If you have a suggestion about this website or are experiencing a problem with it, or if you need to report abuse on the site, please let us know. King uses personal anecdotes, elaborate word choice, and reliable facts to persuade his audience of the injustice of the war. In Dr. Martin Luther King's speech "Beyond VietnamA Time to Break Silence" (1967), Dr. King asserts that the war in Vietnam is totally immoral and has far reaching negative implications not only for Vietnam, but for The United States and the rest of the World as well. We try to make TeenInk.com the best site it can be, and we take your feedback very seriously. Many great speeches are increasingly different. In "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence," Martin Luther King, a civil rights leader, uses his voice to bring attention to the injustices of race. His passionate tone flowed through these strategies, increasing their persuasive power on the people and encouraging them to follow/listen to his message on racial injustice. We try to make TeenInk.com the best site it can be, and we take your feedback very seriously. Luthers speech was a passionate rhetoric that preached his views about the future. When he argues that the war's immoral nature should be "incandescently clear," he implies to his audience that those who do not voice their opinion against the war are not concerned for, "the integrity and life of America.". (2016, Nov 14). Not to mention, many young people protested because they were the ones being drafted while others were against the war because the anti-war movement grew increasingly popular among the counterculture and drug culture in American society and. He successfully proves that The United States has done far more harm to the Vietnamese than good. It also describes the Jim Crow laws and the busboy cot from 1955. Acasestudy.com 2007-2019 All rights reserved. His speech grows deeply sarcastic at times. At last the paper discusses and assesses how to what an extent Kings dream came true with self-elected sources as backrest for the asses. First of all, King makes his point clear by appealing to the reader's common sense, beliefs and values (logos). In 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his speech Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence. In the speech, King argues against American involvement in the Vietnam War and explains why he cannot remain silent. Is Hydrogen Fuel Efficient Enough to Replace Fossil Fuels in the Near Future. If you have a suggestion about this website or are experiencing a problem with it, or if you need to report abuse on the site, please let us know. A Time to do What is Right. Also, if you have a comment about a particular piece of work on this website, please go to the page where that work is displayed and post a comment on it. Recognizing that citizens in poverty were not able to support their families while away from home at war, Martin Luther King included that war [and being enlisted in battle was] an enemy of poor to demonstrate how even though any man could be drafted, the economically stable left behind support for their family while the impoverished were ineligible of doing so (Source A). His masterful delivery of these metaphors and the frequent repetition makes the speech much like a poem or a part of a song. Comparing the Justice System during the 1960s to a corrupt bank allows the audience to connect to what Dr. King is saying. Martin Luther King notes that we have been repeatedly faced with the cruel irony of watching Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools (King). In addition, his use of parallelism allows him to appeal to his audience's pity for the oppressed in order for him to express his call to action, a call for activism that goes beyond Vietnam. https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/. There is at the outset a very obvious and almost facile connection between the war in Vietnam and the struggle I, and others, have been waging in America. us: [emailprotected]. He does this by appealing to certain issues the public see as important, using irony, and using diction and tone in persuasive ways. In this way, he condemns and questions the Vietnam war and its relevance at a time when America had several of its own major problems to address. Furthermore, when these stylistic elements are concluded with his use of parallelism, King effectively establishes America's involvement in the Vietnam War as unjust. More importantly, King states that, the poor has been manipulated into believing a type of reality that simply isnt accurate or fair on their part. King said, the war was doing far more than devastating the hopes of the poor at homeWe were taking the black young men who had been crippled by our society and sending them eight thousand miles away to guarantee liberties in Southeast Asia which they had not found in southwest Georgia and East Harlem. He calls the situation some idle political plaything of a society gone mad on war. In this way, he appeals to the emotions of the audience and challenges the logic behind an unnecessary war. King uses personal anecdotes, elaborate word choice, and reliable facts to persuade his audience of the injustice of the war. War makes the innocent lose hope and leaves behind horrific memories for generations on both sides. 