Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Stephanie Maenhardt
ENGL-1050-502-Sp18
February 1, 2018
Othering
Part One
hard to eradicate since it is taking various forms of motives, multiple events, and situations to
reappear. Othering is an evil stem which people persistently attempt cutting back (Weaver 420).
The kind of prejudice that broods is attained from the desire of people to bloat their self-
preservation, ego, and insufficient comprehension on how the actions of racists impact the
society. The events which have been documented like Angel Island, Ellis Island, the speech of
Fredrick Douglass entitled “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”, and “A More Perfect Union
by Obama all may be assessed as the motives behind unwarranted racisms that happened both in
Angel and Ellis Islands form the significant instances of racism which caused by the need
of people for self-preservation and ego inflation. Gordon Mary (432) wrote concerning her
official visit to an Ellis Island. Within her mythical piece, she deliberates on the mistreatments
that were happening to the immigrants via the laws and medical checkups that were approved to
avert as multiple immigrants from setting foot in the USA. Such rules were adopted and the way
in which the Island structure was run typically never portrayed the doings of a single individual
but the majority effects that treated minorities with contempt and insult. The people of America
who formed the majority did that due to fright that incoming immigrants would be working for
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cheaper wages, thus creating a grander struggle in support of getting as well as their jobs. Only
people who seemed to be deserving and concentrating on self-preservation would agree to work
for low wages. All these are meant to eliminate several people from getting better opportunity
and living standard to partake in societal needs. Angel Island forms another instance, which
reflects effects and events which cropped due to “othering.” Specifically, in the Angel Island, the
act of Chinese exclusion affected the minority. The laws put off Chinese laborers immigration.
They were similarly ratified to avert immigrants from finding their way into the USA. However,
they were repealed eventually and minorities mistreatment reduced with time. Regrettably, there
are similar problems, which currently continue to influence our nation. The basis of racism that
goes together with such predicaments has never changed. One can still presently read the latest
news on the immigration reform development that is deemed to be an unswerving issue for the
people who are engulfed in protecting their interest through not paying for associated costs of
Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” and a speech by Fredrick Douglas entitled “What to
the slave is the Fourth of July form a better instances current and past discourse towards an issue
of unity. The shared concern certainly is “othering” developed by a majority wishing to protect
self-preservation but having poor comprehension of the ways in which racist actions impact the
society. Differences may be there on how extreme minority mistreatment was portrayed during
the time the two speeches were offered. Besides, a distinction might appear on how minority
faction views social norms about the speeches. However, the intent of discourse presented by
Barrack Obama and Fredrick Douglass depicted some parallelisms in contrast. The two
legendary aspired to bring light on issues about racism. The notion of obliterating minorities
mistreatment was their common good. Douglass outlined in his speech, “the reformer’s eye is
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encountered with fuming lashes, act as if it’s devastating times; though the heart might
excellently beat lighter when thinking that America is younger…” (Douglass 461).
One clear instance of “othering” which Douglass illustrates within the discourse is the
way 72 delinquencies occurred that could impose a black man to punishment by death; however,
only two of similar crimes would make a white man be subjected to a similar chastisement
(Douglass 466). A similar sentimentality is given out by Douglass and myself. Occasionally,
there exist several grievances in which a person might get him/herself in our present homeland
nevertheless there is a chance of making changes. That transformation for society is often
deemed to be a forward motion towards increasing impartiality. Besides, the change should be
used as a conduit of limiting oppression otherwise negative undertones meted to individuals from
other ethnicities and races. A greater deal of adjustments which has been seen since the
foundation of this remarkable nation, nonetheless many others are still required to happen.
Obama became profound in spotlighting plethora concerns which have never been corrected. He
referred to concerns of racism and ethnicity as “legalized bigotry.” Obama proposes that the
motives in support of our present affluence and the gap concerning income seen between black
and white individuals typically are the precincts created to bar blacks from getting loans for
business, accessing FHA mortgages as well as segregation from various associations and
particular occupations (Obama 479). His statement in one of his address says “operating jointly
we shall have the capacity to go past ethnic mutilations…” (Obama 480). There is an ingrained
sentiment that as a society we are not supposed to expect flawlessness instantly but folks ought
to be firm in their course actions with the purpose of enhancing the living standards of everyone
regardless of how arduous a task might seem. Obama tackled the concerns with a diverse
rhetorical point of view as compared to Douglas. However, Fredrick Douglass similarly took
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home racial tension issues. He also in proved how racial and ethnicity has slackened the equality
progress within our present society. Surprisingly, there seem to be some parallels which Obama
illustrated concerning the past problems as well as such issues have transformed a few things
within our current age and day. Issues that people face continuously nowadays were never talked
about within the two speeches. The problems bedeviling the current generation are gay
marriages, compensation of women with their places of work, and educational grants. These
obstinate matters are additional instances pointing out that “othering” is started by related
motives.
