Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation” is a significant speech in American public address. The speech functions to inform the American people of the events on December 7, 1941 with a compelling narrative. The narrative paints a description of America and Pearl Harbor as a victim. The victim mentality enabled FDR to use identification to identify Japan as a common enemy. Through a victim mentality, FDR is able to construct a polarized view of international relations with Japan with an emphasis on “peace” and “war.” These competing descriptions concerning national security assisted FDR to justify the declaration of war. The speech illuminates the ability of political discourse to define a trajectory with American politics during a wartime crisis. The American people are encouraged to support the notion of war as a redemptive solution and are promised an “absolute victory.”
Hi Dave: It would be interesting to compare FDRs speech with Bush's post-911 speech (I just finished reading Dustin's analysis). Without having read the FDR speech, there seems to be some similarity--especially the delineation of a common enemy, and the eventual victory over that enemy (maybe there is already a genre here?) Regarding the line "these competing descriptions," it is unclear to me what those competing descriptions are--victim mentality vs. international relations? I'd find it helpful if that was clarified.
ReplyDeleteGood post and cool text, one that I would definitely like to look into more. My question is in your last sentence you use the phrase "redemptive solution," what causes the solution (war with Japan) to be redemptive? I guess I am seeking to find the specific guilt that would lead to the redemption in the solution. Is it guilt that the US even let this happen, or guilt that leaving Japan unpunished would violate their ethic? What concepts/motivations would be specifically tied to this guilt/redemption cycle?
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