Speech at BuchenwaldSpeech at BuchenwaldElie WieselElie Wiesel

June 5, 2009June 5, 2009

Micaeli Rourke CC475Micaeli Rourke CC475

ObjectivesObjectivesImmediate goals: Immediate goals: Remembrance, Remembrance, PersuasionPersuasion

Secondary goals: Secondary goals: Education, Education, AwarenessAwareness

““Will we ever learn?”Will we ever learn?”

Holocaust survivor, Holocaust survivor, non-violence non-violence advocateadvocate

ObjectivesObjectives

“It is now up to us, the living, in our work, wherever we are,

to resist injustice and intolerance and indifference in whatever forms they may take,

and ensure that those who were lost here did not go in vain.”

Audience and ContextAudience and Context

June 9, 2009, Buchenwald Concentration CampJune 9, 2009, Buchenwald Concentration Camp

Speech’s popularity depended on external target Speech’s popularity depended on external target audience (world news media--TV and online video)audience (world news media--TV and online video)

Intended for a universal audienceIntended for a universal audience (survivors, ‘those who have not learned’) (survivors, ‘those who have not learned’)

Preceded by Chancellor Merkel, President ObamaPreceded by Chancellor Merkel, President Obama

Body language showed humility, apparent Body language showed humility, apparent timidnesstimidness

“Rather than have me end with my remarks I thought it was appropriate to have Elie Wiesel

provide some reflection and some thought as he returns here so many years later to the place

where his father died.”

Obama’s IntroductionObama’s Introduction

Rhetorical Structure-Rhetorical Structure-Intro.Intro.

Lead with powerful narrative regarding FatherLead with powerful narrative regarding Father

Memorable opening established legitimacy, Memorable opening established legitimacy, relevancerelevance

Heartbreaking, captivates the listenerHeartbreaking, captivates the listener

Establishes a foundation for a call-to-actionEstablishes a foundation for a call-to-action

Rhetorical Structure-Rhetorical Structure-BodyBody

““Will we ever learn?”Will we ever learn?”

Challenges the global claim that we’ve Challenges the global claim that we’ve learned from the Holocaustlearned from the Holocaust

Cites Cambodia, Bosnia, Darfur, IsraelCites Cambodia, Bosnia, Darfur, Israel

““Memory must bring people together rather Memory must bring people together rather than set them apart”than set them apart”

Advocates the improvement of the human Advocates the improvement of the human conditioncondition

Call-to-ActionCall-to-Action

“Mr. President, we have such high hopes for you because you, with your moral vision of history, will be able and compelled to change this world into a better place, where people will stop waging war -- every war is absurd and meaningless; where people will stop hating one another; where people will hate the otherness of the other rather than respect it.”

Rhetorical Structure-Rhetorical Structure-Conc.Conc.

Transitions from current injustices to hope for Transitions from current injustices to hope for the futurethe future

“The 21st century is a century of new beginnings, filled with promise and infinite hope”

Closes with a quote from Camus, The Plague

“Thank you Mr President, for allowing me to come back to my Father’s grave, which is still in my heart.”

DeliveryDeliveryDirect and deliberate more than Direct and deliberate more than enthusiasticenthusiasticPacing was slow, every word Pacing was slow, every word articulatedarticulatedBody language was relaxed, stood Body language was relaxed, stood confidently with hands foldedconfidently with hands foldedInteresting intonation and stacatto-Interesting intonation and stacatto-pathos pathos Heavy you/we focusHeavy you/we focus

DeliveryDeliveryNo visual aids, setting acted as a visualNo visual aids, setting acted as a visual

Direct eye contact and focusDirect eye contact and focus

Did not make use of speaking area, used podiumDid not make use of speaking area, used podium

Short, simple sentencesShort, simple sentences

Made a point to avoid descriptive details, kept Made a point to avoid descriptive details, kept narratives anectodalnarratives anectodal

Rhetorical devices-hyperbole, assonance, Rhetorical devices-hyperbole, assonance, personificationpersonification

Intangible EffectsIntangible Effects

Speech left me remorseful, inspired, humaneSpeech left me remorseful, inspired, humane

Wiesel convinced me of his call-to-actionWiesel convinced me of his call-to-action

Captivated by his testimony, interested in Captivated by his testimony, interested in hearing morehearing more

Completely original ideas, provides an account Completely original ideas, provides an account that few people can tell first handthat few people can tell first hand

Location of speech helped to convince the Location of speech helped to convince the audience, provided relevance and legitimacyaudience, provided relevance and legitimacy