Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting speech
Introduction
With the alarmingly rising rates of gun violence all across the United States of America, debates on this problem are being held almost every day, making the issue profound for most of politicians, for most of people. And the latest tragedy of December 14th, 2012 has absolutely crossed the line of all that is left humane in this world, with lives of 20 innocent children being suddenly taken from them and them from their relatives.
Such a heinous crime definitely calls for a public statement from the officials, especially from the president himself.
The analysis
And that is exactly what president Obama has done in his speech. Obama appeared emotionally strong on the stage, sending a clear, standard, as for a politician, message to the audience. Starting his speech with words of having a discussion with the state’s governor and granting him with all means to investigate this crime definitely caught people’s attention, as it was exactly what they wanted to hear. Then he moves on to the “condolences” part hooking people’s attention and souls with describing the sorrow, as a parent, and the mourning of the whole country.
Being emotionally strong and stable eventually started to be considered as emotionless speech, from my point of view. But then the president turned into tears for a moment and makes a pause in the speaking, a moment that was probably crucial for the audience; it showed the real understanding and sharing of this horrific moment by the president himself as being one of common people. But if you look closely, I think, this was done by Barack Obama as a simple tribute to the lost lives in the shooting. I am not going to judge here, but those tears were shed with such a stone face that it is hard to believe they were real. Maybe, Mr. President was told to stay absolutely calm during the whole speech, as not to do any damage to the popularity rates or not to send a wrong message to the society, but emotions would definitely had made this speech life-like, gathering and providing more support to those who needed it at that particular moment.
As for the voice during the whole message, it was absolutely calm, reflecting absolutely no high or lows, or any possible interferences of tone, thus contributing even more to the overall numbness of the given speech.
No special body language or artifacts, other than tears, have been noticed.
Conclusion
After watching this speech over and over again, I must say, that to a person, unaware of the situation, president Obama would have absolutely failed to deliver the message of this horror, of this inhumane deed, that ended lives of little children. Despite the fact being a president of the US and might not be allowed to do so, I would expect him to erupt with emotions and mourn the lost along with the whole country. Even though such an act might have faced a wall of critics from his fellow colleagues or opponents, the support to people and from them would be enormous and crucial.
References
President Barack Obama Speech - Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting. Newtown, USA. 14 December, 2012. Web. 19 July, 2013.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhxjS1FO33c
