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Rhetorical Analysis Of Tony Blair's Speech

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In his speech to the American citizens after September 11, 2001, British Prime Minister Tony Blair discusses how the world should respond to such an horrific event. Prime Minister Tony Blair advocates that all nations must join together to fight for their core values: freedom, democracy, and justice. He effectively builds his argument by repeating certain words, appealing to the emotions of the audience, and using historical evidence. Throughout his speech, Tony Blair reiterates the words “our” and “today” to underscore his claim that nations must be “interdependent,” “since it is very rare today that trouble in one part of the globe remains limited in its effect.” The effect of the word “our” creates a sense of togetherness in the eyes of the American citizens, as they feel as though they no longer have to endure this tragedy alone. In addition, Tony Blair asserts himself as one of the American citizens by using the pronoun “we” as opposed to “you.” This slight change supports his claim that imbuing the world with values must be approached universally. The repetition of the word “today” emphasizes that the …show more content…

Tony Blair not only mentions the “horror” of September 11, 2001, but also acknowledges that the “spirit of the people of New York and America in the aftermath of that terrible day were not just admirable, they were awesome.” Initially, Tony Blair praises the audience and reassures the American citizens that “the British people were with you from the first moment,” which creates harmony between the two. Then, Tony Blair continues by saying “every nation in the world felt the reverberation of that fateful day,” implying that he is able to sympathize and empathize with them. By reassuring the American citizens and making them feel secure and safe, Tony Blair effectively alleviates their fears, allowing them to be open to the idea of

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