Rhetorical Devices - Essay Example

Rhetorical Devices Teacher               Rhetorical Devices in Barbara Lee’s ment in Opposition to H. J. Res. 64” Mr. Speaker, Members, I rise today really with a very heavy heart, one that is filled with sorrow for the families and the loved ones who were killed and injured this week. Only the most foolish and the most callous would not understand the grief that has really gripped our people and millions across the world. This unspeakable act on the United States has really -- really forced me, however, to rely on my moral compass, my conscience, and my God for direction.

September 11th changed the world. Our deepest fears now haunt us. Yet, I am convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States. This is a very complex and complicated matter.Now this resolution will pass, although we all know that the President can wage a war even without it. However difficult this vote may be, some of us must urge the use of restraint. Our country is in a state of mourning. Some of us must say, lets step back for a moment.

Lets just pause, just for a minute and think through the implications of our actions today, so that this does not spiral out of control.Now I have agonized over this vote. But I came to grips with it today, and I came to grips with opposing this resolution during the very painful, yet very beautiful memorial service. As a member of the clergy so eloquently said, "As we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore." The speech of Barbara Lee in the House of Representatives on September 14, 2001 was a speech concerning H. J. Res.

64, or the authorization for the use of military force against those responsible for the 9-11 terrorist attacks in the United States. It was obvious from the speech that she did not want to vote for the passing of the bill because of her moral stance against violence and vengeance. In her speech, she showed her opposition to the proposed military authorization using certain rhetorical devices. For her logos or the use of reason in order to achieve her goal of convincing her fellow representatives of the futility of the military authorization, she used the statement: “…I am convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States.

This is a very complex and complicated matter” (Lee, 2001). This rhetorical device is credible. It is actually meant to give a logical reason to the whole speech, specifically to why the speaker refuses the military authorization. The idea of terrorism is indeed more difficult and complicated than something that can just be quelled by force. This statement alone is very effective in that it is true and clear. As for Barbara Lee’s use of ethos, she used a priest’s statement: “As the member of the clergy so eloquently said, ‘As we act; let us not become the evil that we deplore” (Lee, 2001).

This is another credible statement, and something which implies that it is just as evil to destroy the enemy by force as it is for the enemy to wage 9-11 terror attacks. Moreover, the statement implies that what the House of Representatives is thinking is futile. Most of all, it is ethos because it is a statement coming from a respectable authority of the Church whose words are never questioned. This statement alone is also effective in that it tries to convince the audience that an authority of the Church and religion would think that vengeance is not the answer to all this pain.

ReferencesLee, B. (2001). Statement in Opposition to H. J. Res. 64. Retrieved from American Rhetoric: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barbaraleeagainstinvasion.htm