Analysis of Vietnam Renunciation Speech - Lyndon B. Johnson General: The Vietnam Renunciation Speech was a speech given by former American president Lynd

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Ian Chagunda 1.i        English         31st March 2006

Analysis of Vietnam Renunciation Speech – Lyndon B. Johnson

General:

        The Vietnam Renunciation Speech was a speech given by former American president Lyndon B. Johnson on the 31st of March 1968. It was a rather long speech of in total 4158 words. For this reason I have chosen a shorter passage of only 608 words, which I will analyse into more detail. The passage consists of 10 paragraphs varying in length – the shortest being the first statement of only 5 words, and the longest comprising of 101 words. Short sentences were used – often subsequent a longer explanatory paragraph – when necessary to emphasize an important point. The content of the speech clearly points out its political intent. Almost no poetic or figurative language is used. However emphasis is put on informing and motivating the Americans, in order for them to regain their lost support for the war and reunite for the “survival and success of liberty”. Repetition is scarcely used. Only in a few cases does Lyndon Johnson use repetitive statements to emphasize his point. He more often uses short precise informative and motivational sentences as compared to Martin Luther King Jr.’s more emotional and figurative sentence structure in “I Have a Dream.”

Chronological Commentary:

        The first sentence of this particular passage informs the citizens of America that “there will be peace in Southeast Asia.” This is a powerful political statement as it is precisely what the Americans at that point needed to hear. The hope for peace had gradually faded from the hearts of the nation. And as the intelligent politician Lyndon Johnson was, he felt it necessary to reassure and unite the nation – reassurance and unity, which are the recurring themes of this speech. In the next sentence he points out that peace will come “because the people of Southeast Asia want it.” Peace was not only a selfish American wish, but rather a common goal for all humans. In this paragraph repetition is used for the first time. Lyndon Johnson refers to peace and states that the Asian are “willing to work…sacrifice…and die by the thousands for it – the word it referring to peace. The paragraph ends with Lyndon Johnson pointing out that “peace will only come because America sent her sons to help ensure it”. 

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        This links itself to the next paragraph, where Lyndon Johnson attaches himself personally to the struggle. “I know the pain that it has inflicted”.  Here he speaks directly to the nation and everyone affected by the war, and – as the great leader he is – includes himself in that group. The paragraph is rounded off by reaching out to the people and letting them know that the war is basically for their own safety and gain.

        The third paragraph is a very brief reference to America’s allies and all other nations, where Lyndon Johnson assures them that America will stick ...

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