The Arguments In Jfk's Ich Bin Ein Berliner

COMM 110
2013 November 17 John Fitzgerald Kennedy gave his speech “Ich bin ein Berliner” (I am a Berliner) in West Berlin, on June 26, 1963. JFK used some very good persuasive techniques in his speech including arguments from cause and effect, arguments from classification and arguments from analogy. The first strategy I found in JFK’s speech was an argument from cause and effect. An argument from cause and effect is “the extent to which the presenter furnishes reasons for the message claims” (Nelson, Titsworth, & Pearson, 2013, p. 248). This type of argument specifically uses cause and effect, and JFK exemplifies this when he states, “Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect. But we have never had to put a wall up to
Arguments from classification are a type of argument that “begins with data substantiating a generalization about a class of persons, objects, events, or ideas” (Nelson, et al., 2013, p. 251). In his speech, JFK classifies all free people together in one large group. He proves a point that all men are not free if even a single man is left behind, “Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free” (JFK, 1963). He also states that all free people are united and citizens of Berlin. This is a good way that JFK shows how the United States is an ally of West Berlin and this is also a good way of persuading all other anti-communist countries that they should also be allies of West Berlin. Chaffee (2013) also notices this idea in his speech by stating that “… (JFK) stressed that anti-communistic America, and many other ally nations, would hold their ground on the issues in Berlin” (para 4). This is a good way of showing that the nations that aren’t confined to communism are allies and united in the fight against
This strategy “involves comparing two things that are not obviously similar” (Nelson et al., 2013, p. 250). The analogy that he uses is “You live in a defended island of freedom, but your life is part of the main” (JFK, 1963). This describes how even though they are free they are still separated from the other side of Berlin which in many cases has their family members on the other side. “… as your Mayor has said, an offense not only against history but an offense against humanity, separating families, dividing husbands and wives and brothers and sisters, and dividing a people who wish to be joined together” (JFK 1963). He uses another good technique by using specific numbers “one German out of four is denied the elementary right of free men, and that is to make a free choice” (JFK, 1963). He also goes on to say “… this generation of Germans has earned the right to be free, including the right to unite their families and their nation in lasting peace” (JFK, 1963). This is good for tying together his analogy about being on an island because it shows how the families are separated from each other (putting them on an island separated from each other). This is powerful because everyone is part of a family and it would be hard to imagine living a life separated from a wife, husband, child, brother, sister,