Rhetorical Analysis of “A Whisper of Aids”
BY
Maribel Garcia
Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Composition II
English 1302-W01

Rhetorical Analysis of, “A Whisper of Aids”

“A Whisper of Aids”, is a speech given by Mary Fisher. Mary Fisher is a republican white female, daughter of a multi-millionaire and mother of two sons. She was once employed at the Whitehouse for President Gerald R. Ford. She held a prominent position as the first female “advance man”. The defined position is “A man who travels ahead to arrange the details of scheduling, publicity, security, and other matters connected with a trip or public appearance, especially one to be made by a politician or dignitary”. Mary Fisher gave her “A Whisper of Aids “speech on August 19, 1992 at the Republican National Convention at the Astrodome in Houston, TX. That day she did not stand in front of her audience to speak for the Republican Party or for any advance man duties. She stood there that day as an HIV positive victim. An Aids victim that did not fit the profile of the stereotype. Behind the podium she voiced awareness through compassion. She wanted to erase stereo type and raise concern. She clearly states the reason for her rhetoric in her plea,” Set aside prejudice and politics to make room for compassion and sound policy.” Mary Fisher in her speech persuasively and successfully used appeals to achieve interest and concern to the rise of the Aids epidemic. Mary Fisher and her personal testimony of an HIV victim offered purpose and authority to speak of the subject. The use of Ethos is seen in her first few sentences. She states “I want your attention not your applause”. Coming clean about her motive. Her testimony also creates ethos in establishing trust of character by her personal revelation of her disease. She shows character and strength by not revealing too many details on how she