Bush's Inaugural Speech

For this I do apologize, for I don't intend at all to, colloquially, "beat something that is already dead," but I wanted to post a few remarks concerning this speech, since we are all familiar with it and the problems we all have with it. Also, I was unsure whether to post on a different speech or this one. Thus, I'm giving a few final remarks before this speech is archived forever.

Initially, I would like to remark on his use of ethos, specifically, and as we discussed, the ethos of the entire event. As for the entire event, his first remarks set up the honor and ceremony of this most revered event. He says, "On this day, prescribed by law and marked by ceremony" and continues to hallow the government, constitution, and the state of our nation with respect to its history and foundation. Immediately, and as the President of USA, he commands respect and credibility. Throughout the speech, he makes remarks and quotes Abraham Lincoln, refers to the wide religious faiths, and while his ethos is sometimes weak, its the strongest part of his speech.

Unlike ethos, his use of logos is very weak and insubstantive. As our class rated it a "D" in most cases, some failed him completely. Mostly, his logic consisted of what America has done in the past, and discussing achievements we have made. Nevertheless, even those were weak.

While our class consistently failed his pathos, I feel that President Bush's speech had quality pathos when it was present. During a time of war, there is nothing more that rallies a nation than when you discuss what our troops are fighting for, their lives, their values, and what they do every day for the cost of our freedom and other nations' freedom. Yes, I realize that it was a vague statement and some said it could have come from Bin Laden; however, I feel that it made a connection emotionally.

Overall, I feel that President Bush intended not to appeal to ethos, logos, and pathos -- morever, he wanted to overall appeal to our sense of American nationalism, and our sense of liberty and freedom that is such a big pride issue for Americans, the "free-est" nation on earth.

Therefore, I commend his speech because he is the President of the United States of America, and because I support him in the respect. However, in the world of rhetoric, its obvious his speech lacked a great deal in quality. Lastly, in the world of Kevin Jennings (fyi: my world), it just felt darn cold to me. For me, something could be wicked boring, but if someone is talking something they care about, putting some life in it, some SPIRIT!, then I can deal. President Bush, I couldn't deal.