Preview

George W Bush 9/11 Speech Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
597 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
George W Bush 9/11 Speech Analysis
September 11, 2001 is a day that will tug at the heartstrings of America. In the midst of erupted chaos, President George W. Bush delivered a speech that was informative, yet comforting. The use of pathos exhibits sorrow and the sliver of hope that remained. Logos reflects the ensurance of efforts to assist the citizens in need and hunt down the people responsible. Rhetorical devices emphasize meaning, intrigues the audience. Bush’s speech on September 11, 2001 is a rhetorical speech of hope, anguish and ensurance that will be infinitely etched in our nation’s history. 9/11 blindsided the United States. Islamics associated with the infamous terrorist group al-Qaeda inflicted an attack by hijacking then flying planes into the World Trade …show more content…
The use of pathos and logos was vital to the message of this speech: remember, but keep hope and heal. Considering the circumstances, pathos was utilized enormously. Bush begins by stating that “our way of life, our very freedom came under attack”, which is terrifying, the United States prides itself on freedom and security. The speech continues by listing the thousands of innocent victims: secretaries, business people, military and federal workers, moms, dads, friends, neighbors, senselessly snatched away through acts of evil terror. Bush reminisces on pictures of “planes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing” that have flipped the nation into sadness, shock, anger. He claims that those responsible are being tracked down and world leaders have expressed their condolences, providing reassurement and hope. A speck of dejection is expressed when Bush reminds his fellow citizens to remember “children whose worlds have been shattered”, the most innocent of all. Bush repeats how our nation’s security has been threatened, which is obviously frightening. He incorporates Psalm 23, displaying the undying faith that rises in time of despair. To close out his speech, Bush says “God Bless America”, ensuring that God’s with our country. Logos is displayed through how the United States responded. Bush states: “immediately after the first attack, I implemented our government’s

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In George W. Bush’s Columbia Speech the speaker uses tone and a pathos appeal to accomplish in soothing the country after a terrible accident. The president’s tone throughout his speech is very somber and very sad for the majority of the speech. “Our entire nation grieves with you. And those you loved will have the respect and gratitude of this country.” He is very sad that the astronauts on the Columbia died. The president also appeals the nation's pathos ideals by taking verses out of the bible and talking about God “May God bless the grieving families. And may -- may God continue to bless America.” Using this two things the president sends home the fact that he and the rest of the country are grieving for the men and women in died in the Columbia Tragedy.…

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The 9/11 terrorist attack left many american citizens in a psychological trauma. During President Bush’s speech, he portrayed pathos to convey the effects of this horrifying experience that impacted each and every one of us. In the 9/11 Address to the Nation speech Bush mentioned, “The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge -- huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger,” that revealed a mental image of this horrific…

    • 338 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In Bush’s conclusion to the Nations address he uses logos in the quote “America has stood down enemies before, and will do so this time.”He gets use to start thinking logically about how many wars and battles the Nation has gone through and this one is as bad. Also that we have been through worse and we are still the greatest nation there ever was. He says “all americans from every walk of life” this gets us the audience to feel like we can get through this as…

    • 665 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    President George W. Bush's 9/11 address to America and the rest of the world is one of the most thought provoking and important speeches in history. On September 11, 2001, America was attacked by the Al-Qaeda which is a terrorist group in the middle east. They hijacked our planes and crashed two of them into the World Trade Center towers. Another crashed into the Pentagon and the fourth plane was headed to Washington, D.C., but crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers tried to overtake the hijackers. This attack killed thousands of our U.S citizens and left fear in millions of people's hearts. Yet, President Bush’s purpose of the speech is to bring unity, a sense of peace, and at the same time a stern warning to the attackers of our great land.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    9/11 English Speech

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Intro: From the day that we were born we 've been heading down a track…

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    On September 11, 2001, Islamic terrorists executed attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. killing nearly 3,000 people. Later that day, President George W. Bush released a statement to the public describing the acts that occurred, the steps that were being taken to return communities to peace, and the steps the government was taking to retaliate against the people that committed this heinous act. President Bush explained the horrifying events, and then reassured the public that his administration would be unfazed by the attempt to disrupt the American way of life. Although this event was not something that he or the American people would soon forget, he stressed the importance of remaining positive…

    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Flight 93 Research Paper

    • 738 Words
    • 3 Pages

    September,11,2001 there was a big tragedy that affected the whole United States. A group of 19 militants that are associated with Islamic terrorism from Saudi Arabia hijacked, and took control over four airplanes. Two planes were purposely crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. The hijackers had this all planned out on what they were going to do. After, the two planes headed towards the World Trade Center, the other two planes were headed towards the Pentagon and the White House, but these two planes luckily did not make it to their destinations they crashed in a Western Pennsylvanian field. The terrorists were Islamic ISIS, Saudi Arabia, and was not just these two groups of people the attack included seven more Arab nations. The…

