Critical Analysis Essay
Introduction
Persuasion is a powerful tool that can transform human life. In free societies, persuasion is used to point out issues that are controversial and advocate for action concerning a particular issue. For example, gun violence in America has been on the rise, and people are calling for gun control laws. The “March for Our Lives” movement was born on February 14th, 2018. The movement was launched in response to an incident at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida, where a 19-year-old gunman shot indiscriminately for six minutes using an automatic assault weapon. The incident sparked outrage leading to the creation of the movement, which carried out demonstrations even in Washington DC led by the survivors of that fatal attack. The movement aimed to petition lawmakers to provide a gun control legislation that would make American schools safer. In this paper, I critically analyze the persuasive strategies used by the “March for Our Lives” movement and the implications for American society.
The overall message of this persuasive example
The overall message of the “March for Our Lives” movement is to petition the government to pass laws that ban assault weapons, raise the age of gun ownership, stop the sale of high capacity magazines and strictly regulate the amount of ammunition easily available. Thirdly the movement aims at pressurizing the government to put in place checks and effective laws that will make background checks mandatory on every gun purchase. The movement is a student-led demonstration to support gun control legislation. The first rally of the movement took place on March 18th 2018, with similar marches taking place in 880 destinations around the US and the globe. The march was estimated to have involved around 2 million demonstrators in the United States. The debate about gun control laws has been going on without much concrete progress as they only occur after major shootings and loss of lives in the hands of indiscriminate gunmen. The movement hopes to pressure the government to enact gun control laws that are more effective at limiting mass shootings.
The persuasive strategies and appeals used
The persuasive strategies used in the movement aim at creating awareness about gun violence, influencing public support, and developing rapport with similarly minded organizations to seek an audience with the government and policymakers. The use of pathos logos and ethos is evident in the movement’s messages. The use of ethos is seen when Cameron Kasky, a survivor of the Florida attacks, talks about the need to develop legislation in the area. The democrats who support stricter gun laws also voiced their support of the initiatives, including Barrack Obama and Elizabeth Warren. The use of logos is evident when the movement talks about 1200 children losing their lives since the Parkland shooting. This allows the public to see that it is a problem that affects all Americans across the political divide and needs urgent action. Pathos is also evidently used in the movement’s messages through emotive survivor stories telling of their horrifying ordeals during the attack day. In one instance, Cameron Casky states that the movement is a way of students begging for their lives. This creates emotion and outrage against gun violence that leads to the killing of children.
The message’s intended audience
The message of the group is intended mainly for policymakers and the government in general. However, the media is a key player as it helps in spreading information in real-time about the movement and the issue being advocated for. The main objective is to create public pressure to petition the government to enact stricter gun laws. The stakeholders in the security and education sector are also targeted in the movement. Fellow students, teachers, first responders, and security personnel are all affected by gun violence, and thus the movement aims to win their support. Students from elementary school to colleges to portray and depict that they do not feel safe at all in American schools. The policymakers are also targeted because they can use their status in society to join hands and enact stricter policies that will reduce incidents of gun violence in American schools. The general public has also been a victim in past incidents is also targeted in the campaigns as it gives the movement more bargaining power and influence towards positive social change.
The extent this is an “effective” message
The message is effective because it has resulted in wide participation, and it has pressured the relevant stakeholders into a debate. According to the National rifle association, guns are not the cause of death but sick individuals. At the same time, the movement has been calling out policymakers to regulate guns in order to control gun violence. I believe that the presence of a conversation is the first strategy for resolving the problem. The message is effective because similar campaigns have become common such as the national school walkout. The network for public education has also encouraged people to take action to pressure lawmakers to enact stricter gun laws. This can be done through sit-ins, rallies, and demonstrations to create more attention. The message of the “March for Our Lives” movement is effective because the message speaks to a wide audience that is affected by a similar fate before. Every parent is not easy when they know the lives of their children can be easily snatched away by a gunman.
The implications of this persuasive message
The implication for this movement is that the government will have to heed to the calls of the students by enacting a policy that will enhance safety in American schools. The lone gunman incidents are not just in schools but in public as well, such as San Bernardino shooting. The implication is better cooperation between stakeholders in the security and education sectors to develop better policies that enhance school safety. The conversation on gun violence allows Americans to keep exercising their first amendment rights. The student-driven activism could be a tipping point in the gun debate. As Cameron Kasky puts it, the students are literally “begging for their lives” because of increased and incessant gun violence against innocent students. The movement message will most likely lead to a ban on assault weapons, enhance stricter use of guns, and put in place checks and balances in every gun purchase.
The persuasive message is ethical
The March for Our Lives movement meets all ethical standards because it is a social movement against evil in society that anyone can decide to join or not. It is not compulsory, and people have a choice. However, ethical concerns have always been raised about whether the issue is about guns in the first place. A section of the society thinks the movement is based on lies and misinformed facts because it is not the gun that kills people, but people kill others. However, the movement’s argument is legitimate because the government has not done enough to ensure the safety of schools and prevent the rising cases of radicalization and mental illnesses. Perhaps it is a result of both causes. However, a common ground should be reached to regulate gun control issues better while at the same time, ensuring that mental issues or radicalization is detected early and mitigated. The message meets the ethical threshold because the students are expressing their thoughts about the problem, and indeed their perspective should be taken into consideration.
What the message tell us about who we are as a society
The movement’s message brings into light how society needs each other to solve a problem. However, at the end of the day, society’s needs must be looked at objectively and solved fairly to prevent exacerbation of the problem. The movement recognizes that it needs public support to achieve its objectives. This is why the message is tailor-made to target a certain section of the society, develop public sympathy and support towards a more positive course. This defines human relations and behavior because unless the message is tailor-made, the problem cannot be perceived in an objective way. The role of persuasive communication is to develop a message in a way that will make the listener support and change their thoughts about a particular position. In this case, the issue of gun laws is mainly political. The movement is trying to reach out to Republican lawmakers, moderates, and politically neutral parties to join the cause. Otherwise, without effective communication and polishing the message to suit public interest, the movement would most likely lose its meaning and attract public backlash or lack support.
Conclusion
The March for Our Lives movement effectively uses persuasion to develop government, policymakers, public, and other stakeholder support concerning stricter gun laws. The campaign continues to advocate for more sustainable solutions to avoid knee jerk reactions when another attack occurs. The movement’s message is full of pathos, logos, and ethos to win the hearts of the public using emotion, facts, and credibility of their position. Being first-hand survivors if the horrific incident, the students have been able to play a significant role in the broader movement that supports stricter gun laws. While opponents have called their messaging unethical, in my view, they rightly propagate an agenda that affects them. Others should also use their persuasion techniques to develop better and more effective policies that will create a safe society.
