Rhetorical Analysis on "A Whisper of Aids"

In the early 1980's a worldwide epidemic affected millions of people. Although it is true that the AIDS virus was spread to people of all genders, sexual orientations, and races, there were many stereotypes that stuck with the name of the disease. Mary Fisher, who is an American political activist, artist, and author made herself an advocate for AIDS prevention and educations after contracting HIV from her husband. She conducted her cleverly named speech, “A Whisper of AIDS,” at the 1992 Republican Convention to spread the word to her party and ask for help to stop discrimination against victims in order to defend those who have contracted the disease. Her goal is to help lift the curtain of silence that was placed over the issue. Fisher uses her experiences, anecdotes, and repetition in her speech to appeal to the audience and keep their attention.

She delivered her speech in front of an audience who did not want to accept and deal with the issue of AIDS, and hoped to change that. She addresses the Republican party directly, but indirectly addresses the public, too. Her goal was to change the way AIDS was being handled politically, but she also says, “It does not care whether you are Democratic of Republican; it does not ask whether you are black, white, male or female, gay or straight, young or old.” She hoped to end the discrimination and help everyone become educated by addressing both communities of people. Fisher says that in order for the virus to stop spreading, everyone must change their views on the situation.

In the 2nd paragraph Fisher reveals that she is HIV positive to achieve trust from the audience. She says, “I would never have asked to be HIV positive, but I believe that in all things there is a purpose.” Fisher uses her own experiences with AIDS to appeal to the audiences emotions and give herself more credibility on the subject. The audience can see her as a reliable source and trust the information they are receiving from her, since