Establishing ethos with an audience goes a long way in persuading people to adopt your viewpoint. Without ethos, a speaker or author may simply be viewed as a loud, opinionated orator without the background or reputation to back it up. In class, we have examined several acts of protest, and each has used ethos in a unique way.
Stokely Carmichael comes across as well-educated, referencing the philosophers Camus and Sartre. His use of "we" (first person plural), decreases the rhetorical distance and draws his listeners closer. The humor he uses throughout the speech shows a desire to keep his audience tuned in to his message.
Fannie Lou Hamer, in contrast, is a person of simple words and sentences. Word size is an ethos factor, and her short words make the speech sound more conversational and personal. Her credibility is aided by good character and good will, as evidenced by her nonviolent protest history with the SNCC. Furthermore, she comes across as an honest and straightforward person when she states her home address at the beginning.
The ethos for the Freedom Marches is strengthened by MLK’s involvement in the walk and in his subsequent speech. “Our feet are tired but our soles are rested” – this use of present tense by MLK gives more immediacy to the event, and he acknowledges that it has been a group effort. The participants’ good and peaceful character is implied in the President’s description of the Selma police retaliation as “an American tragedy.”
Malachai Richter, in my opinion, presents the least effective case of ethos with his self immolation. He did not establish the most solid background and character for this to be effective, as there is speculation that his alcoholism and depression may have contributed to the suicide. Only the aftermath of his protest was seen by most people. The common opinion that he was mentally ill makes many people only want to quickly forget this act of self-inflicted violence, rather than rally around his “anti-war cause.”
Cindy Sheehan, meanwhile, presents the most effective use of ethos, as seen from her overwhelming media response and the interest generated (sometimes 1,500 visitors daily to Camp Casey, including celebrities and members of Congress). She establishes good character by touring around the country and world giving speeches, and her peaceful demonstration near Bush’s ranch shows her perseverance and passion for her anti-war cause. Her research and education is apparent in her quoting of Thoreau during one of her speeches and in her decision to write a book. Finally, she demonstrates her intentions to better our country with her decision in December 2007 to run as an independent for Congress.
2 comments:
I agree with you that Sheehan clearly was dedicated and committed to her cause. I think that strengthens her ethos. However, I'm curious to know would she have been so passionate if her son had not died? It's a point that Anmol got me thinking about. I mean what if Casey came home safely and gave her a hug and life went on as normal? Would Sheehan devote so many time and resources to being anti-war and anti-Bush? I think that it's hard to say, its clear that she is a hurting mother, who has a strong protest. I'm just not sure I believe that she is selfless in her protest. I think a strong motivation for her is the pain and emotion she is suffering to life with. That does not necessarily make her protest any less effective, it simply means she is using pathos instead of ethos. Whichever way the audience sees it, it proved to be successful because we know she has many supporters.
I find it interesting that you think Cindy Sheehan established the greatest ethos, especially after the discussion we had in class where we basically bashed her. However, she obviously did something right because she had many followers, and I think you did a great job at articulating those good qualities.
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