The Inequality Map

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11/opinion/the-inequality-map.html?_r=1&ref=davidbrooks

David Brooks takes the time to explain to foreign tourists what kinds of inequality are socially acceptable. His main points are that academics, fitness and sports, income, technology inequalities are all acceptable. It is alright to think that one person is better than another if they have a higher degree of education, or that someone is smarter simply because they are tech-savvy. Even at the airports, frequent fliers have separate check-in lines and boarding procedures. Unacceptable inequalities include ancestral, morality, religious, cultural, and status inequality amongst high school teachers. College professors, however, thrive on competing with other departments in nearby schools. Brooks also jokes that Americans judge what kind of beer a person drinks, or whether they buy gourmet cupcakes. Overall, David Brooks cleverly leads his readers to believe that any kind of equality is acceptable.

The Inequality Map organizes thoughts about what types of things are susceptible to competition. The purpose is to make fun of what Americans have decided is "socially acceptable". Brooks organizes what is acceptable and not by alternating the topics. This keeps the reader's mind busy and provides a pattern for the piece. Also, the order that the topic are listed go from less controversial, to very controversial in the middle, back to normal categories. Brooks adds that ethnic inequality being determined as unacceptable is "one of culture's highest achievements", bringing a sense of seriousness to an otherwise satirical article. His jabbing remarks at "obese frequent buyers who consume a lot of Twinkies" is derogatory and references fitness inequality as previously stated as socially acceptable. The Inequality Map is directed towards the average middle-class average American citizen. The casual, informative language creates a feeling of informality and is probably not meant for foreign tourists.