Maria L. Boleaga
English 110
March 4, 2015
Union is equal to one
In his speech "A More Perfect Union," published in 2008 senator Barack Obama addresses the topic of people uniting to make some changes in our society and argues that we should not let children of the 21st century inherit our problems. We should help them pick up the pace of our community about race and other kind of problems that is affecting our society. Barack Obama asserts many things that can unite the society such as stopping racism and being able to unite as one, he implies that we should not make the same mistakes we did years ago. He supports this claim by starting of with the unfinished Declaration of Independence, it was both a good and bad about this new document; meaning that once the Declaration of Independence was made people could have their liberty and justice, but "everyone" did not include other races, such as the Black race. This document was the cause of slavery because since it was never mentioned that Black people could also have their liberty and justice, slave owners continued the trade of slavery. Then he talks about how till this day racism still exist; racism shouldn't be a problem anymore. Finally he gives an example of a White woman named Ashley Baia who united people that had similar problems like hers, example losing health care insurance. This is where it all begins if our society wants change by uniting people no matter what race especially the children of today, we should help them understand the problems of today and how it should be changed. Obama's audience to his speech goes to the new generation and to people that had gone through these experiences to show the new generation that history should not repeat itself.
Obama's purpose is to unite our society in order to stop racism no matter if you're Black, White, Hispanic, Asian or Native American we should help one another given like the example Ashley's story. Using Ashley's story helps support his claim because he is describing how change can happen in our society if only we unite. Obama wants us to understand that issues such as racism continues and we must not repeat these times again. In order for this change to happen we must unite "For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle". This was a great quote said in his speech because he is telling our society that there can be change. Barack Obama establishes a formal and a matter of fact tone with his audience of this speech and others interested in the topic on race. He talks about how important it is but it should not be an issue that is always put to aside.
When I began reading Obama's speech, my reactions to this was that it was interested because what got my attention was that he started off his speech with the Declaration of Independence; of how this document changed our society and the reactions that it had to people when this documents was made. Obama held his speech well focused, he started off with the past and finished his speech with the present and I think that's what holds a good and consistent speech because he does not go off topic. Reading Barack Obama's speech made me want to get off my seat and express "We are the change, we are the ones that can only make a difference to our society, we are ONE". Most people would agree with Obama's speech because instead of having race become an issue, we should be a union. We should not let the Congress, Government and Politics corrupt our society, if we want change we must build a union and work together as a team like Barack Obama said in his speech "This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected". Perfection can always start of by uniting people; each generation can teach us something new so we can’t repeat history again.
ReplyDeleteI had wrote a summary and response, when I was in high school, but was never introduced to the rhetorical précis. Using the rhetorical précis helped me write a better summary and response to "A More Perfect Union" speech by Barack Obama. Obama's speech was perfect because anyone who listens to his speech would agree to what he is saying because of his tone of voice. He also gave enough evidence to support his claim. Writing this summary & response wasn't hard, I think if the writer agrees with he/she is saying then the person who is reading it can also agreed with the claim that the article or speech is being given. So Obama's speech was understandable to what he was talking about race. He was able to prove his viewers that there can be change and I think that's why I decided to write my summary and response on Obama's speech because he was well organized with his speech without getting off topic. So I think that I did a good job writing this summary and response on Obama's speech, with the help of the rhetorical precis. Now whenever I get stuck writing a summary and response I can look back at the rhetorical precis and Obama's speech because the rhetorical precis helps me organize the main flaws of the article. Obama's speech was like a an example of how to get my readers/viewers understand the message that I want to portray.
I like how you set up your essay with the precis but I noticed quite a few errors, revision and re-reading is needed. I like how in the last sentence of the first paragraph you write how Obama is saying that history should not repeat itself, because just like you stated it was been far too many years for racism to still exist today. I also like your title because it sums up one of the points Obama is trying to make. Just like you gave an example of, Obama is saying that we are all humans, all connected and all united by listing all the types of races when making a point. Good response overall just needs some revision of small errors.
ReplyDeleteI found this essay quite interesting and encouraging. I like the topic and your connection to the topic is very clearly mentioned. Your example of Obama trying to say that changes are possible if we are ONE is very supportive to your essay.
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