The first rhetorical strategy Kwame uses is diction. While most people wouldn't consider the "N" word very diction-like, as if it is a word that would be considered a good choice of words...however, looked at under a different light, it is. While Kwame's speech was supposed to address the state of the city, every citizen knew where it was headed. By using "N" word, he throws himself a pity party and makes the listeners consider more deeply weather or not they could be part of the reason the poor, pitiful man is hurting so bad.
Another rhetorical strategy Kwame uses but fails very badly with would be Pathos. He attempts to draw on the listeners emotions, make them feel bad and that they should sympathise and be on his side, but obviously, as can be seen by the reactions, he failed and the listeners felt even more angry than he did to begin with.
"I've heard these words before but I've never heard people say them about my wife and children. I have to say this because it's very personal to me. I don't believe that a Nielsen rating is worth the life of my children or your children."
By bringing children into the situation, he turns the tables. Everyone loves kids and no one wants to see them hurt, and through his clever pathos of using children, he thinks he's won them over. (Unfortunately, he failed.)
Monday, March 17, 2008
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