To the People: On Ethos and it's place in Churchill's words

Quite Large, isn't it?

Ethos is, perhaps to some, a confusing word to use. It's counterparts in Logos and Pathos are rather simple to rationalize being the appeals to logic and emotion specifically. Ethos, however, when translated from the original Greek means "Character" or "Community", it can be interpreted as either an appeal to ethics or an appeal to the spirit of the group, the "guidelines" that it follows. When Winston Churchill, then, gave his "Sinews of Peace" speech at Westminster college, the language he used for the talk was of a rather inclusive bent. Rather than simply appealing to people's emotions or even their sense of reason, he instead tries to form a connection between the people of Britain with the people of United States. Where other politicians might have emphasized "the British Spirit" or "the hardiness of Britain's people", Churchill insists on combining together the disparate people of Britain and the United States (along with Canada, who most have forgotten participated in the war) as a collective united by the hardships endured within the war as well as brothers in arms, armaments and armed nuclear devices. He does his best to create an out-group in the Communist party by pointing out how good and moral it is that only they, the current collective, possess the technology required to make atomic bombs, while also pointing a finger at how "dreaded" and "totalitarian" a reverse situation might have been. By appealing to the audience's sense of morality, he is establishing yet another enemy that they must work together to defeat.

While I will certainly agree that the speech was executed powerfully, one need only listen to Churchill's voice to agree with that notion, I am quite uneasy at some of the language he uses. By setting up the USSR as the next enemy to be defeated right after the Nazis, Italians and Japanese, he is creating perhaps not a legal precendent but rather a ethical one that the Nation of Britain, as well as the United States, must step in whatever affairs they deem necessary. It reminds me of the poem "First they came..." by Martin Niemoller with how he leads the people from one enemy to the next, and having seen the effects of such a lure in today's modern politics, I can't help but feel that it may have begun a dangerous trend.

Image Credit: "United Nations Plaza" obtained via Wikimedia Commons

Churchill: Shooing Away Doubts

I have never listened or read the “Sinews of Peace” speech from Winston Churchill and I was rather ignorant about the origins of the “Iron Curtain” metaphor. I love listening to audio tracks from before the boom of technology. 

The Importance of Taped Media

I work in broadcasting and over this past summer, I worked on a special project where I converted old tapes (legit film reels and such) into digital media. It was crazy hard and I was terrified I was going to destroy the sensitive material. But I gained a perspective on how broadcasting and media worked before the digital age where most systems are now automated. I have a greater appreciation for historical media such as the Churchill.

Painting of Winston Churchill via Wikimedia Commons

Rhetoric of Peace

As far as rhetoric for the speech, I want to lead this analysis with an important part of the audio that is not written. From what I assume are journalists or radio commenters documenting the event, saying things along the lines of “Churchill is wearing a red robe to signify academia, etc., etc.,” one of the most interesting comments occurred while the speakers transitioned, and it was noted that Churchill “shooed” away photographers. This comment encapsulates the importance of the “Sinews of Peace” speech as well as the tone that Churchill wanted to leave with the audience members. Simplistically, Churchill intended with the contents of his speech as well as this action that this was not about him or his role in public media but about the changes that the Allies can create together.

During the written components of the speech, whenever Churchill refers to himself this concept of focusing on others is still apparent, because Churchill literally says it himself: “There is nothing here but what you see,” and “This is no time for generality and I will venture to be precise.” By clarifying that there is no “fluff” in this talk, Churchill attempts to appeal to ethos by establishing authority that is simple and difficult for the audience to misunderstand.

Selflessness over Selfishness  

This was effective for the audience because it did draw attention to the overarching topic that Churchill called “the unestimated sum of human pain” in a “sad and breathless moment.”  Considering that this speech was delivered during the tail-end of war started for what could be argued as selfish reasons, the tone of the speech derailed that selfishness and united those who may be weary of world leaders or doubting the future unity and effectiveness of the Allies.

Spheres of Influence

The timing of this discourse is important to how receptive the audience will be. With the war having ended just months before, the world was beginning to see the lines of influence being drawn by the Soviet Union and the democratic nations. With war being so vivid in the minds of the people, all sides were anxiously on alert for how diplomacies would take place.

Churchill understands what the audience wants to hear. The main topic of interest is the tension between communist and capitalistic states. In paragraph 21, he states this and proceeds to state the facts as he sees them. This is important because he does not tell the audience what to believe but tells them what he believes and allows them to make their own judgments accordingly. He does weigh in on what he believes by using an artful display of words as described by the following quote:

“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.”

