Analysis Of Mary Fisher A Whisper Of Aids Speech

Today we will explore the speech given by Mary Fisher at the 1992 Republican National Convention entitled “A Whisper of AIDS”. The main purpose of Mary Fishers Speech “A Whisper of AIDS" was to promote awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic throughout the United States. Moreover, Fisher wanted it clear that no one, regardless of race, sex, age or any discriminatory factor, is safe from Human Immunodeficiency Virus because the virus only cares that one is a human being suitable of infection. However, the central idea of Fisher’s address was to establish awareness that those living with the affliction of HIV/AIDS are still people and deserve the compassion we’d give anyone else.

Mary Fisher does an excellent job developing credibility throughout her address. Throughout the speech, Fisher placed relatable factual information and statistical data wisely to help develop the legitimacy of her cause, but what makes shear data into relatable fact is by the way it’s presented. One can simply state information and data to an audience, but that doesn’t guarantee that the audience will perceive it in the manner intended by the speaker or be affected by it at all. Just being who she was gave Fisher a great amount of credibility, establishing ethos as soon as she began speaking. Furthermore, Fisher utilizes the effective credibility building tool of personal experience. Her first hand experience and continued struggle with the human immunodeficiency virus gives her speech a higher likelihood of reaching a greater number of listeners. Fisher’s utilization of this credibility tool is facilitated when she states “Though I am female and contracted this disease in marriage and enjoy the warm support of my family, I am one with the lonely gay man shelte...

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...ss). By reaching out to each section of her audience, Fisher can make an audience feel engaged in listening to her speech, because inclusive language makes a speaker seem like he or she is talking directly at one’s self.

In culmination, Mary Fisher’s address to the Republican National Convention can be considered a success. Fisher opened the eyes of her audience using the rhetorical devices of ethos, logos, and pathos. She not only made the audience understand the dire nature of the issue of HIV, but she challenged them to be civically responsible, and no longer treat those afflicted by the HIV virus with hate and fear. Most importantly, Mary Fisher made it clear to her audience that the HIV/AIDS affliction should not be kept hush hush, or as a “whisper”, but rather we as American people should choose to see the problem and act and up for a safer future.