1.
What is the author arguing?
The
author is arguing that communism is an inferior type of government
compared to democracy and that the free world will triumph over
communism. Kennedy is also saying that “equality and
self-determination were the very essence of freedom.” I also think that Kennedy is saying that if you go to war, then this will cause a big split between the people that think it is right to go to war and those that think it is wrong to go to war.
2.
How does the author appeal to logos (logic), pathos (emotional
quality), and ethos (the writer’s perceived character) with their
argument?
Ethos:
John
F. Kennedy's character shows confidence and awareness. John F.
Kennedy shows confidence by implying that the free world will always
be better than communism. I say this because in this document he
keeps saying “Let them come to Berlin”. I think this means that
John F. Kennedy has enough confidence to show the communists what
happened to Berlin dealing with the communistic state and the how
strong Berlin was. This was indicated by John F. Kennedy saying “I
know of no town, no city, that has been besieged for eighteen years
that still lives with the vitality and the force and the hope and the
determination of the city of West Berlin!” His character also shows
awareness because he was aware that more communist societies could
come up and try to do what the communistic countries had done in the
Cold War. JFK warns the possible communist countries that they could
face against cities like West Berlin, cities that could hold out even
if it was divided in two and besieged for 18 years and still have as
much determination as West Berlin had.
Pathos:
John
F. Kennedy is only appealing mostly to emotions in my opinion. JFK
was giving this speech in West Berlin and was saying how great of a
city West Berlin is; like if he was boasting on how good the city
was. I think JFK gave this speech to keep up morale and make the
people of Berlin to think that it was necessary to stop the countries
that were communist and waging war against the free world because the
communistic society did not give normal freedoms to the people that
were living in the country.
Logos:
JFK
said these things to help the residents of West Berlin to stay as a
democracy because of what they have already went through. I think that
he secretly knew that if the people of West Berlin knew what they had
done and the sacrifices that they made, they will more likely stay as
a democracy. I say this because JFK must have been a smart person to
have been president. This could have meant that he was trying to help
create freedoms for the people that didn't have the same freedoms that
he had in America.
3. What
is the historical significance/relevance of this document?
This
is considered one of John F. Kennedy's most famous speeches because
he talks about what the free nations stood for. “The right for
individuals to make their own choices in their lives and for freedom
to flourish” were some of the things that the free nations stood
for. This speech was given at West Berlin and compared West Berlin
to some other cities and towns by saying that he didn't know any city
that was as determined as it was. This was also his address to other
possible communist countries to say this is how much strength the
free world has; and challenged the communist countries to look at
Berlin before doing anything.
4. Do
you find the author’s argument convincing? Why or why not?
I
find the author's argument convincing because JFK is saying that the
free world is better than communist dictatorship. I find this very
right because if you look at who had won the war and how West Berlin
had faced the siege for eighteen years. The way the author put the
phrases about Berlin were in a good order. These phrases all ended
with “Let them come to Berlin!” and there was a sense of pride
coming from the phrases, as if to say that Berlin was a starting
point to show how good democracy was to the whole world.
Nice TA Harjaap,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about JFK trying to convince everyone that democracy was better. He even said "Let them come to Berlin" just to show off and that really showed his confidence in democracy. He wanted the people to see West Berlin as an example, and example of failed communism, and it was support for his "communism sucks" motto. I also agree he used mostly pathos by stating things such as families being split by the Berlin wall and not being able to come together. That really appeals to the emotions in my opinion. Although I agree with JFK, and felt the speech was convincing, I think he could'e used more support for his argument, because he used Berlin as an example, but that's just one example; more examples would've made it even more convincing.
You're right Lab! More examples would have made the argument more compelling. In addition, it could have provided more evidence of the damage communism can cause.
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ReplyDeleteGood job on the TA Harjaap. I agree with both you and Lab Kang about how much JFK supported democracy and how he hated communism. Great job on the summary content and amount, even though this text was small. You used JKF's quotes in a good way, it is very important to have them. I like JFK's quote when he says: "Democracy is not perfect, but we never had to put a wall up to keep our people in". Here he used a negative fact about democracy to support democracy and to put down communism, which is a very good way to convince people. He is a very confident speaker and convinces people easily like me. Because he is correct about communism and has no bad intentions about power.
