Bush Speech Analysis

Purpose The purpose of George Bush’s speech is to justify his future military actions and to unite the Americans by appealing to their emotions. Bush used a variety of emotive language and stylistic devices to express his concern over the incident for the audience. Content and Theme Firstly, Bush structured this speech is very small paragraphs. When he delivered the speech he speaks very slowly and never speaks more than 6 sentences at a time. Also, he pauses very often to allow the audience to clap for his speech. This gives an opportunity for the audience to give a very positive response to his campaign.
Displaying the popularity and support George Bush has to the international community. These short sentences delivers short and concise point for the speech. Bush themed the speech to target the international community and local Americans. This is particularly important because the incident attracted global media attention to America. It is imperative that the president takes advantage of this opportunity to gain support for America. In the speech, Bush purposefully emotes people globally to pre-justify the military actions he will take to ‘bring justice to our enemies’.
In the speech, he said ‘Nor will we forget the citizens of 80 other nations who died with our own. Dozens of Pakistanis, more than 130 Israelis, more than 250 citizens of India, men and women from El Salvador, Iran, Mexico and Japan, and hundreds of British citizens’. It is quite obvious that Bush is trying to stir up the anger towards the terrorists in the Middle East countries, such as Afghanistan in preparation for war. He states the victims from various countries. Targeting the international community, to direct the anger of these victim’s friends and families towards the terrorists.

By emoting the international audience, Bush gains allies and global support, increasing America’s political influence around the world. In the end, he is attempting to gather up influential allies that will support the fight against the terrorists. Bush sincerely thanked it’s allies for showing great care and support to the Americans. ‘America has no truer friend than Great Britain. ’ Bush appeals to the Britain by stating the friendship between the two countries. He used the words ‘truer friend’ to emphasize on the on-going support and co-operation from Britain.
It is almost as if Britain did not offer it’s support to the America, they will not longer be know as a ‘true friend’. I think that Bush is using it’s political influence, pressuring on the British government to support America’s ideals. He is trying to persuade England to join America in the activities of anti-terrorism. He specifically thanked the British, South Korea, Cairo, Australia, Africa and Latin America as a ‘friendly gesture’ to pave way for future campaign which may include taking the same political stance in certain worldwide issues in the Middle East.
He takes advantage of this internationally issue to gain more allies and show off it’s political influence in the world. This speech is also a declaration of war from America. “Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. ” Bush announces that America will take the responsibility of not only eliminating those who were involved in 911, but also all other terrorism activities around the world. It is interesting how America automatically assumes authority over world and self nominates itself being the ‘global police’.
This statement indirectly suggests that America is to be in charge of all activities in the world. It is essential for any government to befriend more allies to gain more political influence in the world. George Bush used his influence and announced to the world that Al-Qaeda is at war with freedom. “Freedom and fear are at war. The advance of human freedom, the great achievement of our time and the great hope of every time, now depends on us. ” George Bush cleverly involves the international community into the ‘war’ with terrorism.
Al-Qaeda only attacked on American soil and they should have no intentions of attacking other countries in the world. However, Bush stated that Al-Qaeda is at war with freedom. This means that they are at war with any country allows freedom in their society. In other words, Al-Qaeda is at war with humanity itself. Bush describes freedom as ‘the greatest achievement of our time’ because the speech is targeted towards the global community. The word ‘our’ does not only apply to Americans, but also to every person living in this planet.
He accuses the terrorists of destroying the ‘greatest achievement’. Thereby, evoking the anger of different people across the world towards these terrorists. This clever manipulation of words creates heroic image for America. Making it seemingly natural for America to invade into other countries territories for the sake of humanity. Eliminating any objections towards America’s future military actions. Bush never segregated from American audience. He choses his subject in the sentences carefully to emphasize that he is sharing the same pain and grief as all other Americans citizens.
In the speech, Bush carefully chose the subjects for each sentence to emote the Americans. He particularly used words like ‘we’, ‘our, ‘us’ to emphasize the unity in America. By using these subjects, he is presents as a understanding American leader that cares about it’s citizens. Bush also emphasized on words like ‘will’ to explain the things that need to be done in the next years. This word expresses the definite stance and determination, the American government will take for anti-terrorism.
Facing such a terrible disaster, Bush uses commanding vocabulary to verbally display the governments organized and rational planning for the future. He said “Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done” He again uses the word ‘will’ to reassure the citizens worries over America’s future developments. The word ‘will’ also invites the audience to feel that Bush will lead them towards a pre-determined and promised future that would benefit America and the world.
Allowing the Americans to place a greater confidence in him and to support his future campaigns. Tone and mood He speaks in a tone representing all the people of America (e. g. I also want to speak tonight directly to Muslims throughout the world. We respect your faith. It’s practiced freely by many millions of Americans and by millions more in countries that America counts as friends. ) Stylistic features After the traumatic event of 911, George Bush announced “We will direct every resource at our command — every means of diplomacy, every tool of ntelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every necessary weapon of war — to the destruction and to the defeat of the global terror network. ” Bush repeatedly used the word ‘every’ in this phrase to emphasize the serious actions the American government plans to execute. He reassures the American people that the terrorists responsible will be taken in to ‘justice’. Instead of simply stating the methods of defeating global terrorism, he made sure to underline on the fact that the government will be spending every resource it has to demolish injustice.
Giving off a very strong and firm political stance, gaining trusts and hope towards Bush’s government. Also, Bush’s grave actions of anti-terrorism, informs the world about the unwavering will of the American government. Sending a powerful message to the terrorists “You should not mess with Americans. ” President Bush used metaphor to emphasize the severity of the terrorist attack. He said, “All of this was brought upon us in a single day, and night fell on a different world, a world where freedom itself is under attack. The word ‘night’ is a time where people feels lost and insecure about their safety. This word describes the state America is currently in. It shows the severe destruction the attack has done to the economy and moral of the American people. However, as the saying goes ‘night is darkest before dawn’. Even though America is in the night, after the night, the sun rises. This imagery gives a powerful sense of hope to motivate the Americans to endure the night and look forward to sun rise. Encouraging people to strive to rebuild the country after the night has passed.