George W Bush 9/11 Speech Rhetorical Devices

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Nine days after the terror attack on 11 September 2001, “George W Bush delivered his speech Address to the Joint Session of the 107th Congress” to the members of the congress and the American people. Since the 9/11 attack were still relatively recent, the people of America were probably still very sad, afraid and angry. Not least were they in need for a supporting speech from their President. In the introduction of the speech Bush said: “In the normal course of events, Presidents come to this chamber to report on the state of the Union. Tonight, no such report is needed. It has already been delivered by the American people.” In this passage, he wants to eliminate the potential hierarchical difference between him and the American people. Bush basically says that he and…show more content…
Bush does this by using words such as we, our, us and them. By using these words, he highlights that there is a “us” and “them”, and also that there is a clear connection between the President and the American people by using the words we and our. In these two sentences, he effectively uses this strategy: “Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.” Another thing Bush stresses is the choice the American people has to make: “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” This passage is once again pointing out that there is a difference between us” and them” and also that there is a good side (America) and a bad side (the terrorists). In the speech, Bush uses religious symbols by bringing God and religious aspects to the speech to gain trust from the religious Americans as well. He is saying: “The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between
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