Geneva speech by Charles Colson

Charles W. Colson delivered a speech to graduating students at Geneva College in May 1998. Colson's speech focused on what he called the "number one problem" in modern American culture. According to him, America's massive achievements are founded on foundations that modern culture lacks. The founding fathers paved the way, but Colson believes we have lost sight of it, either through ignorance or arrogance. As a result, he uses the Geneva platform to spread his message and discuss how character counts in public service.

The purpose of the lecture was to let the graduates realize that knowledge without character and integrity is not what the American society requires. Colson categorically states that failure to integrate good attitude among students is planning to cripple the provision of public services. In earlier years, the speaker gives a narration of how character used to be a priority in society. Every sector in the community addressed this issue with caution and gave it all the necessary attention it demanded. However, the nation lost grip on character and integrity. People allowed such an important virtue slip off their personality and embraced a kind of wicked westernized way of living at its expense. From his passionate articulation of the matter, it is evident that Charles Colson despises the current societal culture and he wants everybody to come on board and try to change things around. Throughout his speech, the speaker maintains that society needs to change its culture so that character gets the leading role. Style, instead of fame should define a person in the community and especially public servants.

Rhetorical Situations

The speaker’s main point is to persuade the audience into embracing character as a virtue as they move out into society. Colson wants to change how public services in the United States are offered following his disagreement with how things get done in the recent America. Therefore, the speech needed to use actuating means to achieve its goal which the speaker used. Some of the rhetorical devices used in the statement are discussed below.

The first frequently used device is the rhetorical questions. The use of this method is purposely to enlighten rather than to query. The audience is not necessarily expected to answer the question, but instead, they should digest and make some sense out of it ("Rhetorical devices", 2016). Colson employs an extensive use of rhetorical questions in his speech. For example, he asks “is it better to appear just or to be just?” whereas there is no answer expected from the listener, Colson wants his audience to answer the question and keep it for themselves. The question will make the reader ponder further on the topic and come up with a better-informed decision.

Another rhetorical tool that is the basis of Colson's speech is the analogy. The entire address is founded on analogy. Having lived through a couple of decades, Charles Colson can compare the present society to various societies that lived in the past decades. In fact, the whole speech is an analogy of two different cultures. The speaker acknowledges the fact that the current society has undergone significant changes from its predeceasing organizations. However, the virtues exhibited by the contemporary American society contradicts the attributes that defined the ideal American society. According to the speech, American is off the track and entirely against the expectations of its founding fathers. Comparing it with the earlier American, Charles Colson can form his argument that the character virtue is slowly losing sense and meaning in America. For example, in the second paragraph, the speech reads “…as recently as a generation ago, no one would give a commencement talk on that address.” It compares a past generation to the current generation by saying that ethics came automatically in previous generations and that there was no need for talks on ethics like in the present age.

Amplification is another rhetorical device that Colson uses. Amplifications brings about emphasis by repeating keywords. A speaker will put the tool to use if he/she wants the audience to get his/her point. For Colson, he amplifies words that question integrity, truth, and justice because they revolve around this topic. For example, he says “our government is not a democracy, our government was…” in general; he uses amplification to question integrity and character of leaders and society at large. Alongside amplification, the speech also employs the use of repetition. Like in the example above, the word government and democracy is repeated to emphasize the point of the speaker. The word “just” and “character” is also repeated in multiple instances to further emphasize on the speaker’s topic.

Pathos, ethos, and logos

Ethos

Appeal to ethics is profoundly used in Colson's speech. In its entirety, the expression is mainly purposed to call out to the educated and professional American populace to embrace ethics in their service to the public. As he winds up his speech, Colson gives an account of his own life. The way he got saved and transformed into being an inspiration to the world and the young generation who read his story on history books. Even though his intention was not to give an account of his life to the audience, Colson knew that the account would make an impact on the intensity of his message. He also shared his thoughts and believed on how human beings should relate to each other ethically. Through ethos, persuasive speeches can achieve results by making the audience see the reality of life. Ethos persuades them to act morally and do what is right not what they think to be right.

Pathos. Among the best approaches to persuade a person is the appeal to emotions ("Rhetorical devices", 2016). Pathos creates an emotional feedback from the audience by touching on sensitive issues that instigates the need to act rightfully. A speaker produces a psychological environment by talking of the most touching aspect of whatever message that is being passed on, and the audience will give an emotional response that is bound to persuade them. In Colson's case, pathos is developed when referring to the expectations of the founding fathers. Every American citizen respects and honors the nation’s forefathers and it is everyone wish that they live to please them. Colson brings them on board when he talks about how they were keen on ethics and their wish for an ethical society even in the future. He says “our founding fathers would be appalled that we are asking such question,” “…founding fathers presupposed that our leaders be of virtue.” Upon hearing what the founding fathers expected of us, the audience is likely to get persuaded.

Logos. Sometimes, an audience will only get persuaded if they see a reason to get induced. Logos enables a speaker to give the listener a right to be convinced ("Rhetorical devices", 2016). Colson topic is the character in which he says has lost value and sense in the American society. Logics are used in the speech when Colson relates the society perspective on the performance of leaders and the president and his view on the later. It reveals the mediocrity that society uses to engage leaders in comparison to his firm stand on how leaders should be involved.

Fallacies.

Naturalistic fallacy.

Colson appeal that being virtuous is the God’s will, and a command is fallacious. The speech argues that there is absolute truth despite claims by the majority of Americans that there is no perfect truth in the world. Colson says that there is the truth because Jesus Christ said he is the truth. Therefore, there is absolute truth and reality but only if people act ethically and with integrity.

Moralistic fallacy. Colson argument clarifies that the need for being trustworthy and ethical arises from the fact that human beings should be moral. Ethics is one way of achieving morality and therefore, the need for everyone to embrace ethics.

Conclusion

Charles Colson persuasive speech succeeded. The statement managed to employ the use of figurative language that effectively persuaded its intended audience. Rhetorical devices perfectly matched the purpose and the message came out apparently. For instance, the use of ethos, pathos, logos, and fallacies strengthened the persuasive ability of the speech. With a strong personality and mastery in public speaking, Colson pulled together essential aspects of a successful persuasive speech. Also, the speaker knew his audience well. Every sentiment uttered was entirely within the context of the audience.

` References

American Rhetoric: Chuck Colson - Geneva College Commencement Address. (2017). Americanrhetoric.com. Retrieved 9 November 2017, from http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/charleswcolsongeneva.htm

Rhetorical devices. (2016). New Scientist, 231(3090), 3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0262-4079(16)31622-0