<p>You would be my best friend in the whole world... ;)</p>
<p>Assignment:
Is style more important than substance? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.</p>
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<p>Human society embraces the stylistic and aesthetic element of an object, shunning anything beyond the superficial outer coating. This attitude, however, has ultimately led to destruction in a plethora of cases. Consider the Kennedy-Nixon Debates. </p>
<p>The Kennedy-Nixon debates took place shortly before the 1960. The first debate to be televised, it marked a significant effort in United States history. Kennedy, a Democrat, was radiant, energetic, camera-friendly, and beaming with a positive view of the nation's future. Nixon, the Republican candidate, appeared nervous, stressed, hesitant, and disturbed on national televsion. On a medium like the radio, the sharp difference in the candidates' outward appearance would have had a minimal effect on the outcome of the election race. However, television displayed the style of the candidates to the American public. Those who watched the debate on the radio opined in several polls that the debate was a draw, while those who witnessed the televised version of the debate felt Kennedy had crushed Nixon. Radio shieled the visual truth from the American constituency, but now the television enabled America's voting population to focus on matters irrelevant to politics - such as the appearance of a candidate. </p>
<p>Appearance has absolutely nothing to do with substance. Kennedy's bright appearance may have charmed America, but his "charm" inevitably took the focus of the election off politics and on the increasing superificiality of the candidates. This shift was not in the right direction. Elections should and could be about substantive issues, like foreign relations, the economy, domestic policy, and other relevant topics to bring to the political dinner table. However, the introduction of a visual component to the election completed obliterated many Americans' chances of casting an informed vote - not based on appearance, but on the actual issues. </p>
<p>Because of the "revolutionary" nature of televising debates, presidential campaigns have placed a greater emphasis on image. In 1996, impeached Former President Bill Clinton appeared on an MTV Town Hall debate, where he revealed to the American public what kind of underwear he wore. A president's undergarments has nothing to do with his or her ability to lead a nation. Despite this evident fact, the American public, at the first opportunity, has placed style over substance - quite a dangerous transformation.</p>