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Showing posts with label Presentations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Presentations. Show all posts

Monday, 25 July 2016

Selling your mission -Trump's Acceptance speech an analysis of rhetoric selling

There was much brouhaha with the accusations of plagiarism in Melania Trump's speech at the Cleveland Convention of the Republican Party. Social media was quick to show edited video pairings of the alleged copied passages of Mrs Michelle Obama’s speech to rub in the point.

Yet as we are all too aware, the facility of ‘cut and paste’ in word processing can tempt many a  presenter to take short cuts. 

It is better to quote sources, if you can , as it gives proof to your efforts in preparation . I guess that was not an option for Mrs Trump to quote from a Democrat President’s speech.

However  ‘most things in Life have been thought of before ; the trick is to think of them again’ which I am reliably advised is a translation of a quote of Goethe.
  So for his acceptance speech, the speech writers for Donald Trump will inevitably have borrowed / researched/copied some of the classic techniques of rhetoric to compose his speech.

To start with his opening “Friends, delegates and fellow Americans” opening. This certainly resonated the famous rhythms of “Friends Romans and Countrymen...” of Mark Anthony’s speech from Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar.( Act 3 Scene 2)

Trump’s selling tasks at Cleveland were to bring together the rival factions of the Republican party camps to heal divisions as best he could and to focus on the task ahead - to attack the Democrats and Hilary Clinton, his opponent, for the race to the White House. He now has to sell himself as the next leader to his country.

The 'pattern of threes' is used heavily in
 Trump's speech.
 Here is the pattern cleverly used in this Budweiser
 Poster
 during the European Football Cup ,France.2016 
Resonating with the ups and downs in
 emotions of football fans and the tension of extra times.
Trump used his 'patterns of three' to resonate with his audience
 emotions on the ups and downs of America
Such a task is not dissimilar to the challenge of a new leader e.g. Sales Director or Managing Director pitching their  mission to educate, motivate and inspire their company, sales team, distributors, franchisees etc. 

So let’s examine how Trump’s writers went about the task. It is a long speech so feel free to surf and scroll :-


“ Friends, delegates and fellow Americans (Shakespeare see above): I humbly and gratefully accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States.
Who would have believed that when we started this journey on June 16, last year, we — I say we because we are a team — would have received almost 14 million votes (Factual attention getter combined with a rhetoric question), the most in the history of the Republican party?

And that the Republican Party would get 60 % more votes than it received 8 years ago. Who would have believed it? The Democrats on the other hand, received 20 % fewer votes than they got four years ago, not so good.
Together, we will lead our party back to the White House, and we will lead (notice the use of repeating phrases e.g. ‘we will lead’ , Mr Trump uses the technique a lot as we will see) our country back to safety, prosperity, and peace (pattern of threes – the first example of many in this speech). We will be a country of generosity and warmth. But we will also be a country of law and order.

Our convention occurs at a moment of crisis for our nation. The attacks on our police, and the terrorism in our cities, threaten our very way of life. Any politician who does not grasp this danger is not fit to lead our country.

Americans watching this address tonight have seen the recent images of violence in our streets and the chaos in our communities. Many have witnessed this violence personally. Some have even been its victims. (His audience is not only those in the Convention Hall but also the next audience to win over – the American electorate.)
I have a message for all of you: The crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon — and I mean very soon come to an end. Beginning on January 20th 2017, safety will be restored.
The most basic duty of government is to defend the lives of its citizens. Any government that fails to do so is a government unworthy to lead.
It is finally time for a straightforward assessment of the state of our nation. I will present the facts plainly and honestly. We cannot afford to be so politically correct anymore.
So if you want to hear the corporate spin, the carefully-crafted lies, and the media myths  ( Pattern of threes)— the Democrats are holding their convention next week. Go there.
But here, at our convention, there will be no lies. We will honor the American people with the truth, and nothing else.
These are the facts: (Telegraphing to the audience to prepare their minds for key messages)
Decades of progress made in bringing down crime are now being reversed by this administration's rollback of criminal enforcement. ( here follows a set of facts to keep his audience’s attention.
Homicides last year increased by 17% in America's fifty largest cities. That's the largest increase in 25 years.
In our nation's capital, killings have risen by 50 %. They are up nearly 60 % in nearby Baltimore.
In the president's hometown of Chicago, more than 2,000 have been the victims of shootings this year alone. And almost 4,000 have been killed in the Chicago area since he took office.
The number of police officers killed in the line of duty has risen by almost 50 % compared to this point last year.
Nearly 180,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records, ordered deported from our country, are tonight roaming free to threaten peaceful citizens.
The number of new illegal immigrant families who have crossed the border so far this year already exceeds the entire total of 2015.
The Pattern of threes in another 
advertisement this time for GWR.
It works for ads and it works
 for speeches like Mr.Trump's
They are being released by the tens of thousands into our communities with no regard for the impact on public safety or resources.

