Mary Fisher: the Struggle to Inform
Mary Fisher: The Struggle to Inform
Demetris Vance
ITT Technical Institute (Online Division)
“A life lived in fear, Is a life half lived.” (Slaughter, 2010)
AIDS is a worldwide epidemic that has affected and is affecting millions of people. Even though it was not discovered until 1982 many stereotypes have come along with it. Mary Fisher is an AIDS community member and is not afraid to stand up and say so. Defending and helping those with HIV/AIDS and helping them spread the word instead of keeping silent. In 1991 she found out that she had contracted the disease from her second husband and now Fisher is one of the world’s leading activists in the fight against HIV/AIDS. (Newman, 2010)
On August 20, 1992, Mary Fisher addressed the Republican National Convention in Houston. She spoke for ten minutes in the middle of the day, a time when most audience members milled around and talked rather than listening to the speakers. Fisher spoke in a way that established her presence and commanded the respect and undivided attention of her audience. She represented the demographic that people considered to be excused from AIDS, above falling victim to its disturbing effects. She used herself to illustrate to people that even if they thought they were unaffected- that they could never test HIV positive- they were just as exposed as she was. (Fisher, MY NAME IS MARY , 1996)
The main purpose of Mary Fishers Speech "A whisper of AIDS" was to promote awareness of HIV and AIDS throughout the United States. A key issue Mary addressed in her speech was that nobody, not anybody was safe from contracting the HIV virus. She stated "If you believe you are safe, you are in danger because AIDS does not care if you are democrat or republican, black or white, male or female, gay or straight, young or old, everybody is at risk." (Fisher, Inspiration Speakers Motivation Speakers, 1992) The message Mary wanted the audience to receive is that people living with HIV or AIDS are human too,
Demetris Vance
ITT Technical Institute (Online Division)
“A life lived in fear, Is a life half lived.” (Slaughter, 2010)
AIDS is a worldwide epidemic that has affected and is affecting millions of people. Even though it was not discovered until 1982 many stereotypes have come along with it. Mary Fisher is an AIDS community member and is not afraid to stand up and say so. Defending and helping those with HIV/AIDS and helping them spread the word instead of keeping silent. In 1991 she found out that she had contracted the disease from her second husband and now Fisher is one of the world’s leading activists in the fight against HIV/AIDS. (Newman, 2010)
On August 20, 1992, Mary Fisher addressed the Republican National Convention in Houston. She spoke for ten minutes in the middle of the day, a time when most audience members milled around and talked rather than listening to the speakers. Fisher spoke in a way that established her presence and commanded the respect and undivided attention of her audience. She represented the demographic that people considered to be excused from AIDS, above falling victim to its disturbing effects. She used herself to illustrate to people that even if they thought they were unaffected- that they could never test HIV positive- they were just as exposed as she was. (Fisher, MY NAME IS MARY , 1996)
The main purpose of Mary Fishers Speech "A whisper of AIDS" was to promote awareness of HIV and AIDS throughout the United States. A key issue Mary addressed in her speech was that nobody, not anybody was safe from contracting the HIV virus. She stated "If you believe you are safe, you are in danger because AIDS does not care if you are democrat or republican, black or white, male or female, gay or straight, young or old, everybody is at risk." (Fisher, Inspiration Speakers Motivation Speakers, 1992) The message Mary wanted the audience to receive is that people living with HIV or AIDS are human too,
References: Blaine, K. (2012, June 27). Mary Fisher, Who Helped Change AIDS Stereotype, Is Still Fighting. Retrieved from ABCNews: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/06/woman-who-helped-change-aids-stereotype-is-still-fighting/ Fisher, M. (1992, 08 19). Inspiration Speakers Motivation Speakers. Retrieved from Word Press: http://inspirationalspeakers.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/mary-fisher-a-whisper-of-aids/ Fisher, M. (1996, 1 1). MY NAME IS MARY . Retrieved from Kirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/mary-fisher/my-name-is-mary/ Fisher, M. (2002, 10 9). Community in Search of an Identity. Retrieved from HIV Council: http://www.hivcouncil.org/mary_fisher.htm Fisher, M. (2002). Community in Search of an Identity. Retrieved from The South Bank HIVe: http://www.mwcltonline.org/southbankHIVe/CommunityStories.htm Mary Fisher. (2013, 05 03). Retrieved from American Entertainment International Speakers Bureau: http://www.aeispeakers.com/speakerbio.php?SpeakerID=1212 Newman, B. (2010, 10 5). Mary Fisher’s “A Whisper of AIDS” Speech Analysis . Retrieved from Mr. Newman 's Digital Rhetorical Symposium : http://newmanrhetoric.blogspot.com/2010/10/mary-fishers-whisper-of-aids-speech_05.html Rudnick, P. (1995). Jeffery. Retrieved from IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113464/ Slaughter, M. R. (2010). A life half lived. Retrieved from Poem Hunter.com: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-life-half-lived/ tcollins7200. (2011, 1 29). The Whisper of AIDS Analysis - Mary Fisher 1992 . Retrieved from Info Barrel: http://www.infobarrel.com/The_Whisper_of_AIDS_Analysis_-_Mary_Fisher_1992