Eleanor Roosevelt Vs Martin Luther King

Nelson Mandela once said “to deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity”. He like many other activists including Eleanor Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. was an advocate of human rights and dedicated his life to the cause. These words emphasize the privilege everyone has to basic civil liberties. However, the struggle for these rights continues and are displayed in many forms. Each form contains a unique perspective supported by different experiences. Eleanor Roosevelt addresses the issue in her speech, “On the Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, to the United Nations. She argues that the declaration will protect human rights around the world. King also discusses the subject in his “Letter from

The tone profoundly impacts audience’s understanding of each contention posed by the two speakers. Both Roosevelt and King’s tone express to the audience a sincerity the audience experiences. Roosevelt asserts her earnestness by expressing the aspirations she places upon the document. She specifies “We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the United Nations and in the life of mankind. This Universal Declaration of Human Rights may well become the international Magna Carta of all men everywhere. [...] comparable to the proclamation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man by the French people in 1789” (Roosevelt, 11). Roosevelt has great faith in the declaration that in her eyes, it belongs with the other revolutionary declarations in history. By comparing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the Magna Carta and the Declaration of the Rights of Man, the audience can feel the magnitude of words as they are aware of these important documents. Historically, those document references a time when the rights of man and progress prevails. Her confidence conveys to the general public her belief human rights and has their best interest at heart. Conversely, King’s sincerity reflects the struggle he and other African Americans have had to endure, which allows the audience to experience it on a deeper level. Even after being denied their constitutional rights for over

Among the devices, both advocates use anaphora to support their claims. Roosevelt explains the Soviet amendment “sets up standards which would enable any state practically to deny all freedom of opinion and expression without violating the article. It introduces the terms ‘democratic view,’ ‘democratic systems,’ ‘democratic state’" (Roosevelt, 5). Roosevelt utilizes the word “democratic” to uphold the original meaning of the declaration, but the Soviets are distorting it with their changes. The public understands limiting rights counteracts the purpose of the document. Subsequently, Roosevelt repeats “democratic” to ensure democracy falls under the rights available to all, defending the true message of the declaration. Similarly, King uses anaphora to refute those who attempt to distort the actions of civil protestors. He repeats the phrase “Isn’t this like condemning” alongside various examples including a robbed man, Socrates, and Jesus to compare the response some have to the protests by African Americans. The repetition has the audience questioning the logic of the opposing viewpoint as they reflect on the examples given by King. Additionally, the anaphora impacts the audience by justifying the actions of protestors and supporting King’s argument. Despite utilizing the same rhetorical device, the persuasive argument does not belong to Roosevelt. King’s repetition leaves