( After a series of facts ( statistics) particular examples are given to illustrate and support the facts)

One such border-crosser was released and made his way to Nebraska. There, he ended the life of an innocent young girl named Sarah Root. She was 21 years old and was killed the day after graduating from college with a 4.0 grade point average. Her killer was then released a second time, and he is now a fugitive from the law. I've met Sarah's beautiful family. But to this administration, their amazing daughter was just one more American life that wasn't worth protecting. One more child to sacrifice on the altar of open borders.
What about our economy? Again, I will tell you the plain facts that have been edited out of your nightly news and your morning newspaper  ( the use of you and your rather than ‘the’ is more persuasive and arresting to an audience):
Nearly four in 10 African-American children are living in poverty, while 58% of African-American youth are now not employed.
2 million more Latinos are in poverty today than when the president took his oath of office eight years ago.
Another 14 million people have left the workforce entirely.
Household incomes are down more than $ 4,000 since the year 2000. That is 16 years ago.
Our trade deficit in goods reached — think of this — our trade deficit is $800 hundred billion dollars. Think of that. $800 billion last year alone. We will fix that.
The budget is no better. President Obama has almost doubled our national debt to more than $19 trillion, and growing.
Yet, what do we have to show for it?  ( rhetorical question to hold his audience’s attention) Our roads and bridges are falling apart, our airports are in third world condition, and 43 million Americans are on food stamps.
Now let us consider the state of affairs abroad. Not only have our citizens endured domestic disaster, but they have lived through one international humiliation after another. One after another.
We all remember the images of our sailors being forced to their knees by their Iranian captors at gunpoint. This was just prior to the signing of the Iran deal, which gave back to Iran $150 billion and gave us absolutely nothing. It will go down in history as one of the worst deals ever negotiated.
Another humiliation came when President Obama drew a red line in Syria and the whole world knew it meant absolutely nothing.
In Libya, our consulate, the symbol of American prestige around the globe was brought down in flames.
America is far less safe and the world is far less stable than when Obama made the decision to put Hillary Clinton in charge of America's foreign policy. I am certain it is a decision he truly regrets.
Her bad instincts and her bad judgement, something pointed out by Bernie Sanders are what caused the disasters unfolding today. Let's review the record. ( the power of link back to lift the audience’s attention and memory)
In 2009, pre-Hillary, ISIS was not even on the map. Libya was stable. Egypt was peaceful. Iraq had seen a big reduction in violence. Iran was being choked by sanctions. Syria was somewhat under control.
After four years of Hillary Clinton, what do we have? ISIS has spread across the region and the entire world. Libya is in ruins, and our ambassador and his staff were left helpless to die at the hands of savage killers. Egypt was turned over to the radical Muslim Brotherhood, forcing the military to retake control. Iraq is in chaos. Iran is on the path to nuclear weapons. Syria is engulfed in a civil war and a refugee crisis that now threatens the West. After 15 years of wars in the Middle East, after trillions of dollars spent and thousands of lives lost, the situation is worse than it has ever been before.
This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: Death, destruction and terrorism and weakness.
But Hillary Clinton's legacy does not have to be America's legacy. The problems we face now — poverty and violence at home, war and destruction abroad — will last only as long as we continue relying on the same politicians who created them. A change in leadership is required to produce a change in outcomes.
Tonight, I will share with you for action for America. The most important difference between our plan and that of our opponents, is that our plan will put America first. Americanism, not globalism, will be our credo.
As long as we are led by politicians who will not put America first, then we can be assured that other nations will not treat America with respect. The respect that we deserve. The American people will come first once again.
First, my plan will begin with safety at home which means safe  (1) neighborhoods, (2) secure borders, and (3) protection from terrorism  ( pattern of threes). There can be no prosperity without law and order.
On the economy, I will outline reforms to add millions of new jobs and trillions in new wealth that can be used to rebuild America.
A number of these reforms that I will outline tonight will be opposed by some of our nation's most powerful special interests. That is because these interests have rigged our political and economic system for their exclusive benefit. Believe me. It is for their benefit. For their benefit. ( echoed repetition for emphasis)
(1)Big business, (2) elite media and (3) major donors (pattern of threes) are lining up behind the campaign of my opponent because they know she will keep our rigged system in place. They are throwing money at her because they have total control over every single thing she does. She is their puppet, and they pull the strings. That is why Hillary Clinton's message is that things will never change. Never ever. ( echoed repetition for emphasis)
My message is that things have to change and they have to change right now. ( echoed repetition for emphasis)
 Every day I wake up determined to deliver a better life for the people all across this nation that had been ignored, neglected and abandoned. ( pattern of threes)

I have visited the laid-off factory workers, and the communities crushed by our horrible and unfair trade deals. These are the forgotten men and women of our country, and they are forgotten, but they will not be forgotten long. ( combination of echoed repetition for emphasis in a pattern of three !)
 These are people who work hard but no longer have a voice. I am your voice. ( leader you and me together)

I have embraced crying mothers who have lost their children because our politicians put their personal agendas before the national good.

I have no patience for injustice. No tolerance for government incompetence. When innocent people suffer, because our political system lacks the will, or the courage, or the basic decency  ( pattern of threes) to enforce our laws, or worse still, has sold out to some corporate lobbyist for cash I am not able to look the other way. And I won't look the other way.

And when a Secretary of State illegally stores her emails on a private server, deletes 33,000 of them so the authorities can't see her crime, puts our country at risk, lies about it in every different form and faces no  consequence — I know that corruption has reached a level like never ever before in our country.

