Political cartoon.

This cartoonist uses metaphor to comment on U.S. military involvement abroad. A metaphor is a figure of speech that associates e word or phrase representing one kind of object with something that is seemingly unrelated, Study the cartoon, and then answer the questions.

1. Why does the cartoonist compare U.S. involvement overseas to the game of Twister? --

2. Do you agree with the cartoonist's comparison? Why or why not? --

3. Describe the man's facial expression. What message is the cartoonist trying to convey? --

4. The drawing does nor show the man's right foot. Where do you think the foot is planted? --

5. Notice that the man's left hand appears to be trembling, What could this say about U.S. involvement in Liberia? --

ANSWERS

1. The cartoonist believes that the U.S. is struggling to maintain its presence in some areas of the world, and that such overextension, as in the game of Twister, could lead to strain and imbalance.

2. Answers will vary.

3. The man's pained expression could reflect the problems the U.S. has had while trying to restore security and stability in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Liberia.

4. The man's right foot is probably planted on the U.S., on the other side of the globe.

5. The U.S. might face a dangerous and difficult mission in Liberia. The situation there is complicated, and U.S. military and economic resources are already strained.