Persuasive Means in Mary Fisher's Speech "a Whisper of Aids"

Earl, Willis

Speaking in Business

M-1, Persuasive Means in Mary Fisher's Speech, "A Whisper of Aids"

        Mary Fisher's 1992 speech was an extremely emotional plea. She used Ethos, Logos and Pathos in her argument that AIDS was in need of more support and research.

        Ethos, the ethical appeal of the speaker, was first noted at 1:45 of the video. Ms. Fisher asked the republican party to "lift the shroud of silence" that surrounds the AIDS/HIV epidemic. At 5:07 she says "Are you human?" She then proceeds to tell us that people with HIV/AIDS do not deserve to be treated differently as they are people, not evil, and that they are human, just as the rest of us are. At 7:13 she states "we cannot love justice and ignore prejudice." Mary was very passionate in her pleas to see those with the disease as just that, a human that is sick and needs our help.

        Mary Fisher stated many facts in her speech. This would be the Logos portion. At 2:20 she discusses the numbers of HIV/AIDS cases in the United States and in the world. At 3:10 she states that "AIDS does not care who you are". At 4:09 she states that "this is a present danger....3rd leading killer among young adult Americans today".

        Much of Mary's speech was geared around Pathos, the passionate emotional appeal to her audience. The entire introduction by the announcer was passionate. Her story is passionate. Telling her kids nightly to "sleep with the angels" is passionate. This consumed the entire first minute of the speech. At 3:45 she said "Though I am white, I am one with the black child...." and "Though I am married....I am one with the gay man suffering". At 7:38 she said "My call to the nation is a plea for awareness...if you believe you are safe, you are in danger."

        Mary Fisher is a passionate speaker. Her speech was genuine, loving yet passionate because she had contracted the disease she was speaking about. Her use of Ethos, Logos and Pathos was done magnificently. Her speech moved me and her persuasiveness was felt 25 years later.