When the FBI director says that the Secretary of State was "extremely careless" and "negligent" in handling our classified secrets, I also know that these terms are minor compared to what she actually did. They were just used to save her from facing justice for her terrible, terrible crimes.( echoed repetition for emphasis)
In fact, her single greatest accomplishment may be committing such an egregious crime and getting away with it, especially when others who have been far less have paid so dearly.
When that same Secretary of State rakes in millions of dollars trading access and favors to special interests and foreign powers, I know the time for action has come.
I have joined the political arena so that the powerful can no longer beat up on people that cannot defend themselves.
Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it. I have seen firsthand how the system is rigged against our citizens, just like it was rigged against Bernie Sanders. He never had a chance.
But his supporters will join our movement, because we will fix his biggest issue: Trade deals that strip our country of jobs and the distribution of wealth in the country.
Millions of Democrats will join our movement, because we are going to fix the system so it works fairly and justly for each and every American.
In this cause, I am proud to have at my side the next Vice President of the United States: Governor Mike Pence of Indiana. And a great guy. We will bring the same economic success to America that Mike brought Indiana, which is amazing. He is a man of character and accomplishment. He is the right man for the job.
The first task for our new administration will be to liberate our citizens from the crime and terrorism and lawlessness that threatens their — our communities. ( pattern of threes)
America was shocked to its core when our police officers in Dallas were so brutally executed. Immediately after Dallas, we have seen continued threats and violence against our law enforcement officials. Law officers have been shot or killed in recent days in Georgia, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, Michigan and Tennessee. ( listed examples to emphasise the point)
On Sunday, more police were gunned down in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Three were killed, and three were very badly injured. An attack on law enforcement is an attack on all Americans.
I have a message to every last person threatening the peace on our streets and the safety of our police: When I take the oath of office next year, I will restore law and order to our country.
I will work with, and appoint, the best prosecutors and law enforcement officials in the country to get the job properly done. In this race for the White House, I am the law and order candidate.
The irresponsible rhetoric of our president, who has used the pulpit of the presidency ( analogy) to divide us by race and color, has made America a more dangerous environment than frankly, I have ever seen and anybody in this room has ever watched or seeing.
This administration has failed America's inner cities. Remember, it has failed America's inner cities. It's failed them on education. It's failed them on jobs. It's failed them on crime. It's failed them in every way and on every single level. ( repetition to emphasise)
When I am president, I will work to ensure that all of our kids are treated equally, and protected equally. Every action I take, I will ask myself: Does this make life better for young Americans in Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, and Ferguson ( reminder examples that resonate with audience) who have really come in every way, have the same right to live out their dreams as any other child in America? ( rhetorical question)

To make life safe in America, we must also address the growing threats from outside the country. We are going to defeat the barbarians of ISIS. And we are going to defeat them bad.
Once again, France is the victim of brutal Islamic terrorism. Men, women and children viciously mowed down. Lives ruined. Families ripped apart. A nation in mourning. The damage and devastation that can be inflicted by Islamic radicals has been proven over and over. At the World Trade Center, at an office party in San Bernardino, at the Boston Marathon, and a military recruiting center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. And many other locations. ( reinforcing point by examples)
Only weeks ago, in Orlando, Florida, 49 wonderful Americans were savagely murdered by an Islamic terrorist. This time, the terrorist targeted LGBTQ community.
No good. And we're going to stop it. As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology. Believe me. And I have to say as a Republican, it is so nice to hear you cheering for what I just said. Thank you.
To protect us from terrorism, we need to focus on three things.
We must have the best, absolutely the best ( repetition for emphasis), (1) gathering of intelligence anywhere in the world. The best.
We must abandon the  (2)failed policy of nation- building and regime change that Hillary Clinton pushed in Iraq, Libya, in Egypt, and Syria.
Instead, we must work with all of our allies who share our goal of destroying ISIS and stamping out Islamic terrorism and doing it now, doing it quickly. ( Repetition for emphasis) We're going to win. We're going to win fast. This includes working with our greatest ally in the region, the state of Israel.
Recently I have said that NATO was obsolete. Because it did not properly cover terror. And also that many of the member countries were not paying their fair share. As usual, the United States has been picking up the cost. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that NATO will be setting up a new program in order to combat terrorism. A true step in the right direction.
Lastly, and very importantly, we must immediately (3)suspend immigration from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism until such time as proven vetting mechanisms have been put in place. We don't want them in our country.
My opponent has called for a radical 550 % increase — think of this, this is not believable, but this is what is happening — a 550 % increase in Syrian refugees on top of existing massive refugee flows coming into our country already under the leadership of president Obama.
She proposes this despite the fact that there's no way to screen these refugees in order to find out who they are or where they come from. I only want to admit individuals into our country who will support our values and love our people. Anyone who endorses violence, hatred or oppression ( pattern of threes) is not welcome in our country and never ever will be.

