This past week, I made a conscious effort to catch the major speeches at the Democratic National Convention (including Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, Al Gore, and Barack himself).
“But why?,” I was asked last night.
Hmmmm…. because I’m a Democrat? Because I study rhetoric? Because I’m trying to decide who to vote for? No, no, no.
Really, I guess it’s because I want to be inspired. Because I want to hear motivating speeches that promise Americans the best, that tell us we deserve the best, that make me feel a part of something larger than myself… a part of a big community that shares my social, cultural, and political values and goals.
Is that, in fact, the sole (or “soul”) purpose of these conventions? Because, let’s face it: these politicans don’t tell us anything we don’t already know, they can’t possibly accomplish all they claim they will, and they never really tell us what exactly they’re going to do and how they’re going to do it.
Is it all about the use of rhetoric to INSPIRE–to MOTIVATE the American people? to stir our emotions just enough to reinstate our belief in the government and to cast our vote in November?
Well, these 6 people did that for me. They told me exactly what I wanted to hear. They made me feel exactly how I wanted to feel.