Bias, Rhetorical Devices, and Argumentation

In Mary Fisher’s speech, “A Whisper of AIDS”, she discussed the seriousness of the disease and what it brings. This speech was given on August 19, 1992 in Houston, Texas at the Republican National Convention. In the speech, she points out the fact that everyone is at risk for AIDS. She stated that the common misconceptions about homosexuals being the only people at risk, is just not true. Everyone is at risk. She used specific information in regards to the amount of people HIV is affecting everyday and that the number is continuously growing. She addressed the concern of others stating that it will not affect them because they are straight and in a monogamous relationship with their spouse, but she points out the fact that she contracted the virus in her marriage from her husband. She also talks about how she relates to the people who did contract the virus via means such as drugs and homosexual relationships. She points to the fact that the danger of the disease is right at our front doors, and it will move in even faster if we do not acknowledge its existence and do something to fight it. This must not be kept silent and must be given more attention, and not just shunned. She used a story told by Pastor Nemoellor about the Nazi death camps. “They came after the Jews, and I was not a Jew, so, I did not protest. They came after the trade unionists, and I was not a trade unionist, so, I did not protest. Then they came after the Roman Catholics, and I was not a Roman Catholic, so, I did not protest. Then they came after me, and there was no one left to protest.” This story points to the issue at hand that if no one does anything to solve the issue, the issue will grow even faster and consume everyone. She did a great job using fear and also sympathy to get her point across to the audience. I feel as though she was very successful with her speech in drawing emotion from the audience and bringing the threat to their attention.