Decades of record immigration have produced lower wages and higher unemployment for our citizens, especially for African-American and Latino workers. We are going to have an immigration system that works, but one that works for the American people.
On Monday, we heard from three parents whose children were killed by illegal immigrants Mary Ann Mendoza, Sabine Durden, and my friend Jamiel Shaw.  ( Specific examples to raise audience interest and of course three !!) They are just three brave representatives of many thousands who have suffered so greatly.
Of all my travels in this country, nothing has affected me more, nothing even close than the time I have spent with the mothers and fathers who have lost their children to violence spilling across our borders, which we can solve. We have to solve it.  ( repetition for emphasis)These families have no special interests to represent them. There are no demonstrators to protect them and none to protest on their behalf. ( pattern of threes)
My opponent will never meet with them, or share in their pain. Believe me. Instead, my opponent wants sanctuary cities. But where was sanctuary for Kate Steinle? Where was sanctuary  ( repetition to stress the point) for the children of Mary Ann, Sabine and Jamiel? It’s so sad to even be talking about this. We can solve it so quickly. Where was sanctuary for all the other Americans who have been so brutally murdered, and who have suffered so horribly? These wounded American families have been alone. But they are not alone any longer.

Tonight, this candidate and this whole nation stand in their corner to support them, to send them our love, and to pledge in their honor that we will save countless more families from suffering the same awful fate.

We are going to build a great border wall  (1)to stop illegal immigration,  (2) to stop the gangs and the violence, and (3) to stop the drugs from pouring into our communities. ( pattern of threes and repetition)

I have been honored to receive the endorsement of America's Border Patrol agents, and will work directly with them to protect the integrity of our lawful, lawful, ( repetition) immigration system.

By ending catch-and-release on the border, we will stop the cycle of human smuggling and violence. Illegal border crossings will go down. We will stop it. It will not be happening very much anymore. Believe me. ( Simple and direct appeal to audience)

Peace will be restored by enforcing the rules for the millions who overstay their visas, our laws will finally receive the respect they deserve.

Tonight, I want every American whose demands for immigration security have been denied and every politician who has denied them to listen very closely to the words I am about to say: On on January 20 of 2017, the day I take the oath of office, Americans will finally wake up in a country where the laws of the United States are enforced.

We are going to be considerate and compassionate to everyone. But my greatest compassion will be for our own struggling citizens.

My plan is the exact opposite of the radical and dangerous immigration policy of Hillary Clinton. Americans want relief from uncontrolled immigration. Which is what we have now. Communities want relief. Yet Hillary Clinton is proposing (1) mass amnesty, (2) mass immigration, and  (3)mass lawlessness. ( Pattern of threes and repetition to drive home the message)
( Further pattern of threes to come!)
Her plan will  (1) overwhelm your schools and hospitals,  (2)further reduce your jobs and wages, and (3)make it harder for recent immigrants to escape from the tremendous cycle of poverty they are going through right now and make it almost impossible for them to join the middle class.

I have a different vision for our workers. It begins with a new, fair trade policy that protects our jobs and stands up to countries that cheat — of which there are many.

It's been a signature message of my campaign from day one, and it will be a signature feature of my presidency from the moment I take the oath of office. I have made billions of dollars in business making deals. Now I'm going to make our country rich again. Using the greatest businesspeople of the world, I'm going to turn our bad trade agreements into great trade agreements.

America has lost nearly-one third of its manufacturing jobs since 1997 ( fact to raise the interest and attention level), following the enactment of disastrous trade deals supported by bill and Hillary Clinton. Remember, it was Bill Clinton who signed NAFTA, one of the worst economic deals ever made by our country. Or frankly, any other country. Never ever again.

I am going to bring our jobs back our jobs to Ohio and Pennsylvania and New York and Michigan and all of America and I am not going to let companies move to other countries, firing their employees along the way, without consequences. Not going to happen anymore.

My opponent, on the other hand, has supported virtually every trade agreement that has been destroying our middle class. She supported NAFTA, and she supported China's entrance into the world trade organization. Another one of her husband's colossal mistakes and disasters. She supported the job killing trade deal with South Korea. She she supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership which will not only destroy our manufacturing but it will make America subject to the rulings of foreign governments. And it is not going to happen.

I pledge to never sign any trade agreement that hurts our workers, or that diminishes our freedom and Independence. We will never ever sign bad trade deals. America first again. American first.

Instead, I will make individual deals with individual countries. No longer will we enter into these massive transactions with many countries that are thousands of pages long and which no one from our country even reads or understands. We are going to enforce all trade violations against any country that cheats. This includes stopping China's outrageous theft of intellectual property, along with their illegal product dumping, and their devastating currency manipulation. They are the greatest that ever came about, they are the greatest currently manipulators ever.

Our horrible trade agreements with China, and many others, will be totally renegotiated. That includes renegotiating NAFTA to get a much better deal for America and will walk away if we don't get that kind of a deal. Our country is going to start building and making things again.

Next comes the reform of our tax laws, regulations and energy rules. While Hillary Clinton plans a massive, and I mean massive, tax increase, I have proposed the largest tax reduction of any candidate who has run for president this year, Democrat or Republican. Middle-income Americans will experience profound relief, and taxes will be greatly simplified for everyone. I mean everyone.

America is one of the highest-taxed nations in the world. Reducing taxes will cause new companies and new jobs to come roaring back into our country. Believe me. It will happen and it will happen fast.

Then we are going to deal with the issue of regulation, one of the greatest job killers of them all. Excessive regulation is costing our country as much as $2 trillion a year, and we will end and it very quickly.