4 May. Analyzes how john kerry's "beyond vietnam- a time to break silence" by martin luther king jr. uses rhetorical devices that emphasize the importance and meaning of his speech. Later, he mentions, I am a preacher by calling, I suppose it is not surprising that I have seven major reasons for bringing Vietnam into the field of my moral vision. (King). The irony is explicit in Kings words that the war is just an attempt to cover and hide the more pressing issues before America. He efficiently uses the anecdote to tell how he has spoken with young men, telling them how violence will not solve their problems. He mentions that the war has led to the increase of violence in . Retrieved from https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/, StudyCorgi. StudyCorgi. Some would be uninterested and some not knowing what to do. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best Read More Use Of Nonviolence In Cesar Chavez's Speech 409 Words | 2 Pages Martin Luther King Jr. was extremely passionate about nonviolence. Rhetorical Analysis Of Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence, During the 20th century, the Vietnam War had a profound impact on Americans, but there was a side of the story that was less known- voices from the poor. Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Beyond Vietnam 534 Words | 3 Pages In 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his speech "Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence." In the speech, King argues against American involvement in the Vietnam War and explains why he cannot remain silent. In Hanoi are the men who led the nation to independence against the Japanese and the French, the men who sought membership in the French Commonwealth and were betrayed by the weakness of Paris and the willfulness of the colonial armies. Get original paper in 3 hours and nail the task. King is effectively able to convey his point about his topic by using rhetorical devices such as logos, ethos, pathos. Overall, Martin Luther King Jr. eloquently argues against the United States involvement in Vietnam through his use of parallelism, diction, and imagery. In other words, the resources were used for the soldiers, yet the poor still needed them just as so. You are free to use it to write your own assignment, however you must reference it properly. Please note that while we value your input, we cannot respond to every message. Through this speech, and his ideals of determination, many rhetorical devices are put to use to drive forth these points. The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis. Moreover, this set of diction allows King to logically state that he can not continue to fight on behalf of the oppressed if he himself doesn't address their oppressor, the U.S. government. A comment like this doesnt leave the reader unmoved. submit it as your own as it will be considered plagiarism. Furthermore, such a vivid picture will linger permanently in the audiences mind, which will make them think about the terrible outcome in the future. "The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis." Also, if you have a comment about a particular piece of work on this website, please go to the page where that work is displayed and post a comment on it. The war was only going to consume lives and resources. Would you like to get a custom case study? On April 4, 1967, Martin Luther King delivered his first major public statement against the Vietnam War, entitled "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break the Silence." Addressing a crowd of 3,000 at Riverside Church in New York City, King condemned the war as anti-democratic, impractical, and unjust. If you use an assignment from StudyCorgi website, it should be referenced accordingly. On April 4, 1967 at Riverside Church in New York, MLK delivered "Beyond Vietnam" , which created a different perspective on the Vietnam war, in which is a negative thing. King spoke for the weak that did not have the voices to speak for themselves; for example, he represented the poor. Likewise, during this time period, America [put little effort into] rehabilitation of its poor creating an even harder life for them (Source A). Martin Luther King Jr proves to all throughout his speech Beyond Vietnam --- A Time to Break Silence that the Vietnam war was unjust by his use of emotional diction, the allusion of Jim crow, and repetition. King successfully brings out the irony behind the war through the use of figurative speech and plenty of imagery to paint a picture of destruction and doom in Vietnam. Not to mention, many young people protested because they were the ones being drafted while others were against the war because the anti-war movement grew increasingly popular among the counterculture and drug culture in American society and. For example, this quote personifies war as being an enemy. