Here is my outline and bibliography. If you have any trouble rechaing any of my sources just let me know, and I'll TRY to help... (but I am terrible with techonology!)
I. Introduction
a. Attention Getter: I will use a quote from the speech as my opener.
“Less than three months ago at platform hearings in Salt Lake City, I asked the Republican Party to lift the shroud of silence which has been draped over the issue of HIV and AIDS. I have come tonight to bring our silence to an end”
American Rhetoric
b. Topic Clear
Mary Fisher came out in front of the 1992 Republican National Convention and discussed the disease and how it has affected her and her family. I will discuss the exigence, the audience, and the constraints that Fisher faced; and what exactly she had to do to overcome those obstacles.
c. Credibility
Through use of my first speech, and extensive review of the speech and research on the topic, it is possible to understand what Fisher wants the audience to take home with them.
d. Thesis and Preview
We can break apart her speech into two parts, first the problem with AIDS in America, and second, who Fisher has turned to for support and assistance.
e. Transition
The main point she wants us to take in is a real understanding of what we are facing as individuals, and as a nation in the wake of the disease.
II. Section 1: The problem of AIDS in America
a. The first topic I will discuss is how Fisher shows us the paradigm shift between the ‘old face of AIDS’ and the ‘new face of AIDS.’
1. Many people stereotype the disease with low income, homosexual, and non-white constituents, and this is entirely not true.
2. According to AVERT, an AIDS charity, over 400,000 people were living with AIDS in the United States at the end of 2005.
3. The charity also states that AIDS affects all regions of the nation and sectors of society.
4. There is no certain type of person that AIDS targets. According to Fisher, AIDS is a disease that asks the vital question to test whether or not you are at risk: are you human?
b. I will play a clip directly from the speech pertaining to ‘the face of AIDS’ in American. The estimated length of the clip is one minute and 15 seconds.
1. She uses this comparison of herself to the stereotypical face of AIDS to show that the disease is a building risk for everyone.
2. The White House Press Office released a report on Youth and AIDS and in the report it is stated that every hour 2 new Americans between the ages of 13 and 24 are infected with HIV, and that it is still increasing.
c. Fisher wants to bring this information and awareness to the forefront, and I think it is very important the she does exactly that.
1. “Largely unknown a decade ago, AIDS is the third leading killer of young adult Americans today. But it won’t be third for long, because unlike other diseases, this one travels. Adolescents don’t give each other cancer or heart disease because they believe they are in love, but HIV is different; and we have helped it along. We have killed each other with our ignorance, our prejudice, and our silence” d. Transition to second section
Now that Fisher has laid out the issue and brought it to the table, she turns to both her family and her party for support and assistance.
III. Section 2: Who Fisher looks to for support: Her political party, family, and society
a. She looks to the Republican Party for support and assistance.
1. According to the New York Times Fisher comes from a socially prominent republican family whose father is Max Fisher, the honorary chairman of the Bush-Quayle '92 National Finance Committee.
2. She has a lot of roots in the party and she announces that she plans to turn to them in her time of need.
3. Fisher asks the Republicans to not judge those with AIDS, but to support them and to reach out to them in their darkest hour.
4. Fisher commended George H. W. Bush’s work with AIDs in the speech.
“With the President’s leadership, much good has been done. Much of the good has gone unheralded, and as the President has insisted, much remains to be done. But we do the President’s cause no good if we praise the American family but ignore a virus that destroys it.” 5. I think this a huge step for Fisher to take because political AIDS agendas have always been lagging, and they sometimes put it on the backburner. It is necessary for her to make the issue prominent, in the best interests of the nation and the individual.
6. Transition to next part of section 2
While Fisher found her party supporting, she claimed that her family was truly her “rock.”
b. Fisher also looks to her family for support.
1. When interviewed in the New York Times when discussing her father’s death in 2005 she stated that without her family and her father, she would probably not be alive to this day.
2. She credits her strength and need to strive on to her children and family. One of the most prominent parts of the speech is when Fisher steps aside from her message to speak directly to her children and her family.
“I want my children to know that their mother was not a victim. She was a messenger. I do not want them to think, as I once did, that courage is the absence of fear. I want them to know that courage is the strength to act wisely when most we are afraid. I want them to have the courage to step forward when called by their nation or their Party and give leadership, no matter what the personal cost.”
3. On Mary Fisher’s personal web organization, The Mary Fisher Clinical AIDS Research and Education, she states of those who support AIDS and AIDS research, “You are the ones to whom I want to point my growing sons when they set out to find role models.”
She sees that AIDs supporters need to form a community and help those who have no one else.
4. Transition to conclusion
When she passes, she wants her children to have support from society, and she thinks that all victims and those affected by the disease deserve the exact same support.
IV. Conclusion
a. Transition from Body
Mary Fisher uses her speech to the 1992 Republican National Convention to convey to her audience the importance of being aware of the world around them.
b. Restating Thesis and Summary
AIDS is a growing risk, and is multiplying each day. We as listeners must take her advice of accepting those who need our support and to never turn a cold shoulder to a friend or fellow citizen in need.
c. Decisive Closing
At the end of her speech, Fisher states “To all within the sound of my voice, I appeal: Learn with me the lessons of history and of grace, so my children will not be afraid to say the word "AIDS" when I am gone. Then, their children and yours may not need to whisper it at all. Thank you and goodnight”
Fisher, Mary. "A Whisper of AIDS." American Rhetoric. 2008. 4 Mar. 2008
<http://americanrhetoric.com/speeches/maryfisher1992rnc.html>.
Fisher, Mary. "Community in Search of an Identity." The Mary Fisher Clinical AIDS Research and
Education Fund. 9 Oct. 2002. HIV Council. 4 Mar. 2008 <http://www.hivcouncil.org/
mary_fisher.htm>.
Pener, Degen. "Egos & IDs; AIDS Seeks a Forum at Another Convention." New York Times 19 July 1992. 4
Mar. 2008 <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/
The Associated Press. "Max Fisher, 96, Philanthropist and Adviser to Presidents, Dies." New York
Times 4 Mar. 2005. 4 Mar. 2008 <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/04/national/
04fisher.html>.
"USA AIDS and HIV Statistics by Race and Ethnicity." AVERT International AIDS Charity. 8 Feb. 2007.
4 Mar. 2008 <http://www.avert.org/usastatr.htm>.
"Youth and HIV/AIDS 2000:." The Body. Oct. 2000. White House Press Office. 4 Mar. 2008
<http://www.thebody.com/content/art38.html>.
Comments: =)
Whitney Trompeter: Good introduction. You had a confident tone and were enthusiastic. I would watch though because sometimes you sounded a little happy about the serious subject matter. I really liked the are you at risk are you human quote! Your speech was very interesting and you seemed passionate about the subject. Good job!
Carolyn Graham: Nice speech! You had a very solid introduction and your speech flowed and transitioned very naturally. The video as your visual aid was nice and definitely helped us to visualize the situation more. You also incorporated some very moving statistics, maintained good eye contact and poise and had a solid conclusion. I don't really have any criticisms. Nice job!!
Maria Martin: The first thing I noticed was how good you were with eye contact across the whole room- that's not an easy feat so nice job with that. Also, you were very well spoken and your tone was conversational. Even though Joe had the same topic as you and spoke before you, you still managed to bring out different points and make yours original. I enjoyed your summary and conclusion as well- great job!
Enrique: I liked the pronunciation of your words, and felt that the visual aid helped us attach a face to the name. I loved your conclusion, and the speech in general! But, remember not to laugh when using the same quotes as another person, still great job!
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