Reflection On Bush's 9/11 Speech

George W, Bush's 9/11 speech can be considered successful because it accomplishes its goal of addressing the American people about the tragedy and assuring them that these attacks weren't a testimony to the strength of America. He was able to fulfill his purpose by comforting the frightened and rousing a feeling of national pride among the people. His tone was strong, determined and encouraging which prompts the audience to trust him. Bush utilized ethos, logos, and pathos in his speech to make it all the more effective. His use of ethos is evident as he is none other than the President. However, Bush also depicts himself as a fellow American. He stated, "Today, our fellow citizens, our very freedom came under attack..." His use of the word "our" serves to make him seem more relatable and understanding. Bush establishes logos by relaying information about the attack to the audience. He explains that thousands of people died from the attack and described the aftermath of the planes flying into the buildings. The most important rhetorical device Bush utilized, however, is pathos. His use of pathos is evident in his word choice. For example, he stated that "Our country is strong. A great people have been moved to defend a great nation." These phrases are used for the sole purpose of eliciting a sense of pride in their country from the audience. Ultimately, Bush's 9/11 speech was very effective as he focused his attention on the victims of the tragedy and not on the terrorists. He made the fallen seem more humane and real as opposed to just victims. He depicted them as friends and family and his strong word choice further served his purpose to unite the nation.