Grammar Post 2

I used my last grammar post to help my reading response for "Idiot Nation".

This post is about the use of commas and periods inside quotation marks, another question I seem to come across in my writing. I found this at http://www.drgrammar.org/faqs/#88.

Commas and Periods Inside Quotation Marks? "Place periods and commas inside quotation marks.[Example:] "This is a stick-up," said the well-dressed young couple. "We want all your money."This rule applies to single quotation marks as well as double quotation marks. It also applies to all uses of quotation marks: for quoted material, for titles of works, and for words used as words.Exception: In the Modern Language Association's style of parenthetical in-text citations . . ., the period follows the citation in parentheses.[Example:] James M. McPherson comments, approvingly, that the Whigs were not averse to extending the blessings of American liberty, even to Mexicans and Indians" (48). (Hacker, A Writer's Reference 285)

Idiot Nation

In "Idiot Nation" the author, Michael Moore, gives us his opinions on the failings of our education system. In his usual degrading and negative way, Moore writes this piece as a way to get back at the educational system, that failed to make him into a positively contributing human being. If you were to write a research paper on "What is Hypocricy?", this piece could be your main resource.
"Idiot Nation" is filled with one hypocritical statement after another, as Moore tries to convince america that we are not educated well enough, yet, he himself did not even graduate from college. He berates President George W. Bush for being a "C" student at Yale and Harvard, yet, he couldn't graduate from his local city college. And, in what was the most blatantly hypocritical moment, he writes that society's attitude toward teachers should be one of great gratitude (which it should be). Then, turns around and gives instructions on, "How to Be a Student Subversive Instead of a Student Subservient". Yes, this is how to show our teachers how greatful we are to them.
Moore has some valid points in his piece, and points that I agree with. However, he loses his credibility and the piece loses it's appeal because of the obvious hypocracy. I think this piece shows that we can really be exposed, and our character revealed when we let complete bias override an honest pursuit of truth.