Obama starts off my catching the attention of Americans and appealing to common ground by making a reference to the bravery of the founding fathers. However he quickly cuts to the chase by saying the declaration of independence was “stained by nation’s original sin of slavery…” He continues to emphasize the importance of Americans in “successive generations willing to do their part [in the fight against racism].” He states however with confidence that he believes in the American people. He also shares his own personal story. Stories are always a smart tool in rhetoric because an audience can relate and sympathizes with a story and it can have a powerfully persuasive effect. The several stories he tells are a clever and indirect way of continuing to get his points across. They also display his ability to use compelling language, “those stories – of survival, and freedom, and hope – became our story, my story; the blood that had spilled was our blood, the tears our tears.”
As he addresses Reverend White’s comments he shows another skill in rhetoric, honesty. He is up front about the offensiveness of the Reverend’s comments and the still very racists prejudice and anger that is experienced daily in the black and white American communities.
However despite the problems in American he confidently states his faith in the ability of the American people to attain unity and change. It is easy to see why this speech is powerfully motivating and inspiring because nothing is more persuasive than someone speaking with authority about their great faith in you and belief in your ability to change. “And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American…But I have asserted a firm conviction – a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people – that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice is we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.”
Because of his audience-tailored stories, powerful appeals to emotion and well organized dynamic writing this is a speech displaying very good skills in rhetoric.
*Quotes taken from BARACK OBAMA: A MORE PERFECT UNION
Tuesday, March 18th, 2008/ 10:17:53 ET
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2 comments:
wellcome
i agree with the fact that barack obama is honest and tries to bring in references from past history. he also does a good job with grabbing the listeners attention early on and keeping it throughout the speech. this speech really grabbed a lot of people's support and attention
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