about how lesser known effected nations were dealing with destruction.
I had assumed that Antigua and Barbuda were torn to pieces by the storm in my hypothesis, and based on my research I was correct. Along with this, well into my research my thesis developed to a whole new aspect of the issue: I found that the nation was not receiving adequate aid for recovery, especially compared to other hurricane-stricken areas. This was a great find for my argument, because it gave my claim substance. The main issue I came across even before I began researching was what my rebuttal would be to an opposing argument, more so what the opposing argument would be in the first place. "Who would argue that a devastating hurricane would be a good thing for any nation?" was the question searing in the back of my mind. However, with an addition to my findings being that the recovery support was underwhelming, my topic seemed more like a genuinely debatable topic, as opposed to an emotionally-driven one sided claim that could have been on the front page of a donation website. The recency of my topic also played a role in my evidential claims, as though the storm had come and gone, the effect left on this small nation was and is still very alive. Perhaps Antigua and Barbuda will one day get the aid they need to return to their normal functionality.
I had assumed that Antigua and Barbuda were torn to pieces by the storm in my hypothesis, and based on my research I was correct. Along with this, well into my research my thesis developed to a whole new aspect of the issue: I found that the nation was not receiving adequate aid for recovery, especially compared to other hurricane-stricken areas. This was a great find for my argument, because it gave my claim substance. The main issue I came across even before I began researching was what my rebuttal would be to an opposing argument, more so what the opposing argument would be in the first place. "Who would argue that a devastating hurricane would be a good thing for any nation?" was the question searing in the back of my mind. However, with an addition to my findings being that the recovery support was underwhelming, my topic seemed more like a genuinely debatable topic, as opposed to an emotionally-driven one sided claim that could have been on the front page of a donation website. The recency of my topic also played a role in my evidential claims, as though the storm had come and gone, the effect left on this small nation was and is still very alive. Perhaps Antigua and Barbuda will one day get the aid they need to return to their normal functionality.
Image borrowed from "Envoy Says Antigua and Barbuda Will Rebuild From Irma"
https://www.voanews.com/a/envoy-says-antiga-and-barbuda-will-rebuild-from-irma-/4025495.htm
Image borrowed from "Envoy Says Antigua and Barbuda Will Rebuild From Irma"
https://www.voanews.com/a/envoy-says-antiga-and-barbuda-will-rebuild-from-irma-/4025495.htm