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. (King). They wander into the towns and see thousands of the children, homeless, without clothes, running in packs on the streets like animals (20). Through his use of imagery, diction, and parallel structure, Martin Luther King Jr associates the war in Vietnam with injustice in his famous speech, Beyond Vietnam A Time to Break Silence. Martin Luther King Jr. applies imagery throughout his speech in order to illustrate the horrors of the war to arouse anger at its atrocities and injustice. Therefore, to remain silent would truly be betrayal. Through his use of imagery, diction, and parallel structure, Martin Luther King Jr associates the war in Vietnam with injustice in his famous speech, "Beyond Vietnam - A Time to Break Silence.". He shows a strong theme of determination, along with dedication, and perseverance. Encompassed within this quote is pathos because the harsh accusation leads the reader to think poorly of the government while pitying the poor. When he argues that the war's immoral nature should be "incandescently clear," he implies to his audience that those who do not voice their opinion against the war are not concerned for, "the integrity and life of America.". King demonstates this by saying, In deep disappointment, I have wept over the laxity of the church. Additionally, when King claims that all this horror is in the name of America, he appeals to his audience's anger, leading them to believe that it is time for them to break silence on the fact that the United States became involved in an unjust war in Vietnam. In Martin Luther King Jr.s speech Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break Silence, delivered at Riverside Church in New York City on April 4, 1967, he claims that the American involvement in the Vietnam War is unjust. If you are the original creator of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal. This is an obvious and extremely effective argument, especially among a group of Christian church leaders. In his argument, King mounts a multi-pronged attack on America's participation in the Vietnam war and also gains people's sympathy for the Vietnamese. In front of over 3000 people at the New York Riverside Church King preaches to a room filled with clergy and laymen concerned about the Vietnam. It is why while he attacks America's intervention in Vietnam on the one hand, on the other he brings people's attention towards the other side of life where America can become a beacon of hope and peace for the entire world including Vietnam. down the pipe, "I watched this program broken and eviscerated" through the "buildup in Vietnam,". King wants his audience. Another rhetorical device is the common ground he establishes in his last sentence where he writes, "This is the story of Why We Can't Wait" (King 98-99). Pharapreising and interpretation due to major educational standards released by a particular educational institution as well as tailored to your educational institution if different; 1) Controversial Opinions of MLK 2) Religious figure talking about political problems 3) Malcolm X and his ideas Fitting Response EXIGENCY First Persona-Martin Luther King Second Persona-American Population and the Civil Rights Movement Third Persona- Vietnamese Population King argues that all people are created equal and directly challenged the outdated and abhorrent views that upheld the false flag of racial superiority among White Americans. What Is the Macro Environment in Business Analysis? He then outlines the history of the war in Vietnam, showing that he is not simply preaching about religious ideals. He changes his tone from passive to passionate. In the speech, Martin Luther King specifically indicates that America needs to end the war with Vietnam. He states, Many people have questioned me about the wisdom of my path. His use of diction and imagery arouses anger while increasing his credibility since he criticizes the unjust war he describes. It also uses a bit of strong imagery. StudyCorgi. In short, this makes the audience more inclined to listen to the rest of Martin Luther king Jr's speech, as well as setting the bottom line that the Vietnam War creates devastating problems for everyone. The speech deemed racial segregation to be an inhumane practice that subdivides society into groups that essentially alienate them from the true sense of humanity; which is brotherhood. "Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence" is an article written by Martin Luther King Jr himself. He means to make people ask questions of themselves and ponder over the meaninglessness and uselessness of war and what would remain behind once the war was over. In addition, his use of parallelism allows him to appeal to his audiences pity for the oppressed in order for him to express his call to action, a call for activism that goes beyond Vietnam. The paper concludes that Kings dream have not come true, but, Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Beyond Vietnam. Beyond Vietnam: A Rhetorical Analysis . Dr. King says, Even when pressed by the demands of inner truth, men do not easily assume the task of opposing their governments policy, especially in time of war (3). King was really able to speak to his audience by using evidence, reasoning, and a persuasive writing style throughout his speech. 838 Words (These links will automatically appear in your email.). The problems being faced by either America or Vietnam were never going to be solved through rifles but through peaceful and nonviolent action. By continuing well This quote causes the audience to realize the contradiction in the Vietnam war policy, making them less likely to accept. King was establishing his point that America was more troubled about healing and adjusting other countries, but would never invest the same in their own country. The speaker comments, that they wander into the hospitals with at least twenty casualties from American firepower for one Vietcong-inflicted injury. All of the valid arguments and vivid imagery Dr. King uses combine to make this a very effective, passionate and memorable speech. In addition, his use of parallelism allows him to appeal to his audience's pity for the oppressed in order for him to express his call to action, a call for activism that goes beyond Vietnam. Rhetorical Analysis of MLK's Speech "Beyond Vietnam" December 22, 2016 By Richcoca PLATINUM, Canoga Park, California More by this author Widely known for his work in the Civil Rights Movement,. Right at the outset, King involves religious figures to establish the credibility for his reason and to prove that war was improper and inhuman. Issues have been resolved because now the draft is less common because more people volunteer for war so the poor are not forced. This paper examines the conditions of the Afro-Americans lives from 1960-today with focus on education, work, income, police brutality and criminality. 