ReplyDeleteNice text analysis, very detailed and very well organized. I agree with what you had to say about "John F. Kennedy is only appealing mostly to emotions in my opinion." Because I feel like in a speech that's how you capture the audience as well as what you have to say. John F. Kennedy was a very smart man. He planned his speeches to persuade people or to provoke their thoughts by a lot of emotion and what an area has gone through. Which is also why I agree with you that the speech was convincing. But he only targeted one area, which was Berlin. If he were to expand the audience it would have been even more convincing.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your TA! You really showed that you understood his thoughts nicely. I agreed that he was really convincing because he just wanted everyones democracy to be the same, without communism. I thought you really comprehended his speech, and beliefs. I also agreed with you, and Lab because he used a lot of pathos in his speech to help really connect his feelings. I also agree with Nellie, if he would have expanded his speech over the world, it would have been a bit more convincing, and it would have caused the audience to be bigger and the word would have spread faster, and probably his idea would have been made sooner.
ReplyDeleteGood job breaking down the text analysis! You did a great job of organizing and grouping the individual ideas that John f. Kennedy was trying to prove to his people. I too, also believe that communism is obsolete in compassion to the free world society. I also agree with how you said that waging war will divide the society into two groups, the ones who want the war and the ones who don't. As you read this document, It is obvious that JFK shows alot of emotion and passion towards West Berlin, as you stated. Communistic cultures deprive the people of normal freedoms that they would usually have in democratic governed societies. This argument has been a very convincing perspective because of the amount of effort that was put into the though process and the way it was organized to compound the strength of the argument as he went on. Democracy is the answer.
ReplyDeleteGreat Analysis. Your right, Kennedy loved democracy and disliked communism very much. President Kennedy's groundbreaking "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in Berlin was seen as a turning point in the Cold War, and was offering American solidarity to the citizens of West Germany. This speech was given in response to the Cold War and the tension between non Communist countries and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union built the Berlin Wall as a way to keep people from fleeing to non-Communist countries, mainly West Berlin. His speech was also a major morale booster for West Germans, alarmed by the recently-built Berlin Wall. In addition, it gave a powerfully defiant message to the Soviet Union and effectively put Moscow's hopes of driving the Allies out of West Berlin. Kennedy ended his speech on the theme he had begun with "All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words, 'Ich bin ein Berliner.'" Making this one Kennedy`s most famous speeches. Kennedy praised the character of the people of Berlin in their pursuit for freedom, while emotionally capturing the audience by saying “Let them come to Berlin. There are some who say that communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin ‘, contributing to Kennedy`s speech being convincing. At the same time, Kennedy`s was making it clear what the free nations stood for and how self-determination and equality make it possible for freedom to flourish among nations.
ReplyDeleteVery nicely done text analysis. I thought that it was very well put together and organized. I aso felt that it was summarized great. Though you didn't have alot to work with I felt that you did a really good job of being able to put to use the important details. I completely agree with you in that JFK was extremely convincing. He was able to capture his audience emotions and that is what I believe was his strongest tactic in giving speeches. That is what I think made the greatest impact on his audience. JFK showed his hatred of communism and used that to make democracy seem more appealing. I also agree in which JFK should have used more examples in supporting his points. I feel that would have made it even easier for people to be persuaded to his views. I also think this would have been a much more effective thing. Overall great text analysis!
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your Text Analysis. I thought you did a very good job of identifying the different arguments behind made in Kennedy's speech, and you put good emphasis on his excellent use of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. I agree with your thoughts on Kennedys confidence in his speech. To make an over all-encompassing statement that democracy is better than communism without exception must have required unfailing self assurance and absolute confidence that he was right. Like many comments, I really agree that Kennedy strongly appeals to the people's emotions. I think he was very much aware and informed of the hardships of the people, and that awareness was shown in his speech, letting the people his is addressing know that he is compassionate and sympathetic to their plight. Because he was aware, I think he also understood how emotional this time was, and was able to use this to his advantage by giving mention to certain emotional topics. He expresses his feelings of sadness and discontent with the current situation in which a wall separated family and loved ones and a struggle for freedom and human rights was taking place. Throughout his whole speech he shows a great sense of pride in Berlin as well. He turns their efforts and difficulties over eighteen years from a cruel, bitter memory into evidence of their greatness , determination and hope.
Hi Harjaap! In your discussion of logos you make a link between the inferiority of communism and the loss of vitality and strength in East Berlin. This may be a conscious connection being made by JFK, but it might also be a natural parallel because of the depression and frustration experienced by people who are being controlled and have limited ability to impact their destinies.
ReplyDeleteJFK saw the hope and courage of the East Berliners. He wanted to connect with them because by doing so it would make it possible for others to have permission to do so. If he could add back the humanity of the communists, maybe, just maybe the outcome of the equations could be different. His gamble paid off in spades!