Rhetorical Analysis Of Nikki Haley

The chemical sarin, is a deadly nerve agent that interferes with signaling within the nervous system (Geggel). This substance was used to kill 89 Syrians and injure 541 others (“Syria Chemical”). Syria is in a state of emergency due to the recent attacks from Russia and their own President Assad, and even more recent attacks from the United States, France, and Great Britain. Nikki Haley represents the United States as an ambassador in the United Nations. Due to the recent Russian bombings in Syria, the UN security council commenced and Mrs. Haley spoke about her concerns regarding what the states will do next. Nikki Haley took notice of the UN’s lack of justice when it came to the inhumane chemical weapons attack in Syria. Haley made a speech

in which she used pathological appeals, and she also used imagery of dying, innocent men, women, and children to pull at the heartstrings of the ambassadors at the UN. In addition, she constantly making intense eye contact with the other ambassadors and, she kept a somber face to show the seriousness of the topic. The purpose of her speech was not only to encourage the UN to stop the chemical weapons usage in Syria, but spark an outrage in the listener to protect the Syrian’s from tyranny.
To prove, Haley pathologically appeals to her audience by the use of graphic images displaying the atrocities of “babies gassed to death in Syria” (Haley).

By doing this she intentionally aims for the listener to be outraged by these acts of evils. Haley informs the UN that they “are beyond showing pictures of dead babies” (Haley). Using images of children is wrong, but it sparks an outrage, so action will be taken by the UN. Syrian children are hopeless and they deserve protection. Haley wants the UN to understand that, if their own country won’t protect them, then it is the responsibility of the UN to help protect the children from the monsters that attack them. Haley wants to spark an outrage, so the UN will protect the

hopeless.
Furthermore, Ambassador Haley uses imagery to put the listener in the shoes of the victims. Haley talks about “pictures of babies, lying dead next to their mothers” to get the audience to become emotionally vulnerable. Haley uses this tactic because when someone is vulnerable, they begin to stand “defiantly in the face of fear” (Luna). Haley is insisting that the ambassadors face their fears of tyrannical attacks made by President Assad and make the right choice to take action to protect the helpless Syrian citizens. The United Nation is an alliance that needs to combat tyranny, and Haley is using imagery as a way of showing how tyranny is alive and it needs to be stopped. She is stating that President Assad is a raging monster that gassed his own people and without help, Syrians will die at the hands of the UN.
Continuing, Nikki Haley uses intense eye contact in order to make the ambassadors feel uncomfortable in order to build tension.

She wants the audience on the edge of their seats, leaning in to confirm that they are engaged. Haley looks up from her papers and makes eye contact when making firm points, so she knows that the other ambassadors are listening to her. Among her most powerful points, she says “civil defense centers have been attacked in order to paralyze the medical response” in order to “increase the suffering of the survivors” (Haley). Furthermore, at the close of her speech, she states, “Either way, the United States will respond,” She is trying to gather support from other UN countries, so the U.S. isn’t alone. She wants the UN to understand that the United States is prepared to take action, and the nations that are apart of the UN are obligated as part of a greater authority to support and contribute accordingly. because it’s not just a US problem, not a Syrian problem, it’s a world problem. It is strange that the world cries out for America's help, but the world complains about America's nationalism. When the United States becomes the world's police, people complain. The world's problems aren’t just for the U.S. to combat, it’s everyone in the UN’s job to fight tyranny. Haley’s call to action to the UN is that they unify in an effort to stop and prevent tyranny in the world. It is interesting that just by her strong gaze she conveys that she wants to help the

listener understand that the UN not taking action against the “inhumane” chemical attacks is just as bad as the “monster” who is attacking his own people.
In addition, Haley keeps a somber face throughout the duration of her speech to show the seriousness of the chemical weapon usage in Syria. She shows the seriousness of the situation by stating “the Russian regime” has “the blood of Syrian children” on their hands. She wants the UN to know the bombings made the civilian’s “basements” become their “tombs” (Haley). Haley’s somber expression causes the audience to engage in the topic. While engaging in what Haley is saying, the audience will be outraged when hearing the atrocities committed by the Syrian government. Haley wants the audience to take action against Assad’s regime and help the innocent men, women, and children suffering in Syria.
Clearly, Haley wants the UN to take action against the Syrian government and help the innocent lives that are on the verge of death. Haley does this by emotionally evoking her fellow ambassadors by using imagery and pathos to persuade her audience that their actions are morally flawed. She wants them to realize that the UN’s failure to take action is as bad as the people who are executing the attacks. Haley wants the UN to prevent tyranny in the world so, she calls the UN to help the helpless men, women, and children suffering because without them, they will soon lie in rubble as a result of Assad’s attacks.