Rhetorical Analysis of Presidential Speeches - Essay Example

Rhetorical analysis of Presidential Speeches Being American can be defined in many ways. One of the ways to define America is through analysis of various speeches from prominent American speakers who America is readily endowed with. In this paper Barrack Obama’s speech, “a more perfect union” and George bush’s “A joint address to the congress and the American people” are going to be analyzed critically especially with focus on typical American rhetoric. Martin Luther’s “letter from Birmingham jail is also cited in this paper to see the use of American rhetoric in a negative view. Barrack Obama defines the American people as people united on a common cause who don’t condone any division amongst themselves. George Bush defines Americans as brave and ready to sacrifice for one another in times of adversaries. In his speech Martin Luther King describes the American people as naïve and uninterested in justice for failing to support his course. George Bush’s address to the joint session of congress and the American people is a speech delivered during a low time in American history. This is after the 2001 bombing of the world trade center. Obama’s speech is delivered during his campaign trail. When Bush delivers his joint address to the congress session and the American people, his main aim is to get American support in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East. His main aim is to garner the unwavering support of the American public against al Qaeda. Martin Luther writes to ordinary Americans for failing to step up against the public opinion that their activities in the civil rights movement are, “unwise and untimely”(Atlanta monthly75, par1). On the other hand Obama is responding to calls by his opponents to own up the comments of his former pastor, Rev. Wright. Rev. Wright’s comments are detrimental to Obama’s campaign. Rev. Wright’s comments are divisive to American people, thus Obama as an aspiring future president must show his willingness and power to rule a united America. Both bush and Obama in their speeches start off with an appeal to the logic of the American people. Bush starts his speech by claiming that, “In the normal course of events, Presidents come to this Chamber to report on the state of the Union. Tonight, no such report is needed. It has already been delivered by the American people.” (Sarah & Parker 1, par. 1). By saying this Bush, uses the knowledge of Americans to prove his point. Bush also advances the rhetoric of previous American presidents who have all defined the American people as the leaders of the nation’s cause. Obama starts off his speech with an appeal to logos too. He says, “We the people, in order to form a more perfect union” (Washington wire1, par. 1) By this Obama is projecting to show the American people that what defines them as a people is their unity. Unity has been emphasised in American politics and public. Obama utilizes this rhetoric to get the attention of Americans.s Martin Luther starts his speech with, “while confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling our present activities "unwise and untimely." (Atlantic monthly75, par. 1) By saying this king lays out his fight straight with Americans. King defines the 1960’s American south where the white populace was against equal rights for negros. Bush uses antithesis to compare America and the terrorists who had attacked it. Bush states clearly “On September the 11th, enemies of freedom committed an act of war against our country.” (Sarah & Parker 2, par. 5) He portrays the jealousy terrorists have for USA as, “They hate our freedoms -- our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other.” (Sarah & Parker 3, par. 11) By doing this he appeals to the pathos of the American people. Bush also defines USA as the epitome of freedom in the world. Martin Luther appeals to pathos by saying, “If I sought to answer all of the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would be engaged in little else in the course of the day, and I would have no time for constructive work.” By saying this, king shows the amount of criticism he was faced with due to his campaign supporting equal rights for negros (Atlanta monthly76, par.10). On the other hand, Obama appeals to the pathos of the American public by saying the following about Rev. Wright, “I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother – a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.” Obama by saying this shows the diversity among Americans and the complexities involved with it like occasional racism (Washington Wir 2, par. 23) Martin Luther also appeals to ethos by telling Americans, “I think I should give the reason for my being in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the argument of "outsiders coming in." I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every Southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. We have some eighty-five affiliate organizations all across the South, one being the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. Whenever necessary and possible, we share staff, educational and financial resources with our affiliates. Several months ago our local affiliate here in Birmingham invited us to be on call to engage in a nonviolent direct-action program if such were deemed necessary… So I am here, along with several members of my staff, because we were invited here. I am here because I have basic organizational ties here.” By saying this king shows how strong opposition for desegregation in Birmingham was in 1960’s(Atlanta monthly75, par. 2). Obama asserts his credibility as a unifying factor in America by appealing to logos. He shows the diversity that he has been born and grown up in by saying, “I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents… I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.” Through this obama shows the faith Americans have in the American dream; rooted in unity, diversity and freedom (Washington wire, 1 par. 7) In his speech bush does not only use ethos to affirm his credibility in dealing with terrorism but also shows the credibility of America by saying, “Our nation, this generation will lift a dark threat of violence from our people and our future” thus Bush defines Americans capable of fighting terrorism completely by use of their bravery (Sarah & Parker 4). In a stance of appealing to logos, martin Luther shows the legality of his actions by showing the injustice in Birmingham by saying, “Its unjust treatment of Negroes in the courts is a notorious reality. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in this nation.” This comment shows the amount of animosity towards black people in Birmingham in the 1960’s. Blacks were even discriminated against in churches and even in courts (Atlantic monthly75, par. 7) Rhetoric messages are achieved by being repeated severally to the targeted audience. All over his term as President Bush repeated the words in this speech severally as he advanced his policy on terror. Today Obama is the president and through rhetoric he has achieved the unifying figure image in America and the world through use of his rhetoric on equality and oneness. Martin Luther achieved his goal with the desegregation of the southern states. His prowess in oratory skills were a big factor in the success of the human rights movement. Works cited Spring Sarah & Clayton Packer. George W. Bush, "An address to a joint session of congress and the American people". (20 September 2001). The Atlantic Monthly. "The Negro is your Brother." August 1963: 78-88. Washington wire. Barack Obama. "Text of Obamas speech: A More Perfect Union". Archive. (2008-03-18). Read More