Hillary Clinton, Gay Rights Are Human Rights
Piper Quinn
Dr. Vincent
English 111
October 31, 2012
Hillary Clinton, Gay Rights are Human Rights Hillary Clinton’s International Human Rights Day Address at Palais des Nations was delivered on December 6, 2011, in Geneva, Switzerland, to mark the celebration of Human Rights Day. In this speech, Clinton challenges the members of the United Nations Human Rights Council to recognize that LGBT Rights, (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender), are Human Rights. Through the use of definition, contrast, comparison, and logic, Clinton skillfully identifies that, “gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights.” Clinton begins her speech by first discussing the historical significance of Human Rights Day. She appeals to her audience by comparatively highlighting the daunting tasks of the first delegates of the United Nations Human Rights Council while they were drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the aftermath of World War II. This strategy appeals to the current United Nations Human Rights Council because these are tasks they can most assuredly identify with as council members themselves. Clinton further engages the members of the council by acknowledging the historical significance of the delegates work when she says: At three o 'clock in the morning on December 10th, 1948, after nearly two years of drafting and one last long night of debate, the president of the UN General Assembly called for a vote on the final text. Forty-eight nations voted in favor; eight abstained; none dissented. And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted.
This is a clever strategy because the council members now identify themselves with the original council members who made history when the Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. That flattered the current council members into thinking that their own adopted policies could be recognized in a similar fashion in the future. Clinton shifts to recognize the progress the
Dr. Vincent
English 111
October 31, 2012
Hillary Clinton, Gay Rights are Human Rights Hillary Clinton’s International Human Rights Day Address at Palais des Nations was delivered on December 6, 2011, in Geneva, Switzerland, to mark the celebration of Human Rights Day. In this speech, Clinton challenges the members of the United Nations Human Rights Council to recognize that LGBT Rights, (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender), are Human Rights. Through the use of definition, contrast, comparison, and logic, Clinton skillfully identifies that, “gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights.” Clinton begins her speech by first discussing the historical significance of Human Rights Day. She appeals to her audience by comparatively highlighting the daunting tasks of the first delegates of the United Nations Human Rights Council while they were drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the aftermath of World War II. This strategy appeals to the current United Nations Human Rights Council because these are tasks they can most assuredly identify with as council members themselves. Clinton further engages the members of the council by acknowledging the historical significance of the delegates work when she says: At three o 'clock in the morning on December 10th, 1948, after nearly two years of drafting and one last long night of debate, the president of the UN General Assembly called for a vote on the final text. Forty-eight nations voted in favor; eight abstained; none dissented. And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted.
This is a clever strategy because the council members now identify themselves with the original council members who made history when the Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. That flattered the current council members into thinking that their own adopted policies could be recognized in a similar fashion in the future. Clinton shifts to recognize the progress the
Cited: “Hillary Clinton - International Human Rights Day Address at Palais des Nations” American Rhetoric. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012.