We are going to lift the restrictions on the production of American energy. This will produce more than $20 trillion in job-creating economic activity over the next four decades.

My opponent, on the other hand, wants to put the great miners and steelworkers of our country out of work and out of business. That will never happen with Donald J trump as president. Our steelworkers and are miners are going back to work again.

With these new economic policies, trillions of dollars will start flowing into our country. This new wealth will improve the quality of life for all Americans. We will build the roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, and the railways of our tomorrow. This, in turn, will create millions of more jobs.

We will rescue kids from failing schools by helping their parents send them to a safe school of their choice. My opponent would rather protect education bureaucrats than serve American children. That is what she is doing and that is what she has done.

We will repeal and replace disastrous Obamacare. You will be able to choose your own doctor again.

And we will fix TSA at the airports, which is a total disaster. Thank you.

We are going to work with all of our students who are drowning in debt to take the pressure off these young people just starting out in their adult lives. Tremendous problems.

We will completely rebuild our depleted military. And the countries that we protecting at a massive cost to us will be asked to pay their fair share.

We will take care of our great veterans like they have never been taken care of before. My just-released 10 point plan has received tremendous better support. We will guarantee those who serve this country will be able to visit the doctor or hospital of their choice without waiting five days in a line and dying.

My opponent dismissed the VA scandal, one more sign of how out of touch she really is.

We are going to ask every department head and government to provide a list of wasteful spending projects that we can eliminate in my first 100 days. The politicians have talked about this for years, but I'm going to do it.

We are also going to appoint justices to the United States Supreme Court who will uphold our laws and our constitution. The replacement of our beloved Justice Scalia will be a person of similar views, principles and judicial philosophies. Very important. This will be one of the most important issues decided by this election.

My opponent wants to essentially abolish the 2nd Amendment. I, on the other hand, received the early and strong endorsement of the National Rifle Association. And will protect the right of all Americans to keep their families safe.

At this moment, I would like to thank the evangelical community because, I will tell you what, the support they have given me — and I'm not sure I totally deserve it — has been so amazing. And has been such a big reason I'm here tonight. They have much to contribute to our policies.

Yet our laws prevent you from speaking your mind from your own pulpits. An amendment, pushed by Lyndon Johnson, many years ago, threatens religious institutions with a loss of their tax-exempt status if they openly advocate their political views. Their voice has been taken away. I will work hard to repeal that language and to protect free speech for all Americans.

We can accomplish these great things and so much more. All we need to do is start believing in ourselves a in our country again. Start believing. It is time to show the whole world that America is back, bigger and better and stronger than ever before.

In this journey, I'm so lucky to have at my side my wife Melania and my wonderful children Don, Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany, and Barron: You will always be my greatest source of pride and joy. And by the way, Melania and Ivanka, did they do a job?

My dad, Fred Trump, was the smartest and hardest working man I ever knew. I wonder sometimes what he'd say if he were here to see this tonight. It's because of him that I learned, from my youngest age, to respect the dignity of work and the dignity of working people.

He was a guy most comfortable in the company of bricklayers, carpenters, and electricians and I have a lot of that in me also. I love those people.

Then there's my mother, Mary. She was strong, but also warm and fair-minded. She was a truly great mother. She was also one of the most honest and charitable people I have ever known, and a great, great judge of character. She could pick them out from anywhere.

To my sisters, Mary Anne and Elizabeth, my brother Robert and my late brother Fred, I will always give you my love. You are most special to me. I have loved my life in business.

But now, my sole and exclusive mission is to go to work for our country, to go to work for you. It is time to deliver a victory for the American people. We don't win anymore, but we are going to start winning again. But to do that, we must break free from the petty politics of the past.

America is a nation of believers, dreamers, and strivers ( pattern of threes)that is being led by a group of censors, critics, and cynics.( pattern of threes) Remember: All of the people telling you you can't have the country you want, are the same people, that would not stand, I mean they said Trump does not have a chance of being here tonight, not a chance, the same people. We love defeating those people, don't we? (Appeal Question) Love it.

No longer can we rely on those same people. In the media and politics who, will say anything to keep a rigged system in place. Instead, we must choose to believe in America.

History is watching us now. It's we don't have much time. We don't have much time. It's waiting to see if we will rise to the occasion, and if we will show the whole world that America is still free and independent and strong.

I am asking for your support tonight so that I can be year champion in the White House. And I will be a champion. Your champion.

My opponent asks her supporters to recite a three-word loyalty pledge. It reads: "I'm with her."

I choose to recite a different pledge. My pledge reads: "I'm with you the American people."( You appeal)

I am your  ( You appeal)voice. So to every parent who dreams for their child, and every child who dreams for their future, I say these words to you tonight: I'm with you, and I will fight for you, and I will win for you.

To all Americans tonight, in all our cities and towns, I make this promise:
(Classic Summary Close on three points and final mission statement)

( 1)We will make America strong again.

(2)We will make America proud again.

(3) We will make America safe again.

And we will make America great again!


Sunday, 15 November 2015

The Modi Manoeuvre Rhetoric's Bend it like Beckham - Prime Minister Modi's speech to UK Parliament Analysis of Rhetorical technique by a master

Sometime in the future ,you might have to make a speech where your central theme is not only to  explain, but  also motivate and persuade your audience of the importance of working together. 


