Kuntuzos, Kari
Prof. De France
LBCC Eng. 3 MW
9 October 2012
Barack Obama: Words Matter
Speech writer, John Favreau (born June 2, 1981), is Director of Speechwriting for President Barack Obama’s team. In 2005, Robert Gibbs, recommended Favreau to Obama, as an excellent speechwriter for the campaign. Favreau was hired as Obama’s speechwriter shortly after Obama’s election, to the United States Senate. Obama, and Favreau grew close, and Obama has referred to him as his “mind reader.” He went on the campaign trail with Obama during his successful Presidential election campaign. During that time, Sen. Barack Obama gave one of his best speeches ever at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Founders Day Gala on Feb. 16th, 2008. THEN: Candidate Obama: “Don’t Tell Me Words Don’t Matter.” Don’t tell me words don’t matter! I have a dream… just words. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal… just words. We have nothing to fear but fear itself… Just words, just speeches” (Senator Barack Obama).
Obama’s message theme, to the Democrats, and American people is freedom. Nevertheless, Obama is telling the nation, if you stand behind me, and believe in me, we can change this country around like we have in the past, and transform (re-shape, and bring) the world to believe in hope again. In fact, Americans had come to understand, its own failings as the failures, of one single individual (George Bush): now, it began to see its salvation through the elevated, and exaggerated virtues, of another who had offered little, but his own words as proof of his intentions, and abilities. Therefore, Obama relies on ancient Greek philosopher “The Rhetoric” on repetition (words), historical speeches (from ex-Presidents, and famous speakers), and cultural-societal (race, religion) facts, to get his message across, to his supporters (Democrats), and most importantly to American’s (the voters.)
The Essay on President Barack Obama’s speech on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington
President Barack Obama’s speech on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington President Barack Hussein Obama is the 44th and current President of the United States, and the first African American to hold this office. President Obama gave a speech following remarks at the “Let Freedom Ring” ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington on August 28, 2013, at the ...
Obama’s use, of repetition can be seen throughout his speech, as he refers to hope in a different format, for different areas of life. He argues, how hope can bring people up from poverty, and out from the past, of hard times with money. Obama says, hope can help with single parents, who are raising kids, and how hope can bring positive change to life, and make you think differently (dream, or believe again.) Hope, is what brought the founders here to this country he states (when the rest of the world thought it could not be done), and hope is what got Neal Armstrong, to the moon (meaning it was not just a dream, but reality) of him stepping on the moon, and hope is what won the right for woman, to vote: moreover, hope was changed by (ex-president Lincoln), of slavery, and the right to freedom, and to one day hope again. We also understand that a declaration is not a government. The Founders recognized that there were seeds, of anarchy in the idea, of individual freedom, an intoxicating danger in the idea of equality. “In fact, if everybody is truly free, without the constraints of birth, rank or an inherited social order- if my notion of faith is no better or worse than yours and my notions of truth and goodness and beauty is as true and good and beautiful as yours- then how can we ever hope to form a society that coheres?” (Barack Obama).
After all, enlightenment thinkers like Hobbes, and Locke, suggested that free men would form governments as a bargain, to ensure that one man’s freedom did not become another man’s tyranny: hence, they would sacrifice individual license, to better preserve their liberty. We are not truly free, from society, and laws, but the one thing that is free for American’s (voters), is words “Don’t tell me words don’t matter… I have a dream… Just words, words… We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal… Just words… We have nothing to fear but fear itself… just words, just speeches” (Barack Obama).
The Essay on Barack Obama Speech: A Better World, A More Perfect Union
In the speech “A More Perfect Union” by Barack Obama he appeals to the emotions of the readers when he says “I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together, unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all ...
As a result, speeches may change how we look towards the future for ourselves, and what we believe in: also, we should not fear the unknown of fear within itself, but take charge and face it head on. Even so, speeches do not solve all problems, but what is also true, is that we cannot inspire our country, to believe again, then it does not matter how many policies, and plans we have in place for Americans, if they cannot dream, or face the fear head on.
