Thursday, November 15, 2012

Comprehending Rhetoric


I was thinking about the beginning of the semester when I was trying to grasp the concept of rhetoric, in all its forms. I thought I was never going to actually get it, because it is a rather difficult concept to fully understand. After several readings and lectures, it finally made sense, but it opened my eyes things I was happy to not realize. You know the saying “ignorance is bliss”? Well, I believe it is true. I feel like everything I read, see, or even speak is a form a rhetoric seeking some kind of discourse or persuasion.  I didn’t use to see things this way. I guess it would be pointless to not be either agreeable or rhetorical, though.  It is just that, now, I believe there is a hidden message in everything. Ulterior motives create a sense of skepticism in the actual truth in whatever message I am exposed to.
            Right after I started to understand what rhetoric is, the election campaigning starts flooding in our media outlets.  This made me see that I couldn’t trust what any of the politicians were saying, because I knew it was just for votes. Sure, they might care about what they are talking about, but the main reason for talking about these things was to gain support from the majority. It is unfortunate that we can’t receive messages with out bias. The main angle many politicians went this year was bashing the opponent. This is such a terrible way to gain support. I hope, in the future, I can see politicians run truthfully with the goal to improve our country, not win popular vote.  

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