The Collaboration speech
( working with, joining forces, teaming up, working in partnership , pooling resources, 
acting as a team, cooperating with each other )

For example it might be the importance of  one company collaborating with another, maybe a  supplier with a distributor, franchiser and franchisee  , HQ with regional sites, the Board of Directors with Stakeholders or simply the cooperation of a Supplier with a Buyer. It could be the Marketing team with the Sales team !!!

In effect 'Collaboration' was the central theme of India's Prime Minister Modi's address to UK Parliament last week . One important business aspect of his visit concerned the £9 billion of trade deals between India and the UK. This was as much a business speech as a diplomatic address.

It is a well crafted political speech  but I thought it would be worth analysing from the skills of rhetoric  Mr Modi undoubtedly has to teach us all about speech making and delivery. Later in his visit Mr Modi spoke to a crowd of 60,000 at Wembley Stadium. No politicians in the UK pull in such crowds. Mr Cameron now has attained this by introducing Mr Modi at Wembley.

I have added some observations of technique Mr Modi and his speech writers use in their speech to the UK Parliament I hope you find it interesting and can get to use some of Mr Modi's techniques for your speeches.
 N.B.   This is an analysis of rhetoric rather than politics.


Lord Speaker, ( of the House of Lords)
Mr. Speaker, (of the House of Commons)
Mr. Prime Minister ( Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

I am delighted to be in London. Even in this globalised world, London is still the standard for our times. (  light touch pun : Longitude Meridian / Greenwich Mean Time GMT and standard for diversity) The city has embraced the world's diversity and represents the finest in human achievements. And, I am truly honoured to speak in the British Parliament.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for opening the doors to us ( both in the literal and spoken sense ), here in this magnificent setting of the Royal Court. ( Westminster is a Royal Court) I know that the Parliament is not in Session. Prime Minister Cameron looks relaxed and relieved. ( Light touch of humour)
But, I want to remind you, Mr. Prime Minister, that you owe me royalty for an election slogan. I know that you are hosting me at the Chequers this evening. But, I also know that you will understand if I am fair to both sides of the floor. Especially since British MPs of Indian Origin are evenly balanced between the Treasury and the Opposition benches ( Factual Attention Getter maintaining interest). So, I also extend my good wishes to the Labour ( Party – Her Majesty’s Opposition acknowledged also). Indeed, since these are still early days after the election, my warm congratulations to the Members of the House. And, greetings to the eminent leaders of Britain and great friends of India present here today.
So much of the modern history of India is linked to this building. So much history looms across our relationship. There are others who have spoken forcefully on the debts and dues of history. I will only say that many freedom fighters of India found their calling in the institutions of Britain. And, many makers of modern India, including several of my distinguished predecessors, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Dr. Manmohan Singh, passed through their doors. ( Examples of India’s Good and Great who had been in Parliament)
There are many things on which it is hard to tell anymore if they are British or Indian: The Jaguar or the Scotland Yard, for example. The Brooke Bond tea or my friend late Lord Ghulam Nun's curry. And, our strongest debates are whether the Lord's pitch swings unfairly or the wicket at Eden Gardens cracks too early. And, we love the Bhangra rap from London just as you like the English novel from India. ( Pairings of examples keep the interest and prove his point of how things are not obviously British or Indian)
On the way to this event, Prime Minister Cameron and I paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi outside the Parliament.  ( Use of the link back attention getter)I was reminded of a question I was asked on a tour abroad. How is it that the statue of Gandhi stands outside the British Parliament? To that question, my answer is: (Patterns of threes) (1)The British are wise enough to recognise his greatness;(2)Indians are generous enough to share him; (3)we are both fortunate enough to have been touched by his life and mission; and, we are both smart enough to use the strengths of our connected histories to power the future of our relationship.

So, I stand here today, not as a visiting Head of Government, given the honour to speak in this temple of democracy. I am here as a representative of a fellow institution and a shared tradition. ( Mr Modi is fond of this device. He disclaims a preconception which is actually true. For example  he is a visiting Head of Government given the honour - so that  contradiction draws in our attention .Then he subtly shows his audience he is one of them. a representative  from a similar institution and tradition. I notice from other speeches at Wembley and elsewhere Prime Minister Modi uses this technique which I will nickname the "Modi Manoeuvre" .It has a touch of Mark Anthony in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. “ In the famous " (1)Friends, (2)Romans , (3) Countrymen"   speech where Mark Anthony  ends up sowing the seeds of doubt on Brutus and actually praising Caesar. -----Cunning these politicians !!!)

And, tomorrow, Prime Minister and I will be at the Wembley. Even in India, every young footballer wants to bend it like Beckham. ( familiar film  directed by Gurinder Chadha  and now a musical currently playing at London's Phoenix Theatre and using the Brand Beckham  Name !!  brilliant use of shared cultures and linked to current show . This illustrate how keyed into London Mr Modi is.) Wembley will be a celebration of one-half-million threads of life that bind us; one and half million people - proud of their heritage in India; proud of their home in Britain. ( repeated pairing proud of...   proud of)

It will be an expression of joy for all that we share: values, institutions, political system, sports, culture and art. And, it will be a recognition of our vibrant partnerships and a shared future.

