Just shy of the 13th anniversary of the devastating attack on the World Trade Center, President Barack Obama gave a televised speech regarding the new enemy emerging from the Middle East— ISIS, or as the Commander-in-Chief calls it, ISIL. The terrorist group has shouted their message loud and clear — it will continue to ravage through the Middle East and beyond, igniting more chaos and death. With the horrifying deaths of two American journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, the U.S. has decided that enough is enough and will meet the foe with full force. But how?
Before revealing the plan on how to annihilate ISIS, Obama walked towards the stand calmly, with no hesitation and no sign of worry over the live announcement. Obama approached the speech as if he were walking over a frozen lake-- cautiously and avoiding any sore spots — highly aware at the number of people who strongly oppose his decision. His first words were “my fellow Americans, friends and allies”, ensuring a sense of unity immediately, strengthening the ties of speaker and audience. His goal was to provide a sense of conformity between himself and the viewers, trying to lower the wall and have the people trust him. He used clear and precise words to connect to any kind of person who was watching— not allowing any opportunity for misunderstanding or confusion.
One of the key points Obama stressed, was that the U.S. wasn’t the only one attempting to destroy ISIS. “This is not our fight alone” he emphasized, claiming that the newly created Iraqi government will work alongside the American military. As a country that has aided those in need ever since World War I, many Americans often feel burdened with the ‘responsibility’ of including themselves into other nation’s crisis’. Obama seemed to sense these thoughts, taking a pause and saying that with “endless blessings bestow an enduring burden.” He expressed the numerous ways that the U.S. has lead and triumphed, the ways that the presence of America have helped other countries improve.
As the speech was coming to a close, the most effective part of the message was revealed: the reason for sending hundreds of men and women to battle ISIS. Obama alluded to our forefathers, to the construction of the U.S., to what our influence means in the world. “We stand for freedom, for justice, for dignity,” he claimed, reminding Americans that their mission was to always present these three traits and fight for them— no matter what the cost. When he was coming to a close, he ended with the sentimental “may God bless our troops and may God bless the United States of America” quote, tugging on the heartstrings of the viewers and leaving them a sense of patriotism.
The Media Truths revealed throughout the speech are: 'nothing's new, everything that happened in the past will happen again', as well as 'the media is an essential component in our lives.’ Although it is not the same terrorist group that is posing the threat, it is the same scenario— beheading Americans, taking control of the Middle East and brewing chaos and horror throughout the land. The enemy hasn’t been vanquished, and might never will be, but the U.S. is doing what it has always done: facing the enemy and attempting to destroy it. The second truth is relevant to the speech because without the media, the speech wouldn’t have had such a big impact on the American public. Watching it on television, live streaming it from the computer, or reading the speech on the New York Times— the media informed the public about each detail and each remark made by President Obama, giving them the opportunity to make their own conclusion about his speech.
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