In the Shuttle Challenger address, Ronald Reagan uses rhetoric to
effectively argue that this nation should never forget the seven astronauts who
died during a disastrous trip to space, and that we should never forget the
importance of the space program.
In the beginning of Reagan’s address, he immediately
establishes ethos. Through stating that he was supposed to “report on the state
of the Union,” it reveals to the audience that Reagan plays an important role
in society and that he is a knowledgeable man when it comes to his country. He
also builds up his ethos when he discusses past space shuttle disasters because
it shows the audience that he does have knowledge about the space program and
that he understands the tragedies that happen because of it.
Reagan connects with his audience on a
deeper level using pathos. When discussing the space shuttle incident, he
states that it “is truly a national loss” and that he is “pained to the core by
the tragedy.” By repeating “we” and “us” – “we feel the loss,” “[they] served
all of us,” “we mourn seven heroes” – Reagan emphasizes a sense of community
and intimacy between himself and his audience. He also uses pathos for his
audience to feel national pride by stating that the astronauts “were aware of
the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly.” Even though we
mourn the loss of those who passed, we have a sense of pride for all the work
they did, and all of the work that the space program has done for our country.
Reagan then shifts his address to
specifically speak to “the schoolchildren of America” in order to demonstrate
logos. He states that “it’s hard to understand, but sometimes painful things
like this happen,” and that “[it’s] all part of the process of exploration and
discovery.” Through Reagan’s logic and reason, he explains to the audience that
dangerous events do happen but that it is crucial to learn from those events
and to make sure that they do not happen again. He then goes on to say that
“[he has] always had great faith in and respect for our space program,” which
demonstrates his passion for the space program for their dedication and hard
work, and also contributes to building up his ethos.
At the very end of Reagan’s address, he
uses pathos to leave his audience feeling inspired. “The crew of the space
shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We
will never forget them, no the last time we saw them, this morning, as they
prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and ‘slipped the surly bonds of
earth’ to ‘touch the face of God.’” Reagan leaves his audience with a feeling
of awe for the astronauts’ bravery and service.
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