(Then a set of powerful factual statements)

The United Kingdom is the third largest investor in India behind Singapore and Mauritius. India is the third largest source of Foreign Direct Investment projects in the United Kingdom. Indians invest more in Britain than in the rest of European Union combined. It is not because they want to save on interpretation costs, but because they find an environment that is welcoming and familiar. ( Another example of a Modi Manoeuvre that Mr Modi favours. He states first what is a rational fact but says it is not the main reason , followed by an additional cultural /emotional reason. Mark Anthony eat your heart out again !)

It takes an Indian icon, Tata, to run a British icon and become your nation's largest private sector employer. ( Powerful fact)

The UK remains a preferred destination for Indian students. And, I am pleased that an Indian company is taking a thousand British students to India to skill them in Information Technology. ( Two exchange)
(Another pattern of threes)
 (1)We are working together in the most advanced areas of science and technology. We are finding solutions to the enduring human problems of food and health security, and seeking answers to emerging challenges like climate change.

(2)Our security agencies work together so that our children return home safe and our increasingly networked lives are not prey to the threats on cyber space.

(3) Our Armed Forces exercise with each other, so that they can stand more strongly for the values we represent. This year alone, we have had three exercises together. ( Fact)

And, in the international arena, your support has made it more possible for India to take her rightful place in global institutions and regimes. And, it has helped us both advance our common interests.

Mr. Speaker,
( Pattern of threes e.g. two...two....two...)
Strong as our partnership is, for a relationship such as ours, we must set higher ambitions.  (1)We are two democracies;(2) two strong economies; (3) and, two innovative societies.

We have the comfort of familiarity and the experience of a long partnership. Britain's resurgence is impressive. Its influence on the future of the global economy remains strong.

And, Mr. Speaker, India is new bright spot of hope and opportunity for the world. It is not just the universal judgement of international institutions. It is not just the logic of numbers: a nation of 1.25 billion people with 800 million under the age of 35 years. ( Facts Facts  Facts in a pattern of threes)

This optimism comes from the energy and enterprise of our youth; eager for change and confident of achieving it. It is the result of bold and sustained measures to reform our laws, policies, institutions and processes.
( action verbs e.g.  igniting  ...making...making... moving...creating....building)
We are igniting the engines of our manufacturing sector; making our farms more productive and more resilient; making our services more innovative and efficient; moving with urgency on building global skills for our youth; creating a revolution in Start up enterprises; and, building the next generation infrastructure that will have a light footprint on the Earth.

Our momentum comes not just from the growth we pursue, but from the transformation that we seek in the quality of life for every citizen.

Much of India that we dream of still lies ahead of us: housing, power, water and sanitation for all; bank accounts and insurance for every citizen; connected and prosperous villages; and, smart and sustainable cities. These are goals with a definite date, not just a mirage of hope. (“... goals with a definite date not just a mirage of hope”  that would be a useful phrase for the Corporate world to make . Will they attribute that to Mr Modi I wonder !)

And, inspired by Gandhiji, the change has begun with us - the way the government works. There is transparency and accountability in governance. There is boldness and speed in decisions.

Federalism is no longer the fault line of Centre-State relations, but the definition of a new partnership of Team India. Citizens now have the ease of trust, not the burden of proof and process. Businesses find an environment that is open and easy to work in.

In a nation connected by cell phones, Digital India is transforming the interface between Government and people.

So, Mr. Speaker, with apologies to poet T.S. Eliot, we won't let the shadow fall between the idea and reality. (  Mr Modi quotes TS Elliot “Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow”  TS Elliott The Hollow Men )

If you visit India, you will experience the wind of change.               ( Clever resonance for Conservative Politicians – Harold Macmillian’s wind of change speech “The wind of change is blowing through this continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact” and a gentle reminder o India’s independence )

(Evidence for this wind of change we would see if we visited India today. Verbs of change  Reflected.... Enhanced   then in a pattern of three facts)
It is reflected in the surge of investments from around the world; in enhanced stability of our economy; (1) in 190 million new bank accounts of hope and inclusion; in  (2)the increase in our growth to nearly 7.5% per year; and, (3) in the sharp rise in our ranking on Ease of Doing Business.

And, the motto of Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas ( My Google translate of the Hindi reads Everybody's company will help in everybody's growth with another pattern of threes !), is our vision of a nation, in which every citizen (1.) belongs, (2) participates and (3) prospers.
( and yet again a pattern of threes)
It is not just a call for economic inclusion. It is also (1) a celebration of our diversity; (2) the creed for social harmony; and,(3) a commitment to individual liberties and rights.

This is (1) the timeless ethos of our culture; this is (2) the basis of our constitution; and, this (3) will be the foundation of our future.

Mr. Speaker, Members and Friends, (Rhythm of threes)

The progress of India is the destiny of one-sixth of humanity.  And, it will also mean a world more confident of its prosperity; and, more secure about its future.