2022. This demonstrates to the audience that he realizes it is going to be difficult for them to speak out in opposition of the government. Ethos, the appeal to the legitimacy and authority of the speaker, is used throughout the speech. King is effectively able to convey his point about his topic by using rhetorical devices such as logos, ethos, pathos. Over the past two years, as I have moved to break the betrayal of my own silences and to speak from the burnings of my own heart, as I have called for radical departures from the destruction of Vietnam, many persons have questioned me about the wisdom of my path. Kings main motive was to persuade people to see how war was destroying lives, society and economy and being silent meant being in approval of the war. "The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis." Widely known for his work in the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr eventually also gained momentum in the anti-war movement against the war in Vietnam. For instance, he does when he depicts the, Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools. The image of death, as powerful as it is, becomes amplified when Martin Luther King associates the injustices of segregation with the Vietnam war. As example, King uses I have a dream that one day and Let freedom ring.. to open his points on how Americans should change against racial indifferences. Graduateway.com is owned and operated by Radioplus Experts Ltd Dr. King's purpose is to make the church leaders he is speaking to aware that King uses quotes as these to suggest to convince them of the destruction of the Vietnam War, with pathos, by strongly appealing to his audience's emotion. Read a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr's Beyond Vietnam: Time to break silence. War was an inhuman and barbaric exercise and America's participation was not in human interest. However, he is about to arm them with many valid reasons why it is crucial for them to join the opposition. These statements serve to communicate to the audience that the speaker is someone of authority and should be listened to. https://nolongerinvisiblemen.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/sparknotes-for-martin-luther-king-jr-s-a-time-to-break-silence/, https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkatimetobreaksilence.htm, Microsoft Corporation SWOT Analysis (2016), Zora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes were watching God: Analysis. With an urgent tone, he repeats the phrase, we must speak (4), several times. In Dr. Martin Luther Kings speech Beyond VietnamA Time to Break Silence (1967), Dr. King asserts that the war in Vietnam is totally immoral and has far reaching negative implications not only for Vietnam, but for The United States and the rest of the World as well. For example, this quote personifies war as being an enemy. So, what America is doing to other nations like Vietnam also matters. Analyzes the literary device martin luther king jr. uses in his speech is allusions, adding to the importance on how awful the vietnam war was corrupting the united states. Acting almost as a climax, King lyrically urges his audience to voice their opinions and wage a war against this unjustified war in Vietnam. King makes the nation appears as hypocrites because Americans pretend to fight as a united nation whereas segregation is among the same schools, the same neighborhood, the same country. Not only were they fighting for their own rights in 1976, but they were sending away the son, husbands, brothers of other Americans thousands of miles away to the country of Vietnam to fight an unjust war for the rights of the people in Southeast Asia. report, Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther Kings Beyond Vietnam: a Time to Break Silence. Lastly, Martin Luther King uses logos in his famous speech. In Dr. Martin Luther King's speech "Beyond VietnamA Time to Break Silence" (1967), Dr. King asserts that the war in Vietnam is totally immoral and has far reaching negative implications not only for Vietnam, but for The United States and the rest of the World as well. But be assured that my tears have been tears of love (8). Showing his knowledge of the history of the war and using it to discredit the United States reason for being there is crucial to Dr. King in developing his position. His pleas are first to the audiences sense of logic and their immediate concerns for their own country. He uses the word 'We', connecting with the audience and ensuring them that together they will bring change to social conditions and attitudes. Instead, King chooses to use facts to show what an illness war is. King draws sympathy for his cause from the reader who sees the unjustness of the situation he and his followers are dealing with. Then Dr. King says that the church should oppose the war simply because it is counter to the ministry of Jesus