A Rhetorical Analysis Of 'Dearly Beloved' By Cal Thomas

Analysis of “Dearly Beloved”

In “Dearly Beloved” (2006), Cal Thomas argues that gay marriage should be illegal for the “betterment of society.” He supports his argument by asserting that same-sex couples use the political system to their own advantage and sue those that discriminate against them, such as religious groups and employers. Thomas states, “If same-sex ‘marriage’ is allowed, no one will ever be able to say ‘no’ to anything again.” His purpose is to not legalize gay marriage in order to preserve the traditional ways of marriage and not “lose our moral sense.” He employs an array of language techniques such as metaphor, juxtaposition, and antithesis to enhance his argument. He attempts to persuade those who are against gay marriage
He uses the quote to state that tradition marriage is being destroyed because of same-sex marriage. Then he asserts that gay-marriage is a new trend that will pass and that in every new trend that comes we “lose our moral sense.” In addition, he believes that same-sex couples have been using the political system to their advantage to achieve their goal even though their cry for legal marriage has been defeated in court numerous times. He indicates that religious groups would be sued for “discrimination.” To supports his argument, he uses a lawsuit case in which a an adaptation agency, Catholic Charities, was sued for refusing to allow “foster children with same-sex couples.” Furthermore, he uses another case in which a polygamist in Utah filed a lawsuit to allow him to marry more than one wife, to assert the assumption that “if same-sex marriage is allowed, no one will ever be able to say ‘no’ to anything
Thomas uses a series of analogies through similes and metaphors to convey his purpose. For instance, he deduces that “we lose our moral sense, which, like an immune system, was established to protect us from cultural, as well as biological viruses.” By establishing this connection, he is making the argument that our moral sense will protect us from “biological viruses” meaning AIDS and impurities. He uses metaphor when he states that same-sex couples “would melt the glue of marriage.” He does not mean literally melt anything, but that it would shatter the institution of marriage. In addition, he employs juxtaposition and antithesis to install fear in those who are against gay marriage. For example, he uses a short-long sentence juxtaposition as he states, “It won’t stop there. People whose believes about marriage are founded on religious doctrine can expect lawsuits accusing them of ‘discrimination’ should they refuse to hire someone who is ‘married’ to a person of the same-sex.” His claim of lawsuits has the effect of installing fear. He ends with an antithesis which also has the effect of frightening the reader as well as audience. “When there is no ‘no’ to any behavior, then there must be ‘yes’ to every