This year on Veterans Day President Obama addressed citizens who are in the armed forces at the Army base Garrison Yongsan in Seoul, South Korea. He praised the soldiers and their families for the sacrifices they have made for the security of our country. He emphasized that we should not only thank our soldiers on Veterans day but also everyday of the year. He explains that our country thanks our veterans everyday by the benefits they not only receive but they deserve. His emphasis on the word "deserve" gives every veteran a sense of mind that we as citizens of this country do not take their personal sacrafices for granted. It also shows that we will take care of the people who are in the armed forces the same way that they protect our freedom every day while they are in the armed services.
President Obamas Veterans Day speech reminded of Pericles speech and the funeral oration because of the effect the speech had on the people listening to it. Both President Obama and Pericles both created a sense of nationalism while praising the citizens in the armed forces. President Obama used the word "we" as did Pericles to show the soldiers that the citizens of the United States are grateful for the sacrifices they have made for the good of the country. As President Obama was addressing the marines you can feel a sense of nationalism as he stated that we will take care of our veterans the same way they took care of us while being enlisted. You can hear the marines shouting in the background praising President Obamas statements. It is clear that President Obama was able to make the soldiers feel that the citizens of the United States are very thankful of what the soldiers do for the country.
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nbc-news/40122222
I agree. There are definitely the same themes in both of those. They are motivating and powerful. The use of the word is also very powerful and impactful. It instills pride in the people who are included in the we.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is parallelism between President Obama's speech and Pericles speech with creating a sense of nationalism. I believe our Veterans should be viewed as heroic figures in our society and that they do deserve to be praised. Both President Obama and Pericles did a good job in my opinion in giving the soldiers credit for their work.
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ReplyDeleteI also agree that as the commander in chief of the United States, President Obama gave a really motivating speech. Both Pericles and President Obama created a sense of nationalism by wording strongly. By using words like "we", President Obama brought people together and made Veterans more respectable. By giving a speech like this, President Obama not only represented American people to thank veterans but also showed that Americans do not take their peaceful life for granted.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. President Obama's diction throughout the piece lends to his attempt to get Americans to 'rally around the flag', a highly effective way to mobilize the American public.
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