Rhetorical Devices In Response To Bush By Sullivan

Early into Sullivan’s article it is obvious that he supports and likes the entire Bush family and says he had even voted for them in previous elections. Sullivan states, “Some of my praise of your leadership at the time actually made me blush in retrospect”(Sullivan 2), referring to George W. Bush. It is clear that he is not writing the letter to attack Bush but to only tell him what he did not argue with regarding his decisions during wartime, making for an effective letter. Sullivan creates common ground with Bush’s decisions during wartime by recognising that wartime can cause for some very stressful decisions as the president of an entire country. He states further down in his letter, “These were all serious errors; but they were of a

Although Sullivan agrees with many of Bush’s decisions he says he cannot get over the brutal and inhumane actions taken place due to wartime prisoners. The audience is aware he wants something done due to his ending quote of “You would like us to move on. So would the current president. But we cannot unless we find a way to address that stain, to confront and remove it”(Sullivan 3). Sullivan uses pathos throughout the article in response to Bush because he uses a tone of a friend almost being disappointed in his actions. Towards the middle of his letter, Sullivan states “I lost faith in your way”(Sullivan 2). I believe this an effective letter and use of pathos because it may reach Bush more than others because it will make him realize that his supporters are starting to lose hope and faith in him. Sullivan uses logos towards the end of his article when he brings up Bush’s decision to keep wartime prisoners. He states that “we lost thus moral distinction early, and we have yet to regain it”(Sullivan 3), meaning that is not logically a good idea to continue to do this if he would be losing more and more supporters. I think this is effective because it may sway Bush to change his mind about the topic if it is affecting his support

He approaches his audience in a very calm and mature manner saying, “I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms”(King 1). He chooses to talk to his audience in a very non aggressive and confronting way, making it an effective letter. He is able to voice and argue his point without offending or attacking the opposing view.
King establishes his common ground by mentioning that some of his audience is taken back by the idea of his traveling outside of his hometown to Birmingham, but he has the right to be doing so. He is able to tell the reader that although his Southern Christian Leadership Conference is located in Atlanta, Georgia they are affiliated with organisation all across the South. King states, “I was invited here. I am here because I have organizational ties here”(King 2), meaning he is not limited to help out when it comes to the injustice taken place in