Canalizing The Speech of President Obama after Osama Bin Laden's Death and The War on Al-qaeda

Who does not know about what happened in the U.S history on a somber September day about ten years ago? The United States of America was that day victim of a terrorist attack headed by Al-Qaeda’s terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden, responsible of the death of thousands of innocent men, women and children. An operation against this terrorist leader was taken, and he was murdered. U.S’s president Barack Obama was the speaker of an important speech said on May 2nd of this current year from the White House in Washington D.C, directed to all his fellows and from a deeper context to the relatives of deceased victims. His speech was primary to inform to his country and give them the details about the overall operation, but also to broadcast an emotional message specifically directed to the terrorist victim’s relatives. Obama primary tried to emphasize the fact that the operation that killed Al Qaeda’s terrorist leader can be considered as an historical event for the U.S’s history, but this fact actually did not mean that the war against Al-Qaeda was over.

The impact of the news about this event was so important for every U.S citizen that the president, as the head of the nation, had to inform to his nation about the specific and precise details of the anti-terrorist operation. This means, there was an implicit necessity to explain his people why the country decided to make this operation, argued them about the positive results and great impact of the action taken, and to highlight to his smaller audience that justice was done for both the victims and his relatives. As being such a terrific event, had to be communicated as soon as it happened because by this way the president covered every doubt or question of his fellows. All of these previously mentioned was the exigence of the speech. Talking about the audience, it must be considered that although the speech is primary directed to U.S citizens because the disaster involved all the country and specially the relatives of the victims, especially when was speaking one part just about them. But besides, it included also several nations such as Pakistan when mentioned he talked with its president and, of course, the Al-Qaeda’s countries. Now, about the constraints, the time and the transmission systems could be the main limits of the speech. Time comes to be always a limit for every TV broadcast, and the transmission systems could be sometimes inappropriate for some people, preventing them to watch TV.

The speaker, as being the president of the U.S, had all the credibility and trustworthiness of his audience. Besides this, he showed a lot of knowledge and complete professionalism of what he was speaking when he described and analyzed every aspect he was talking about. Also, he demonstrated a respectful attitude and profound emphasis when talking about the attack that caused painful and loss. When he stated an idea, he explained to his audience deeper about it. As an example, when he spoke about that Pakistan president was also glad with the results, he supported that idea when he said that Pakistan was against Al-Qaeda too. Furthermore, in addition to this, the accuracy, neat format and appropriate grammar of the speech also contributed to the president’s speech. Therefore, it can be said that the speaker has a high and thorough credibility of his audience.

It can be seen that there are such many ways the speaker appealed to the audience’s emotions. First, when he spoke about some phrases such as “the empty seat at the dinner table” and “the gaping hole in the heart of all U.S citizens” he transmitted sadness, sorrow and respect to the audience, especially to his “special one”. Then, when he spoke that justice was done, he also was speaking with more emphasis to this audience, although could be also small signs of hate and contempt. Moreover, he stated that he will protect his fellows from other attack, so this also tried to highlight the value of fellowship and friendship. The last emotional appealing was emphasizing the value of unity, when he argued that the U.S was a “family” when the catastrophic attack happened. Also he highlighted this value when mentioned that the power and potential of the country due to their unity but not wealth.

Now, focusing in the style of the speech, it can be said that Obama used a contextually appropriate diction for every main point he was stating. He correctly employed both words and sentences structure in his speech. He used very few of figurative language. He mainly used this when talking about the description and specific details of the disaster. The rhythm consisted in the repetition of some few words such as “tonight”, “justice”, “children” and “operation”. There was not sentence repetition. The tone of the speech primary showed a serious, somber and respectful attitude of the speaker. He did not try to be humorous in any moment due to the magnitude and importance of the speech he was giving to. The serious and somber mood was dominant in the overall speech, and it contributed to the speaker speech’s impact toward his fellows.

The speech, in its initial part, was first stating the description of the attack ten years ago, and then argued that the operation taken for killing Bin Laden was something that the country did for protecting its citizens. His argument was that the U.S did not choose the war against that terrorist group, that it came just by them, and emphasized the fact that for the relatives of the victims of the past disaster justice was finally done. Then, the speaker was explaining again how did the country decided to take that operation and what procedures and measurements involved, being said that the leader was escaping and avoiding his capture. After this, he again focused on the malevolent plans that Bin Laden was planning and did against the U.S, and highlighted that his death was a very important achievement in the war against Al-Qaeda. Furthermore, he strongly stated that the action taken was for protect the U.S citizens from other attack, and that the country will continue to hardly and strongly protect his people from any threatenin. He thanked the professionals that took the operation and highlighted their bravery and patriotism. Finally, he appealed his audience when stating that the war did not finish with the death of Bin Laden, and argued about the potential of the country due to their unity and liberty. So it can be said the speaker give to every main idea, a respective argument containing claims and assertions to persuade and inform his audience.