This week in class we discussed the rhetorical situation and analyzed a recent example of rhetorical speech. As Bitzer explains in his work, a rhetorical situation requires some sort of demand or need. Bitzer mentions how "Winston Churchill went around looking for 'finest hours'" or platforms to make change. In a similar fashion President Obama recognized the need for a speech regarding the mosque controversy and responded.
Barack Obama's speech regarding the "Ground Zero" mosque as it has been termed was an appropriate recognition of a rhetorical situation. He knew or was advised to make a speech due to multiple exigences. First of which was the rising controversy regarding the placement of this mosque. The President argued that it would be illegal to disallow the mosque. This is really his only option. The President knows the checks and balances of our government and knows that this building has already been allowed by the city council. He bases his argument on the Constitution and proposes that to disallow the mosque is to disallow freedom of religion. The second exigence I observed was the formal event at which he was speaking. As the President always holds events for various religious holidays, he knows that he must speak on this occasion. In this sense, the speech was ceremonial according to Aristotle's definition. The third and final exigence I noticed was the defining of the Constitution and defense of freedom of religion. As already stated, Obama references out natural born freedoms and uses that as his defense. He knows he must defend the foundation of American freedoms and uses this platform to do just that. I enjoyed reading the Obama speech, regardless of political affiliation, as it was far easier to read than the previous two readings. Aristotle is a little more confusing than the President.
Since I mentioned Churchill above I'll close with a famous Winston Churchill speech. Enjoy.
You completely summed up the rhetorical situation with regard to Obama's mosque speech perfectly. You're right, no matter what your political affiliation most audiences will jump at the chance to defend the American constitution. It's one of the few common grounds that political parties can occasionally agree upon. Great addition with the video as well. Really remind us of what Americans have accomplished in the past as a union.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Obama has to defend the building of the mosque since he knows the checks and balances of the government. Due to freedom of religion, if the mosque was to be stopped from being built, then that would set a precedence for our government that we would not want.
ReplyDeleteCould'nt agree more that this was the right place and right time (maybe perfect) for the controversy at hand, one of the many reasons our president is a great orator. Obama's speech lets people know that he can see both sides of the argument which is key when trying to convince someone to switch their opinion to the opposite. Obama is able to "get on the oppositions level" and then simply tell them one fallacy in their argument; that it is 'American' to allow this mosque to be built.
ReplyDelete