Savannah Jenkins

1/29/2016
RHET II MWF

President Bush made a Speech after the 9/11 terror attacks, it was for the victims and the
people of America to address the problem, promote inspiration for those that were scared, and to
show that he would do anything in his power to find the ones that were responsible. This event
was a premeditated attack, a plan to destroy known U.S. Landmarks. Four planes were hijacked
by nineteen terrorists. People of New York City stopped in the middle of what they were doing
and watched on with uneasiness as the first two planes hit into the north and south towers. After
that the people became horrified and fled in terror as the buildings collapsed on themselves,
covering the city in a blanket of ash, smoke, and debris. This landmark was the World Trade
Center. On televisions, families witnessed the third plane crashed into the pentagon. The fourth
plane, which was initially heading toward Washington D.C., it crashed in Pennsylvania after the
hostages tried to overthrow the hijackers. Thousands of people died; Firemen, policemen and
civilians alike risked their lives trying to save who they could in the midst of chaos. The
aftermath of this scheme devastated the economy, put the U.S. into high alert and shocked people
worldwide leaving people impassioned, unsettled, and wanting answers.
President Bush tactfully appealed to emotion in his speech, temporarily veiling people in
a sense of safety and security that was needed and explaining the sorrow that has overcome
everyone. To do this he expresses his sadness and understanding of the situation by stating, The
pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us
with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were

Savannah Jenkins
1/29/2016
RHET II MWF

intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. He says us and our instead of you.
He also creates an imaginary link between the people that were watching, to the actual victims
by saying, The victims were in airplanes or in their offices -- secretaries, businessmen and
women, military and federal workers, Moms and dads, Friends and neighbors. This creates the
thought of it could have been me/ my children/ my parent. Bush then states what the terrorists
were trying to do, to frighten our nation which would instill anger in the families of America.
He counters that to inspire courage by saying, They have failed. Our country is strong. A great
people have been moved to defend a great nation. He also compares America's strength to steel
that cant be taken down by stating, Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest
buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they
cannot dent the steel of American resolve. This assembles a sense of pride and builds upon the
peoples resilience.
Ethos is utilized when Bush treats people that are housing terrorist the same as terrorists,
We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who
harbor them. his gives him credibility because he knows there is no variance between the two,
it shows that he is moral. He also explains that his, first priority is to get help to those who have
been injured and to make sure to, protect our citizens at home and around the world from
further attacks. This is a part of his morals and it shows that he cares about the citizens. Another
way he connected everyone by ethical and moral principles, was to pray and quote the bible,

Savannah Jenkins
1/29/2016
RHET II MWF

And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us spoken through the
ages in Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil,
for you are with me."
At the time of the event, people were very curious as to what happened next. So in order
to answer them, he uses logos to convey and outline his plans. He said his first priority was to
help the victims and the injured as I said in the previous paragraph. Not only is this Ethical but it
is logical because he is giving people a sense as to what happens now. So what happens now?
Does life go on? These were the questions people were asking and Bush answered them telling
them that everything is still, open for business and that, The functions of our government
continue without interruption. This is logical appeal because he answers them logically and
gives them answers. Of course, everyone wanted to find the people that did this, but no one knew
how they would do it. The president acknowledges this by saying that, The search is underway
for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources for our intelligence and
law enforcement communities, to bring the terrorists to, Justice. He has the resources to do
this and lets everyone know it is being handled.
After the attacks, People began to form a sense of unity. There were many reactions to the
horrific event that took place on the eleventh of September. People had donated blood to
Redcross, and in two days, raised three million dollars. Charities had been set and American

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1/29/2016
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flags were proudly waved. While some reactions developed into anger. Some began to put
Muslims and people of Arabic descent into one category, the terrorists. It seemed like things
changed overnight. Nevertheless, Bush utilizes the appeals of emotion, logic, and ethics in a
perceptive way to make this speech especially and personally made for the victims and witnesses
of the terrorist attack.Some of them even coincided with one another. He didnt just use one, but
all of the appeals to develop a safety net for people all over the world.

Bibliography

Savannah Jenkins
1/29/2016
RHET II MWF

Bush, George W. "Text of Bush's Address." CNN. Cable News Network, 11 Sept. 2001.
Web. 31 Jan. 2016.
Bush, George W. "The George W. Bush 9/11 Bullhorn Speech You'll Never Forget." Rare.
N.p., 11 Sept. 2014. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.
"George W. Bush: 9/11 Address to the Nation (2001)." Speeches: George W. Bush: 9/11
Address to the Nation. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.