Mostly, it is inevitable that several accomplishments have been made within our societies
when it comes to challenging “othering” issues. On the other hand, motives like self-protection
and poor comprehension on how to extinguish racism might help a population all together to
have complete equality attainment. It is proven when comparing the how societies are viewing
situations as exhibited in the Angel Island and Ellis Island then correspond such conditions on
how the USA government still approach laws of immigration presently. Other similarities and
differences may be taken from the made observations drawn from the times of Frederick
Douglass then subsequently when Obama offered his speech. Both discourses shed some lights
concerning inequality matters in our society. I can only have hopes that our steps towards racism
and ethnicity should continue heading in the appropriate direction in support of every
discrimination act in the country. It is through the process in which precedents shall be set
preclude unnecessary sufferings and hardships by the future minorities in America. As long as
these hurdles are conclusively surmounted, we shall be able to stand as united individuals
capable of responding to more significant problems with further efficiency and diligence.
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Part Two
Barack Obama’s speech entitled “A More Perfect Union” indicated a notable instance on
how to synchronize the three distinctive requests which are made to any audience in case one
opts to use classical rhetoric. The three significant appeals made in the speech of Barrack Obama
include logos, ethos, and pathos. The statement adopted all these three rhetoric forms in assisting
in passing the message presented. Additionally, the appeals made the speech to be acknowledged
and smitten with a greater quantity of gravity by the available audience. Earlier in the address,
Obama made a statement to the listeners about the history of his family and explained how he
Ethos practice is exhibited when Obama clarifies his multicultural family origin. In spite
of having negative association Reverend Wright, he did not renounce him as becoming part of
the group that steered his success. Typically, this is a better approach to proving he is excellently
versed with the racism concerns in American society. About his previous pastor, Barack Obama
portrays how he can distinguish some bad and good things without shying away. Reasonably, he
has a propensity to put more focus on the good as well as study whatever can be attained from
The other form of rhetoric associated with the speech is pathos. It describes how a
literary work intensifies emotional responses within an audience during the presentation. Obama
did not only provoked people ‘s emotions by his wordings, but he similarly referenced all the
considerable aspects of speech. The sentiments and motivations of listeners quick to be realized
as the former president expressed eloquently the shortcomings which the succeeding generation
would experience. Emotions were not only attained from his expressions but correspondingly
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entrenched within the texts. In parts of his discourse, he references “the resentment in black
communities” as well as how such anger has “influenced political landscapes for the successive
Logos is the last form of rhetoric which is assists in connecting the listeners to Obama’s
statements (Blommaert, Jan, and Chris 451). Logos singles out how a message can be true in a
literary work alongside the mode of the reasoning behind such piece. Obama is unequivocal in
his speech that our duty to understand out diversities would bring about egalitarianism in
country.
An intensive message which grips the audience typically is whatever was achieved by
using the three rhetoric within Obama’s entitled “A More Perfect Union.” Extending words as
used in this speech is a skill that not many people can have and perform with grace efficiently.
Obama had the capability of achieving this through his subtle ways of presenting credibility
concerning the topics under study. The skills with which he raises emotions together with his
artistry proficiency in developing his examples and issues employed in illustrating his notions
Works Cited
Blommaert, Jan, and Chris Bulcaen. "Critical discourse analysis." Annual review of
Douglas, Frederick. “What to the Salves is the Fourth of July?” Reading Culture: Contexts for
Critical Reading and Writing, edited by John Trimbur and Diana George, Pearson
George, Diana, and John Trimbur, eds. Reading culture: Contexts for critical reading and
Gordon, Mary. “More Than Just a Shrine.” Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and
Writing. Diana George and John Trimbur. New York: Longman, 2012. 432-434. Print.
Obama, Barack. “A More Perfect Union.” Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and
Writing, edited by John Trimbur and Diana George, Pearson Education, 2012. 450-490
Weaver, S. (2011). Jokes, rhetoric and embodied racism: A rhetorical discourse analysis of the