    • 738 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The speech that George W. Bush gave after the attacks on September 11th, 2001 was not only comforting, like the speech given by Ronald Reagan after the Challenger Tragedy, or the impromptu speech given by Robert Kennedy after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., but also blazing with the clear message that America is strong, and that no matter what, we would overcome.…

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Our country has come to see, that we do have enemies in this world. America is receiving bomb threats, traitors passing through borders, and scared citizens. As we have all seen on the news everyone is trying to make things better. Our new coming Politicians, Democrats, Republicans, and our leader. President Obama recently gave a speech on the case at hand. His words gave reasons, tips, and ways we can keep our country sturdy.…

    • 377 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    9/11 Speeches

    • 599 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Exposition: Taking responsibility for one's actions, is the cornerstone (a step forward) to becoming an adult. It is a really upsetting thing, when an adult (let alone a president) doesn't take responsibility for their actions. At a kid's point of view (or a point of view of any), that is hypocrisy, hypocritical and makes a kid think. Those kids are thinking, 'Why do I have to take responsibility for my actions if they don't?". "Can I say something to someone and do the opposite?" (Which is the definition of hypocrisy). It is true, when you take responsibility for your actions, you can learn from them. Once you know you "screwed up" or made a mistake, you realize that what you did was wrong and are less likely not to do that mistake again.…

    • 599 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Obama utilizes pathos in his descriptions of the harm and pain that the American public has endured when he gives the examples, “the empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know the feeling of their child's embrace.” This quote relies entirely on pathos, and evokes an emotional response towards the horrors committed by Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda. Through his use of pathos, Obama reminds America that the actions of Al Qaeda can still be felt today, and conveys the sense that it is not only those who lost loved ones who continue to face this tragedy, but all Americans together. He goes on to say that on the day of the attack “the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood…[we] united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice.” In this quote, President Obama gives examples of the American people coming together and uniting in the face of terrorism. This uses pathos by appealing to the listener’s emotions and memory of the aftereffects of the attack. Therefore, Obama once again reveals the destruction that the terroir attack caused, but calls on the American people to fight fear with unity and justice. Overall,…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    9/11 World History

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages

    On September 11, 2001, nineteen men from an Islamic terrorist group known as Al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes, and flown them into the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon and the other crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. A total of 2,977 perished as a result of the attack. (“September 11, 2001: Background and Timeline of the Attacks”) President George Bush addressed the nation, “America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world and no one will keep that light from shining”. (“Text of Bush’s Address”) My interpretation of his speech is that we are a nation of hope and prosperity, and there are those who do not share in those same beliefs. As a nation, we need to continue to stand strong and be vigilant to those who threaten us. Following the aftermath of the attack, United States sent their military forces into Iraq and in pursuit of the man whom orchestrated the attack. Al-Qaeda Leader Bin Landen was responsible for the September 11th attacks and was killed in his compound in Pakistan on May 2,…

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When one sees the flag waving in the wind, hears the Star Spangled Banner, or speaks their pledge of allegiance, they feel a sense of pride for their country. The United States of America has fought against much tyranny. Every war, battle, and conflict we have endured has ushered us closer together. On September 11, 2001 our beloved nation was attacked by an inconceivable evil. America’s oneness of sharing in each other's happiness and sorrow was highlighted because of this strike against us.…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term as president of the United States on November the 7th 2012, by beating Mitt Romney despite dissatisfaction with the way he handled the economy. Before this particular outcome of the election, Obama made some remarks at a Campaign Event in Denver, Colorado. These remarks were among many other initiatives established by Obama to persuade the American people to vote for him. In order to reach this goal, he uses modes of appeal and rhetorical features, which I will clarify and shed light over in my rhetorical analysis of his speech by providing examples and explanations.…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Martin Amis uses exquisite imagery from the very beginning of his essay. The metal pictures he creates enable the reader to visualize the events of 9/11, and feel the same emotions as witnesses of those events. Amis also deepens the reader’s emotional experience by personifying America: “Until then America thought she was witnessing nothing more serious than the worst aviation disaster in history; now she had a sense of the fantastic vehemence raged against her.” By personifying America, Amis identifies the devastation of all Americans on 9/11. He articulates that it was not only the residence surrounding the twin towers, family members of the passengers on the planes, or the workers at the Pentagon or the World Trade Center that were affected, but rather America as a whole that was shaken by the attacks of 9/11.…

    • 433 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays