Obama Ethos In A More Perfect Union

“A More Perfect Union” was a speech written and delivered by Senator and impending President Barack Obama on March 18, 2008. President Obama wrote this speech to address the evident racial divide issue in America that was broached by his preacher, Reverend Wright. Endeavoring to conspicuously convey his thoughts, President Obama organized his speech in a well-versed manner. Throughout the introduction, narration, identification of the situation, main body, counterarguments, and conclusion of his speech, Obama utilizes different speech elements to support his ideas. Beginning in the introduction, President Obama engages his audience by providing background information and credibility about the context of his speech. Obama uses ethos and asyndeton

This use of pathos is imperative in his speech because it personalizes his speech. By mentioning the issues that he faced as a mixed race person, from childhood to adulthood, Obama indicates his personal vulnerability to the racial divide and the fervent passion he has to mend the divide. Then, Obama points at the issue of the situation when he says, “I have already condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright that have caused such controversy.” Obama mentions that “Reverend Wright's comments were not only wrong but divisive, divisive at a time when we need unity [...].” The use of asyndeton in this quote allows President Obama to convey his ideas about division without a conjunction disrupting the fluency of his

The counterargument is America’s old habit, which is accepting “division, conflict, and cynicism,” and “tackling race only as spectacle.” Obama counters this counterargument by saying, “[...] if we do [that], [...] in the next election, we’ll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.” The repetition of “and then another one” in this quote emphasizes America’s habitual consistency in digressing from the real issues, like racism, and how this habit fruitless. However, Obama states that “we can come together and say, "Not this time."” Throughout paragraphs 48-51, President Obama uses anaphora when he says, “This time we want to talk about how,” before he mentions different issues of the nation. In paragraph 52, Obama reintroduces pathos, saying, “I would not be running for President if I didn't believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country.” Then he continues, “And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation - the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.” This exemplifies pathos because it shows that Obama words are heartfelt, and it shows the compassion he has for the advancement of the United