Rhetorical Analysis of Mitch Landrieu's Speech: Removal of Confederate Monuments in New Orleans

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Rhetorical Analysis of Mitch Landrieu's Speech
New Orleans experienced a series of unrest and mayhem back in 2017 when four historical Confederacy monuments were taken down by angry protesters and replaced with an American flag and other public artwork ("Opinion | Mitch Landrieu'S Speech On The Removal Of Confederate Monuments In New Orleans (Published 2017)"). Among the most notable of these monuments was Confederacy General Robert Lee, which was erected on top of a high pedestal back in 1884. In a passionate and captivating remark, the mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu, had touched on the matter, citing it as urgent and necessary. On 19th May 2017, just a few blocks from where the famous statue was demolished, the mayor gave a speech addressing the series of events that had unruffled ("Opinion | Mitch Landrieu's Speech on the Removal of Confederate Monuments in New Orleans (Published 2017)"). This essay will look into rhetorical devices deployed by the New Orleans mayor, namely pathos, ethos, and logos, to explain the controversial issue of removing the four monuments (Longaker and Walker 14).
Landrieu induces ethos to develop trust in the audience when explaining why his administration had to take down the monuments. He states that he knew that taking down the monuments was not going to be easy. Still, the people did not elect him to do the easy things ("Opinion | Mitch Landrieu'S Speech On The Removal Of Confederate Monuments In New Orleans (Published 2017)"). As a politician, the mayor uses his good relationship with the people to develop trust in the process, showing them that it was necessary to establish a harmonious city. Towards the end of the speech, he is also sure to mention the other parties involved in the exercise (Longaker and Walker 14). He mentions that other significant government officials, including judges, community-led committees, the city council, and the public in general, were consulted before any action was taken against the removal of the statues.
By mentioning the noteworthy people involved in the process, including all government arms, Landrieu can assure the people of New Orleans that they can trust his administration, therefore, using ethos. This is because the officials' authority is founded on ethos since they are public servants who acquired their positions due to integrity and were sworn into office. In this way, the mayor can assure the citizens that he made the best decision for them.
As for logos, Mayor Mitch Landrieu, to deliver to his audience the facts that were considered in the removal of the Confederacy statues, in the beginning, parts of the speech, stated that the statues were only made to honor the men whose movement later came to be known as Cult of the Lost Cause (Longaker, and Walker 24). According to the mayor, the' cult endorsed such monuments and other means to rewrite history and hide the truth from the people, the truth of a defeated Confederacy that upheld slavery and racism.
Those against the demolition of the...