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Rhetorical Analysis Of The Mindless Menace Of Violence

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Senator Robert F. Kennedy, in his speech The Mindless Menace of Violence, addresses the citizens of Cleveland, Ohio, on April 5, 1968 about their toleration of violence against one another. Kennedy supports his claims by reflecting on past actions of United States citizens. The author's purpose is to address the growing problem of violence in American society in order to unify countrymen once again. The author speaks in a formal tone for the Cleveland City Club. By confronting the United States citizens’ toleration of violence and compelling them to learn from their wounds, Kennedy successfully conveys his message to Cleveland citizens that they must dismiss their speculations of one another and achieve equality.
Kennedy shared the news with the crowd that Dr. King was dead and grieved with the crowd as they fell silent, but then addressed the hateful and violent thoughts on their minds. Using specific word choice, he referred to the tragedy as a “time of shame and sorrow”, creating an empathetic and compassionate tone. Then, Kennedy separates himself from his audience by using the word “I” and “you” when saying “I have saved this one opportunity to speak briefly to you about this mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives” reminding them of his …show more content…

He speaks about the violence purging their society, however, he does not place blame on an isolated group but on everyone as he switches back to using the word “we”. “Whenever we tear at the fabric of life which another man has painfully and clumsily woven for himself

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