It is also natural and inevitable that our economic relations will grow by leaps and bounds. We will form unbeatable partnerships, if we combine our unique strengths and the size and scale of opportunities in India.
(Pattern of threes with a one more for luck – the exception to prove the rule )
(1) We will see more investment and trade. (2)We will open new doors in the Services sector. (3) We will collaborate more - here and in India - in defence equipment and technology. We will work together on renewable and nuclear energy.
(Here Mr Modi uses the three rhythm pattern to stress the young nation we will...we will.. Our youth will...)
We will explore the mysteries of science and harness the power of technology and innovation. We will realise the opportunities of the digital world. Our youth will learn more from - and with - each other.

But, a relationship as rich as this, with so much promise as ours, cannot be measured only in terms of our mutual prosperity.

Mr. Speaker,

Ours is an age of multiple transitions in the world. We are yet to fully comprehend the future unfolding before us. As in the previous ages, it will be different from the world we know.

So, in the uncharted waters of our uncertain times, we must together help steer a steady course for this world in the direction that mirrors the ideals we share. ( metaphor of uncharted waters and and steering)

For, in that lies not just the success of our two nations, but also the promise of the world that we desire. We have the strength of our partnership and the membership of the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the G-20.

We live in a world where instability in a distant region quickly reaches our doorsteps. We see this in the challenges of radicalisation and refugees. ( Alliteration pairing rradicalisation and refugees)

The fault lines are shifting from the boundaries of nations into the web of our societies and the streets of our cities. And, terrorism and extremism are a global force that are larger than their changing names, groups, territories and targets. ( The new world order)

The world must speak in one voice and act in unison to combat this challenge of our times. We must adopt a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN without delay. There should be no distinction between terrorist groups or discrimination between nations. There should be a resolve to isolate those who harbour terrorists and willingness to stand with nations that will fight them honestly. And, we need a social movement against extremism in countries where it is most prevalent and, every effort to de=link religion and terrorism.
( Ocean Cyber space and outer space)
Oceans remain vital for our prosperity. Now, we have to also secure our cyber and outer space. Our interests are aligned across many regions. We have a shared interest in stable, prosperous and integrated South Asia, drawn together in a shared march to prosperity.

We want an Afghanistan that is shaped by the dreams of the great Afghan people, not by irrational fears and overreaching ambitions of others.

A peaceful, stable Indian Ocean Region is vital for global commerce and prosperity. And, the future of Asia Pacific region will have profound impact on all of us. We both have huge stakes in West Asia and the Gulf.

And, in Africa, where, amidst many challenges, we see so many promising signs of courage, wisdom, leadership and enterprise. India has just held an Africa Summit, in which all 55 countries, and 42 leaders participated. ( Example Facts)

We must also cooperate to launch a low carbon age for a sustainable future for our planet. This is a global responsibility that we must assume in Paris later this month. (presaging a future meeting)

The world has crafted a beautiful balance of collective action - common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities.

Those who have the means and the know-how must help meet the universal aspiration of humanity for clean energy and a healthy environment. And, when we speak of restraint, we must not only think of curbing fossil fuels, but also moderating our lifestyles.
(Declared targets and strategy)
We must all do our part. For India, a target of 175 GW of additional capacity in renewable energy by 2022 and reduction in emission intensity of 33-35 % by 2030 are just two of the steps of a comprehensive strategy.

I have also proposed to launch during the COP 21 meeting an International Solar Alliance to make solar energy an integral part of our lives, even in the most unconnected villages.
( local experience UK  audience -we use umbrella for rain - India  a parasol then modern example – Solar Alliance  )
In Britain, you are more likely to use an umbrella against rain than the sun. But, my team defined the membership of the Solar Alliance in more precise terms: you have to be located within the Tropics.

And, we are pleased that the United Kingdom qualifies! ( Joke ) So, we look forward to an innovative Britain as a valuable partner in this endeavour. Prime Minister Cameron and I are, indeed, very pleased that cooperation on affordable and accessible clean energy is an important pillar of our relations.

Mr. Speaker,
(Action verbs seize...remove...instil... remain...)
This is a huge moment for our two great nations. So, we must seize our opportunities, remove the obstacles to cooperation, instill full confidence in our relations and remain sensitive to each other's interests.

In doing so, we will transform our strategic partnership, and we will make this relationship count as one of the leading global partnerships. Ever so often, in the call of Britain's most famous Bard that we must seize the tide in the affairs of men, the world has sought the inspiration to act. And, so must we. ( Bard – another word for Poet/Playright in this case William Shakespeare. “Julius Caesar “Act 4, scene 3                 
 Brutus:
There is a tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries  ,  I think Julius Caesar as aplay may be a favourite of Prime Minister Modi)

 (He then leads into his conclusion)
But, in defining the purpose of our partnership, we must turn to a great son of India, whose house in London I shall dedicate to the cause of social justice on Saturday .(10 King Henry's Road in Primrose Hill North London Where Ambedkar lived in 1921-22 as a student of the LSE ). Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, whose 125th birth anniversary we are celebrating now, was not just an architect of India's Constitution and our parliamentary democracy. He also stood for the upliftment (uplifting) of  (1) the weak, (2) the oppressed and (3) the excluded. And, he lifted us all to a higher cause in the service of humanity; to build a future of justice, equality, opportunity and dignity for all humans; and, peace among people.

That is the cause to which India and the United Kingdom have dedicated themselves today.