Once in a while we chance upon a read that moves and inspires us. One such gem is President Obama’s speech “A More Perfect Union”. The excellence of his speech can be attributed to his workings on three effective means of conveying rhetorical appeals in different ways to his audience. The first method he employs is his exhibit of admirable character and values that draws people to believe in his message. Second is his use of factual information that logically supports his arguments.
The third method is his intent of eliciting specific emotions and feelings to capture his audience to draw awareness and support. All these ways are in full use throughout his speech which strongly delivers his message that dealing with racism head on, as one nation, enables this generation to achieve a more perfect America. Hence, to effectively understand the points he creates, this analysis discusses avenues that determine how effective he has been on his ethical appeals. The first method he uses is his showcase of exemplary character and ethics.
One of the values greatly admired in President Obama’s character, as projected in his speech titled “A More Perfect Union”, is his intense optimism buoyed by his unyielding belief in America – its people and generations. He states, “The profound mistake of Reverend Wright’s sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society. It’s that he spoke as if our society was static; as if no progress has been made… What we have already achieved gives as hope – the audacity to hope – for what we can and must achieve tomorrow” (659).
The Term Paper on Speech: ACHIEVING PEACE WITHOUT WAR: RATIONALE AND APPROACHES
“La guerre n'est pas un aventure. La guerre est une maladie. Comme le typhus.” “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction....The chain reaction of evil -- hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars -- ...
His statement underlies a character of deep seated faith in what is good in America given the circumstances by which his life, from his own words “my own American story” (648), was made possible. No one can argue or challenge the fact that he is a product of American diversity -a melting pot of myriad cultures. From such belief comes forth his hopefulness that when people join together and choose to fight racism head on, America can proudly march towards a more perfect union. Thus, through his conveyed character of optimism and faith he sells the point that we should be hopeful and move pass racism as well, in order to progress.
Another character displayed is his strong commitment and conviction when he says, “I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community… these people are a part of me. And they are a part of America, this country that I love” (653).
In this instance, he stands for Reverend Wright, for the conviction that although the reverend has his flaws and faults, he should not be judged by these alone, especially since he knows him deeply, loves him greatly, has become a part of his being, and considers him a part of his family.
Here he connects us to Reverend Wright, to himself, and finally to America that we are one family, one community, and one nation. So as one, we should move together pass the fault that is racism towards attaining our goals. Lastly, character or ethos of an honest realist he clearly demonstrates when he appeals, “This is where we are right now. It’s a racial stalemate we’ve been stuck in for years… -particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own” (658).
Through this passage, he recognizes and imparts the reality of racism among us.
He makes us realize that his candidacy is not perfect and tries to bring us to the present. The situation we all face and must deal with, racism in our society. This is the present generation. This is now and we all must work together towards perfection. The second method employed is the use of facts to logically support arguments and provide basis for belief. This is illustrated when he remarks, “I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas… am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slave owners” (649).
The Term Paper on The Effects Of Scientific Racism On Black Women
Scientific racism has been used to oppress, enslave and to justify torture. In my essay I will explore how scientific racism has been used to detriment the health of women of colour. Throughout history women of colour have been experimented upon, sexualized and reproductively abused with scientific racism as justification or the underlying premise for the thought behind this abuse. I will explore ...
Here he is giving substance to his case that he is more than qualified to discuss racism because of his heredity and background. Through the presentation of these facts, his credentials to tackle the subject of racism are solidified and become logically acceptable. Who is better to discuss racism than him? Another example of this logic is when he mentions, “Segregated schools were, and are, inferior schools; we still haven’t fixed them, fifty years after Brown v. Board of Education, and the inferior education they provide…help explain the pervasive achievement gap between today’s black and white students” (654).
Through this quote, by mentioning a Supreme Court decision, he is able to substantiate his claims that racism is still among us and further illustrates the divide that exists in America even in education then and now. With this statement, he presents evidence that it is not his point alone but other entities’ as well can be used to verify the gap that racism brings. He then narrates Ashley Baia’s story to exemplify his argument that America is progressing towards a perfect union through the small steps taken by ordinary citizens. And follows up this line of thinking when he says, “But it is where we start.
It is where our union grows… 221 years since a band of patriots signed that document in Philadelphia that is where the perfection begins” (663).
Therefore, through the facts about his upbringing, he is able to lend credibility to his argument that racism still exists. The existence of racism manifested when he cites court decisions that discusses them. Then finally gives hope through a young girl’s story that America is progressing towards a more perfect union. The third method he uses is through pathos or feelings of the audience he provokes that leads to believability.
One perfect example of this approach is when he narrates, “And Ashley asks him why he’s there…he does not say that he was there because of Barrack Obama. He simply says to everyone in the room…I am here because of Ashley” (663).
This is a very moving argument because it involves the feeling of belonging, a feeling of purpose greater than one’s self. With this statement, he prods the audience to take a stand; he wants the audience to feel compelled to belong and look pass differences and identify with someone for a purpose.
The Essay on Racism in America 3
RACISM IN AMERICA If someone asked you what it would be like to live in a perfect world, how would you reply? Many people might say something like, “A place without and arguments or fighting.” Others might say “A place where there is not pollution.” But, has anyone one ever thought to say, “A place without racism.”? For some Americans, racism has never even crossed their minds. For others, it is ...
This serves his goal of igniting small embers to light the fire of emotions so we can start the march towards a perfect America. Another emotion of the audience he urges is defiance. This feeling is enraged when he proclaims that at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, “Not this time. This time we want to talk about crumbling schools. This time we want to reject the cynicism…and we will not let them fall behind in a twenty-first century economy. Not this time”.
Here he incites the audience to rebel against the current situation the country is in, as he said, two wars, lagging education, no health care, and a crumbling economy. He wants his audience to do something and defy the norm of just letting things go as they were before. Through his appeal, he made the audience feel compelled to oppose the status quo and start by being there for each other. With this small start in mind he says, “But it is where we start. It is where our union grows stronger… that is where the perfection begins” (663).
Lastly, another emotion he rouses is disappointment to a point of anger, especially when he mentions about the anger that exists and persists in both the black and white communities, further mentioning that the anger is not confined to just these two sectors but all over America. He intends everyone to feel disappointed when he states, “Legalized discrimination-where blacks were prevented, often through violence, from owning propert.
That history helps explain the wealth and income gap between black and white… and the concentrated pockets of poverty that persist in so many of today’s urban and rural communities” (655).
Through his description he arouses resentment towards the current state of America in that after 221 years racism and all its effects are still being felt. With the disappointed feeling, the audience is led to act and make the small start needed to grow to a more perfect union. All these mentioned methods that structures President Obama’s speech gives substance, color, and realism to his message that dealing with racism head on, together as one nation, enables this generation to achieve a more perfect America.
The Essay on American Modernization Williams America Time
American Modernization Leading up to the turn of our present century, changes in culture and society of America triggered modernization throughout much of our commerce, social, artistic and educational lives. The past century or so has brought new obstacles and opportunities for the nation of America. This changing is reflected through some of the works by writers such as, Robert Frost, William ...
