Source: Deutsche Welle
In his speech at Brandenburg Gate, Obama’s appeals to the audience’s ethos and pathos to strengthen his message and purpose.
When delivering a speech it is critical to show the audience that you are a “qualified” speaker, someone who can be trusted as a leader and listened to. One of the main ways Obama does this is through leveraging historical references to establish his credibility. First, he acknowledges the significance of the Brandenburg Gate, a powerful symbol of the reunification of East and West Germany after the Cold War. By mentioning it, Obama positions himself as a leader who understands the importance of Germany’s history and significant places. When Germans hear Obama speaking about their country with knowledge, they are more likely to believe what he had to say as the audience trusts that he knows what he is doing.
Second, Obama also speaks about the United States’ commitment to Europe’s freedom during the Cold War, emphasizing the historical role the United States had in rebuilding Europe. Obama wishes to call for unity of nations by urging people to transcend past conflicts and work together, so by referencing how the US helped Europe in the past shows the credibility the United States has as a reliable partner. This proves incredibly effective in Obama’s speech as when reminded about how the United States is credible through its past interactions with Germany, Germans are more likely to put more trust in the United States and thus cooperate with us as a partner.
To deliver an effective speech, it is also important to utilize pathos to connect with the audience on an emotional level which helps make the speech more impactful and memorable. Obama does this in a few different ways. Throughout his speech, he often highlights the shared values of freedom between the United States and Germany. By tapping into the audience’s yearning for a democracy, Obama fosters a sense of common purpose between the two nations, helping convince the audience that unity would be beneficial for both nations.
Obama also discusses global challenges like climate change, poverty, and terrorism, issues that most people see as “beyond” border issues. Thus Obama evokes a sense of collective responsibility and concern from both Germans and Americans alike, helping them connect and thus see unity as beneficial.