Question

Read this excerpt from "Not a Dove, But No Longer a Hawk." Despite these misgivings, I do not see how we can do anything but continue to prosecute the war. We can and should limit the violence and the suffering being inflicted on the civilians as much as possible, but for whatever reasons, successive Administrations in Washington have carried the commitment in Vietnam to the point where it would be very difficult to prevent any precipitate retreat from degenerating into a rout. If the United States were to disengage from Vietnam under adverse conditions, I believe that the resulting political and psychological shockwaves might undermine our entire position in Southeast Asia. Which statement best describes the paradox in this excerpt?

Answer 1

 The question given above is incomplete, the options attached to the question are given below:
A. The author acknowledges that civilians should not suffer, but states that the civilians must retreat.

B. The author suggests that the administrators in Washington are busy making polices while overlooking the need to end the war.

 C. The author acknowledges that the violence should stop, but admits that a retreat might have dire consequences.

 D. The author suggests that the Vietnamese people are counting on US support, though their political ideals are not democratic.

ANSWER

The correct option is C.

A paradox refers to a statement that is made up of conflicting ideas. In the passage given above, the author is expressing his view that the war should be stopped but at the same time, he is saying that there will be serious consequences if the war is stopped; this is a paradox.

 

Answer 2

Answer:

C. The author acknowledges that the violence should stop, but admits that a retreat might have dire consequences.