Task 2. Read the Inaugural address of John F. Kennedy, analyze its language and rhetoric, fill in the table that follows it and get ready to discuss the speech.
| Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, reverend clergy, fellow citizens, we observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning—signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago. | 1 |
| The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. | 2 |
| We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. | 3 |
| Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. | 4 |
| This much we pledge—and more. | 5 |
| To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do—for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder. | 6 |
| To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom—and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside. | 7 |
| To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required—not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. | 8 |
| To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge—to convert our good words into good deeds—in a new alliance for progress—to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house. | 9 |
| To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support—to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective—to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak—and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run. | 10 |
| Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. | 11 |
| We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed. | 12 |
| But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course—both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war. | 13 |
| So let us begin anew—remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. | 14 |
| Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. | 15 |
| Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms—and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations. | 16 |
| Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce. | 17 |
| Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah—to "undo the heavy burdens ... and to let the oppressed go free." | 18 |
| And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved. | 19 |
| All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin. | 20 |
| In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. | 21 |
| Now the trumpet summons us again—not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are—but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"—a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself. | 22 |
| Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort? | 23 |
| In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. | 24 |
| And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. | 25 |
| My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. | 26 |
| Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own. |
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Task 3. You are to make a speech on security issues at one of the following events. What will be the objective in each case? What are the audience’s expectations in terms of technical detail, expertise, etc.? What is the audience’s probable level of special knowledge? What will your tone and point of view be? What kind of information will you select? How long will your talk be?
a) Global Security Forum (international conference of leading American politicians);
b) Asian Geo-economics and Strategy conference (an international conference on global balance of military spending);
c) meeting of the Security Council of the RF;
d) Seliger Youth Forum;
e) press-conference (opening statement on the performance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RF).
Task 4. Some common ways to start a persuasive speech include 1) asking a rhetorical question, 2) boldly announcing a strong thought or position, 3) quoting a well-known person or 4) creating an image in listeners’ minds by telling a story. Below find the beginning of a speech on struggle against proliferation of weapons. Think of different ways to start this speech.
The proliferation of small arms and light weapons is one of the biggest security challenges currently facing Kenya and the East African sub-region (Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya). The trafficking and wide availability of these weapons fuel instability, conflict and pose a threat, not only to security, but also to sustainable development. The widespread proliferation of small arms is contributing to alarming levels of armed crime, in both rural and urban areas, which exacerbates armed cattle rustling and conflicts in pastoralist areas.
Task 5. Demonstrate the use of different ways to start a speech on the following topics:
a) Re-equipment of Russian armed forces is a guarantee of national security.
b) The end of the unipolar world.
c) The development of the Far East and East Siberia as one of the priorities of the Russian Federation.
Task 6. Think of a possible conclusion of a speech on national security which has the following plan:
A strategy to secure national interests in an increasingly complex world
Challenges of the 21st century
Nuclear dangers and the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons
Counterterrorism
Cyber threats
Task 7. Demonstrate different ways to conclude a speech on the following topics:
a) Re-equipment of Russian armed forces is a guarantee of national security.
b) The end of the unipolar world.
c) The development of the Far East and East Siberia as one of the priorities of the Russian Federation.
Task 8. You are to make an informative speech at an International Conference of representatives of youth political organisations “Cooperation of Russia and Latin America”. Choose a rhetorical strategy and suggest a plan of the body for each of the following topics:
a) Cooperation of Russia with the countries of Latin America at the political level is quickly developing.
b) Countries of Latin America are priority partners of Russia in the economic sphere.
c) Cooperation of Russia with the countries of Latin America in the cultural sphere has achieved a new level.
Task 9. You are to make a persuasive speech at a Seliger Youth Forum. Choose a rhetorical strategy and suggest a plan of the body for each of the following topics:
a) Souverenity and territorial integrity are fundamental values.
b) Sanctions cannot help to resolve regional conflicts.
c) De-offshorisation of Russian economy is an inevitable measure.
Task 10. Write a 3-minute persuasive speech on any topic concerning the national security of Russia. Before you read it to your group describe the situation where it could be made and your audience. The other students assess your speech by filling in the following table
| Student’s name | Structure | Reasoning | Simplicity and clarity of the language | Tone of speech | Rhetorical devices | Total |
d) 2 points – excellent
E) 1 point – good
F) 0 - poor
CASE FOCUS
Study the text “Strength of International Space Law to Prevent Militarization of Outer Space, Respond to Other Current Challenges Weighed in Fourth Committee” (Sixty Fifth General Assembly of the UN, 4th Committee, 10th meeting) and answer the questions:
1.