Hey guys, it's Allison.
I was reading the "Yes We Can!" speech that Senator Obama made after winning the South Carolina Primary, when I was bombarded by rhetorical devices. It was overwhelming, to say the least..
“You can see it in the faces here tonight. There are young and old, rich and poor. They are black and white, Latino and Asian and Native American.” It’s great that Obama has supporters in many varying cultural groups, but what matters in an election is getting the most votes, regardless of who they come from. I thought this comment served as a reaffirmation of social cohesion, rather than as informative fact. Senator Obama wanted to express that people of all different races, and all different ages support him, and that he would best represent the greatest majority people, and that he should be elected because of it. This speech is also chock-full of unfinished claims. He says “we’ve got young people all across this country who have never had a reason to participate until now.” That’s great, but what’s the reason? One short sentence later, the Senator made an interesting statement, “We are hungry for change and are ready to believe again.” Not only does he use the “we” device to express that he is on the same level as all other Americans, but he also made some pretty confusing claims. What kind of change are we hungry for? And what exactly are we ready to believe in? What exactly does that mean? I don’t exactly know, but it sure sounds good!
Senator Obama then went on to discuss change in our country. Though his argument that change in America was necessary was quite motivating and socially cohesive, it didn’t really say anything.. He said, “the kind of change we seek will not come easy.” but what kind of change is it that we seek? I don’t know because he never came out and said it.. Later, Obama went on to say, “we’re looking to fundamentally change the status quo in Washington.” What exactly is the “status quo” and how do we plan on changing it? Later in his speech, Senator Obama said, “This election is our chance to give the American people a reason to believe again.” Though it’s a truly motivating and socially cohesive statement, it doesn’t make much sense at all. What reason are we giving the American people to “believe again”? And what exactly are we giving them reason to believe in?
Senator Obama closed his speech with “Yes, we can. Yes, we can change. Yes, we can.” Yet another unfinished claim! What can we change? And how exactly can we change it?
Though Obama didn’t delineate his plans for change if elected to the White House, and he never really said what it is that he wants to change, his use of language, rhetorical devices, and propaganda techniques motivated his supporters and formed a socially cohesive group of Obama '08 advocates.
Any thoughts?
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1 comment:
Hey, it's Erin.
I don't know if I know of any person running for an office who is specific. They talk and it sounds great but really they've told you nothing (propaganda technique of glittering generalities). I suppose it's helpful being vague, especially if no one challenges you on it.
I was a little confused as I read through Obama's speech because he started by saying that they (his supporters) were not the majority (since Clinton won that state, right?) and goes on about how the outturn for them was unexpected and great, but then later on he starts talking about a "new majority" that his supporters can be a part of. I thought they weren't, or did I miss something?
It was a little weird because I wrote my essay on how Neoclassicism extended ideas of the American Dream, of its inclusiveness and opportunity, and of a sense of destined greatness for the country and how those ideas are present today and people want to believe in them. And that's partly what Obama talks about here - a greater destiny for this country, one that we can lead it to.
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