Christ. He expresses that the first step toward equality as the earth moving and nations running with fear. He says, To me the relationship of this ministry to the making of peace is so obvious that I sometimes marvel at those who ask me why Im speaking against the war (12). Throughout the first paragraph of Kings speech, he used emotional diction with words such as struggle, poverty, and poor to prove that the war in Vietnam was bringing down the Americans and their families fighting overseas. The line, "For the sake of those boys, for the sake of this government, for the sake of the hundreds of thousands trembling under our violence, I cannot be silent," demonstrates how King uses parallelism. Widely known for his work in the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr eventually also gained momentum in the anti-war movement against the war in Vietnam. The author here is using statistics to present the horrifying picture of the Vietnam War. This special lyrical and parallel structure helped get his main points across and allows a large audience to understand simple but powerful words (Layfield) . It is why he constructs an argument that will help people decide which side to stand with and which to not. Which of your works would you like to tell your friends about? In this way, he tries to stress that even if we have progressed, we have grown nowhere better than the ancient barbarians that killed for fun. Moreover, Martin Luther King Jr meticulously chooses specific words that carry with them a negative connotation that helps associate the Vietnamese war with injustice. He picks from history as well as politics and also supports his choices with philosophical wisdom. While pathos elicits an emotional response from the audience to make them more accepting of Kings ideas, repetition structures the speech and emphasizes key ideas for the audience to take away from listening. He spoke at Riverside Church in New York City, a venue that had a history of hosting progressive speakers and thinkers. Supplemental understanding of the topic including revealing main issues described in the particular theme; Issues have been resolved because now the draft is less common because more people volunteer for war so the poor are not forced. King Jr knew that war creates confusion and that his audiences mind was boggled with questions. By claiming that the United States, the greatest purveyor of violence, prefers, massive doses of violence to solve its problems, King effectively establishes the U.S. government as the pervasive wrongdoer. Then came the buildup in Vietnam, and I watched this program broken and eviscerated, as if it were some idle political plaything of a society gone mad on war(8). He offers many practical reasons for the opposition, as well as spiritual and moral reasons. Apart from being an advocate of Mahatma Gandhi's idea of nonviolence, Martin Luther King Jr was a great leader and rhetor of all times. Martin Luther King Jr. applies imagery throughout his speech in order to illustrate the horrors of the war to arouse anger at its atrocities and injustice. Thomas 1 Javon Thomas Mrs. Yelton English 1301 - Period 4 14 September 2018 Beyond Vietnam Rhetorical Analysis Essay In Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech, Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence, King discusses his views on America's involvement in the Vietnam War. Introduction Martin Luther King, Jr in his speech "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence" argued that US foreign policy was hypocritical when compared to the inequality present in the United States. If it is, let us trace its movements and pray that our own inner being may be sensitive to its guidance, for we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us. Favorite Quote:Make as many as mistakes as you want, just don't make the same mistake. 6 Effective Content Marketing Strategies You May Have Overlooked, Market Analysis Definition (With Explanation and Examples). Though disappointed, King still loves the church. In a solemn tone, he talks about their crops being destroyed and their water being poisoned, presumably referring to Agent Orange. By claiming that the United States, "the greatest purveyor of violence," prefers, "massive doses of violence to solve its problems," King effectively establishes the U.S. government as the pervasive wrongdoer. By repeating the phrase, for the sake, he creates a rhythmic flow that causes his audience to be more receptive to his idea. King uses emotional words and descriptions to capture the audiences attention and convey the injustices caused by the Vietnam War. As a leader of his people, King took the stand to take radical measures to overcome the false promises of the sovereign government that had been addressing the issues of racial segregation through unimplemented transparent laws that did nothing to change the grim realities of the society. At He does it to engage peoples imagination and to awaken their consciences. King supports his discussion by establishing authority and appealing to his listeners emotions. His choice of words in the speech is meant to have a direct effect on the audience's psychology. The fact that young black men are being sent [across the world] to fight for the liberties in Southeast Asia, which they [have] not found in Georgia and East Harlem questions the validity of Americas founding principles of the unalienable rights of every individual; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.