Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Assignment #2 LaPierre Intro

Jose Arroyo
Professor Werry
RWS 200 M & W 3:30-4:45
4 March 2015
LaPierre Intro

            The ability to unite people under the sense of “certainty” has been displayed throughout history. The term we use today to describe how groups of people are influenced by a single condescending authoritarian to polarize towards another group of people is called demagoguery. The issue of demagoguery is discussed in Patricia Robert Miller’s 2005 article, “ Democracy, Demagoguery, and Critical Rhetoric.” She discusses in her piece refers to famous demagogues such as Adolf Hitler to reveal how they try to create an in and out group and provide one single solution to the in groups problem. She also states the fallacies they have on their arguments that the common people do not seem to catch onto due to the fact that during those time periods the sense of an answer was being worth listened to. The topic of demagoguery is highlighted in the NRA’S Wayne LaPierre’s 2012 speech concerning the Newtown Tragedy. In his speech he defends the NRA against the angered and dismal parents who are pushing for an increase in gun control. Throughout his speech he provides claims but none as important as these three: that the media is encourages killers to plot and scheme, that by putting a “gun free zone” sign this enables killers to have a target, and finally his main claim is that guns should be allowed to be instituted in schools and handled by certified people. Through the use of pathos, ethos, and redefinition he tries to persuade his audience in trying to open their minds to how useful guns can really be.

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