"I'm a jelly doughnut," may not seem like the word choice you would use to win Berlin's love, but President John F. Kennedy did just that. His goal was to build ethos in himself and the U.S. His accent in German may have not been like a fluent German speaker, however, he identified
himself with the German people by using their own language. "Lass' sie nach Berlin kommen." Those who didn't feel a connection with the United States gained an appreciation for President Kennedy, and thus the U.S.
He identified himself in the first sentence as a proud guest of the Mayor of West Berlin. This relationship automatically gave him a good sense of ethos with his German audience. He praises and recognizes the Chancellor who has worked for democracy in Germany to tell them that he also supports this alongside their leader.
He identified himself in the first sentence as a proud guest of the Mayor of West Berlin. This relationship automatically gave him a good sense of ethos with his German audience. He praises and recognizes the Chancellor who has worked for democracy in Germany to tell them that he also supports this alongside their leader.
He made a series of statements contrasting the view of communist sympathizers and all those involved in anti-communist movements. All of these remarks were followed by "let them come to Berlin." Repeating this phrase gives the audience a continual feeling that he supports Berlin's drive to be free. After he said, "There are some who say that communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin," the crowd went wild with applause. He effectively gained ethos for himself and for the United States with the German people.
Mike Stanley
Your analysis of ethos is very good. You gave many good examples of how President Kennedy was able to build up trust with the German community. It is very well organized. I would just say that using contractions makes the analysis a little less formal. However; if that is what you were going for, you did it! Your beginning was very alluring and it drew me in to want to read the rest of your analysis!
ReplyDeleteGreat job. I liked how you focused on how JFK built ethos in other ways than by simply announcing, "I'm the President of the U.S.A." I also liked your analysis of word choice as well as JFK's presentation of the speech (in German vs. English, etc). And nice work in concluding with audience analysis by giving examples of their reaction. I think it is important how you mentioned the audience's response to his speech as a concrete example of successful ethos.
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