Writing goal: identify several and applicable devices.
On April 4, 1986, a great American hero, Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed in Memphis TN. Many Americans were shocked at this act of violence and hatred aimed not only at King himself, but all African Americans who were fighting for their civil rights. The death of MLK may have made the split between black and white seems even larger. President Kennedy delivered a speech later that very day to address the assassination, and rally the American people. Throughout his speech, Kennedy uses collective pronouns and repetition to unify Americans in the face of this tragedy.
Kennedy's use of pronouns like "we" and "us" exemplify unity. He says Americans have two choices: "We can move in that direction as a country, in greater polarization" or " we can make an effort, as Martin Luther King did, to understand, and to comprehend, and replace that violence". Through the use of collective pronouns he represents Americans as a collective unit, one united people, and tells them they can react to the death in a certain way. Of course the more appropriate way to act is to allow the tragedy to bring Americans together at the united people we are, as exemplified by Kennedy's collective pronouns.
Kennedy's use of pronouns like "we" and "us" exemplify unity. He says Americans have two choices: "We can move in that direction as a country, in greater polarization" or " we can make an effort, as Martin Luther King did, to understand, and to comprehend, and replace that violence". Through the use of collective pronouns he represents Americans as a collective unit, one united people, and tells them they can react to the death in a certain way. Of course the more appropriate way to act is to allow the tragedy to bring Americans together at the united people we are, as exemplified by Kennedy's collective pronouns.
He reminds Americans of the goal they should be working together unified towards through the use of repetition. He repeats certain words throughout his speech, like understanding, justice, love, and compassion. These words all coincide with King's teaching. By repeating them, he reminds Americans that what King wanted was for people to come together peaceful for justice. In doing so, he calls Americans together to continue his teachings so that he will not die in vain. By using the words, he helps unite the people.
With such a tragic event, it would have been hard for many black Americans, as well as white Americans, to remain true to King's nonviolent teachings. People would ave been angry, and blacks would have felt even more separate than white. So, JFK felt the need to unify American people, and encourage them to keep moving in the right direction of civil rights. He does so in his speech with the use of collective pronouns and repetition..
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