Monday, March 17, 2008

The 'Unscripted' Part Of Kilpatrick's Address

Kilpatrick milks his talking time for all its worth. His emotionally saturated improvisation provides us with an excellent example of pathos. He wrings out the words in his sentences for all they're worth, in order to make the listeners really think and feel what he is apparently going through.... but not just him, also his family.... i mean, also his wife and children (he uses "wife and children" because it's more specific and will probably conjure up vague faces in the minds of listeners and make them feel slightly more emotional importance for them, so using specifically "wife and children" is an excellent use of both pathos and description because of the more descriptive level he takes it to). Don't forget how he brings in the loaded words "nigger" & "lynch" to strike that racial, emotional chord among listeners, who often connect the use of those words with the receiver being treated unfairly and unjustly. Racism and racial slurs of all forms are unethical and evil, but regardless of almost all other factors, Kwame can bring those up and people will be sympathetic. I'm sure Kwame knows within himself that what he did was intrinsically wrong, yet he can never admit his fault, so the only other choice is to try and make people feel sorry for him, to weasel out, so that is in fact what he's been doing.
To get back on track, let's see how he crafts two descriptions: "This unethical, illegal lynch mob mentality has to stop." & "a hate-driven bigoted assault on a family." Kilpatrick tells listeners that the people against him are bad, conspiring people, in order to further his emotional appeal. He plays well with his words once again near the end of his speech, this time with a slightly different rhetorical strategy. "I humbly ask members of council, I humbly ask the business community, I humbly ask the religious community, I humbly ask the brothers and sisters of the city of Detroit - I humbly ask that we say 'no more' together. I humbly ask that we say no more together." Syntax plays a role here when Kwame uses the words "humbly" six times then repeats a sentence. He puts up a facade; he fakely uses these words to lower himself as if he were talking up to everyone, but I don't think it fooled anyone. He wants to stress that his requests are modest and sensible, and that the mocking insensitivity of the media/public/whoever is attacking him and his family is not necessary.
After all is said and done, he is a horrible, lying mayor. But he is good at using words.

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