Our founding fathers deemed this country a place of freedom. Freedom of speech, assembly, petition, press, and religion. Religion because our country is founded on principles that should guarantee any individual a right to praise any god they choose to. The imperfection by urgency is that we as a nation need to constantly remember what our rights are and how those rights apply to everyone not just a select few. In class we discussed a speech made by Obama about the mosque being built a mere 11 blocks from the site where one of the most tragic events in my lifetime occurred, 9/11. Irony has always been America's piece de resistance.
The rhetorical situation in Obama's speech relies heavily on his word choice. His constant discussion of the American constitution with elements of pathos sprinkled in. His constraints being exactly what that constitution says about our nation and his audience being the American people. What better situation can there be? Who can argue against him in this respect? The real question is: Are you a true American?
Persuasive arguments are very tricky and though implemented by many a politician in his days of "keeping promises", it is highly successful in everyday life. Point out a few American values and ideals and there you have a completely submissive audience. Now of course a mosque should be allowed, but imagine a bigger picture where Obama is instead trying to convince us all that women are to be housewives and nothing more.. And that as an American we should know this is true because in the constitution it says "all men are created equally", not women. Plus historically the female counterpart is and has been a housewife. Maybe this wouldn't work but one could see how the constraints can sometimes be a fault in successful arguments. It's the setting, it's the "American loyalty", and the wish to be what we all want to be.
Of course Obama has already defied many a stereotype and prejudice so I don't we have to break out the second women's suffrage movement...
Not yet at least.
I had to laugh when you said "Irony has always been America's piece de resistance". This is very true! Obamas speech seemed to be more of a duty than a rhetorical speech. Looking back, it did seem that he was fulfilling the dutys as a president and American more than he was fullfilling his desire to talk about this topic. But once again, he was stating what it means to be an American.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post and agree that sometimes, especially in controversial issues, it is easy to become a "completely submissive audience" just because some common ideals are presented. The use of the Constitution as support is ingenious and nearly fail-proof. Few Americans want to be believe that they are thinking unconstitutionally and are more easily swayed when they hear such arguments. The President is clearly a good rhetorician.
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