               Churchill understands the power of metaphors and likens the situation in Europe to that of a curtain. As is well known, curtains are used to block out a person’s view or to establish privacy. In this case, Churchill emphasizes that the Iron Curtain has blocked much of Europe from the influence of democracy. By using this unmistakable metaphor, Churchill establishes his view on the matter in a powerful way.

               Churchill concludes with a powerful explanation of the consequences of what their actions will have on the future. He makes it clear that war is unlikely, however, the Soviets desire the fruits of war and the spread of their influence. His call to action is to assert that World War II was the most preventable war if timely action was taken. If timely action is taken now, future devastating wars can be prevented as well. He names the title of his discourse “Sinews of Peace” which illustrates just how delicate peace can be.

Image credit: Iron Fence, by eliver22. licensed by CC through Pixaby 2.0

Sinews of Peace: A Voice of Hope and Warning

Following the Allied victory in World War II, former Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave a speech entitled Sinews of Peace, in which he uses masterful rhetoric to embody voices of both hope and warning concerning the future of the world. 

Credibility

Before addressing concerns of any real scope, the former Prime Minister begins by assuring the audience of his "true and faithful counsel," saying that he is speaking "only for [him]self" and has "no official mission or status of any kind." Churchill even cements this personal appeal by cracking a joke or two which cause the crowd to laugh audibly. 

General Scope

After establishing his credibility, Churchill unifies his audience with a strong and hopeful call for "constancy of mind" and "persistency of purpose" in peacetime. Terms such as "we must" and "prove ourselves" project an air of political unity and evoke a sense of duty among the listeners. 

With the audience sufficiently engaged, Churchill begins with an "overall strategic concept" which again attempts to unify the audience with a common goal, "the safety and welfare, the freedom and progress, of all the homes and families of all the men and women in all the lands." To further appeal the ethics of his argument, he personifies the opponents of this goal ("war and tyranny") as "gaunt marauders."

Plan for action

After defining his more general aims, Churchill says "I have, however, a definite and practical proposal to make for action," and proceeds to give a quite specific analysis of the current situation of the world. This part of the part is extremely effective because he mixes praise and criticism to appear objective and yet still passionate for his cause. 

On one hand, he expresses faith in the course of world politics and the future of international cooperation. Churchill praises Russia and its leader, Josef Stalin, and says "we welcome Russia to her rightful place among the leading nations of the world."

On the other hand, however, he expresses his reservations about the Soviet Union and the dangers of communism. In a passionate voice, Churchill declares, "we must never cease to proclaim in fearless tones the great principles of freedom and the rights of man."

Summary

Throughout the entire speech, Churchill's brilliant combination of even-handed logic and passionate calls to service evoke a sense of hope and inspire realistic determination to make the world a better place. He warns about difficulties ahead but expresses faith in the nations of the world to overcome them. And as Churchill himself might have said, overcome them we shall.

Image Credits: image in the public domain and licensed under the IWM Non Commercial Licence 

The Temple of Peace

In Winston Churchill's speech, Sinews of Peace, he outlines a metaphor for peace that builds his credibility and appeals to the audience’s both emotional and logical senses. 

Churchill's painting of the Parthenon; conveys destruction of war

Churchill sets the stage for his metaphor by preceding it with an outline of the tragic and painful consequences of war the United States (and Britain) have already experienced.  Vocabulary such as “two gaunt marauders,” “frightful disturbance,” “the curse of war,” “distorted,” and “broken” evoke haunting memories and fear of the future that cause the audience to open their ears to a solution.  Before diving into the solution just yet, Churchill carefully creates for his audience a sense of ownership—this is “our supreme task,” not just mine, and not just yours.  Only by recognizing this responsibility will his listeners heed his suggestions.

In that moment of vulnerability, he expands on the already-proposed solution of a world-wide organization whose purpose is to prevent war by emphasizing that this method must be a "true temple of peace…not merely a cockpit in a Tower of Babel."  By labeling this proposition as a temple of peace, Churchill connects with the audience, appealing to their desire to live lives free of war and worry.  Whereas they beforehand might not have seen the self-applicability of the world-wide war-preventing organization, they are now on board.  They consider temples places free of war and full of refuge, and this can now be their goal.

Churchill specifies that this must be an immovable temple--"built…upon a rock"--that won't crumble and fall, thus building trust with his audience by assuring them that this is no half-hearted endeavor; he’s committed to doing all he can to bring this to pass.  Churchill's following paragraph outlines his "definite and practical proposal."  This word-choice and the s

ubsequent explanation provide a logical appeal to his audience, and now they not only feel the validity of his proposal and understand how it can happen.

These several emotional and logical appeals, as well as the credibility Churchill builds, inspire his audience to feel a need to do something, take ownership for the problem, and understand how the solution will be executed.

Image source: The Parthenon (via Providence Mag)