In addition, the rhetoric which words come across, or how they are delivered, sends an important message, or theme to it. Those famous words again spoken by Barack Obama “Don’t tell me words don’t matter… words do matter, they convey a certain power behind them. I have a dream… Just words, words… Dreams, and beliefs, are hopes as well as words. People need to believe in hope throughout life, and if we do not dream, then what kind of message are we sending to ourselves, and most importantly to our kids, and grandkids for the future to come. Obama sends that message throughout his speech, with the quote from Martin Luther King of “I have a dream” about his an-sisters, with slavery, and to gays coming out to the world about their sexuality: also, “We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal… look past the color of our skin, and judge not by the outside, but rather the character within all of us. Just words…” These are not just words, but hope that all men and woman are created equal throughout life. Yet, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself…”-Just words, just speeches…” Looks pass the fear of fear within itself, and look forward to hope, and freedom that comes within, is what Obama, is instilling with his speech to the Democrats and Americans (voters.)
As a matter of fact, Aristotle arguers, you need to have three effective means, of persuasion for your audience. Obama uses these persuasion techniques, throughout his speech, to deliver the message of freedom loud, and clear, for the democrats. “Persuasion is the speaker’s personal character when the speech, is so spoken as to make us think him credible” (Aristotle 25).
The Essay on Confusion Class Words Number Speech
Nomads College scouts everywhere; All have tags with a name Act like I don't care; My play must remain the same. Try not to stare; Must stay focused on the game To lose can not bare; Can not have any shame The pressure is on for all; Starting to feel sick Their sweeper has the ball; In I know I must stick I now have control and mustn't stall; I now quickly I must kick There is the goal; To which ...
First, Obama’s deceives, or (delivery of his speech), makes us believe what he is arguing about, and we become passionate, of what he is speaking on. Second, “persuasion may come through the hearers, when the speech stirs their emotions” (Aristotle 25).
Obama message comes across to the Democrats more, so than, to the Republicans on the emotional level due, the democrats understand, and believe in his beliefs, rather than the republicans, and Obama, is hoping his message will change the emotions of the new voters of the American people. Third, “persuasion is effected through the speech itself when we have proved a trough or an apparent truth by means of the persuasive arguments suitable to the case in question” (Aristotle 25).
Obama use of rhetoric, within famous quotes from ex-speakers has impacted American lives in the past of hope, truth, and justice of freedom for all to seek: therefore, he hopes the same words will instill the same meaning of hope, truth, and justice of the new American lives that he hopes to instill has he becomes president.
As a result, Obama’s speech of “Just Words” comes across as a heartfelt message that the nation needed, to hear in a time, of new ideas, new hope, and new change throughout life: furthermore, for themselves, their kids, grandkids, and for the future of America of freedom of thinking, and living throughout life is hope, and how it is, not forgotten.
Works Cited
Corbett, P.J., Edward. The Rhetoric and the Poetics of Aristototle. New York: McGraw-Hill,1954,1984. Print. Rhetoric. Trans. W. RHYS Roberts. Oxford: 1984. Print. Poetics. Trans. Bywater, Ingram. Cornell University: 1984. Print.
Chaka, Malaka. “Don’t Tell Me Words Don’t Matter.” Report: Supafly 2380. YouTube, 17 Feb. 2008. Web. 9 Oct. 2012.
Refection Letter
What grade do I expect and why? I hope to receive an A on this paper. I put a lot of effect into this paper, with details, and used outside sources to show all the major key points.
What major revision did I make to this paper? I used rhetorical lenses to show major areas of speech, and fixed all areas of paper to have the main points flow.
The Essay on Barack Obama Speech Analysis
In the compelling Inauguration speech of Barack Obama, the first African-American President, a large range of language and oratory techniques are utilized to convey his message to an audience of over a million Americans. The speech was delivered on the traditional inauguration date of the 20th January 2009, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where, 45 years earlier, Martin Luther King Jr. ...
The next essay, I will show research and details.
