What defines freedom?

Is it being able to get an education like how Malala describes her

freedom? Is it to be treated equally no matter what skin, race, and culture you belong to like how

King describes his freedom? Is it to have the same rights as every human being in the world like

how Roosevelt describe her freedom? These heroes claim to fight against unjust laws that take

away human rights through their speeches.

In “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights” Eleanor Roosevelt proclaims “all

members of the human family” have “inherent dignity” and “inalienable rights,” and suggests

that promoting these rights also promotes “freedom, justice, and peace in the world”.Throughout

the text, Roosevelt uses various forms of rhetoric to advance that purpose.One example of this is

when she uses logos when she says, “fact that 58 states have found such a large measure of

agreement” and “this must be taken as a testimony of our common aspiration.”This is an

example of logos because Roosevelt uses fact and testimony to appeal to the Assembly’s logic in

order to persuade them to adopt the UDHR.Furthermore, Roosevelt uses repetition to advance

their purpose when she states,” “It is not a treaty; it is not an international agreement. It is not

and does not purport to be a statement of law or legal obligation. It is a Declaration of basic

principles of human rights and freedoms”.This specific example of repetition advances the

Roosevelt purpose because by clarifying exactly what the UDHR is and repeatedly emphasizing

what the UDHR is not, Roosevelt calms any fears or reservations members of the Assembly may

have in adopting it, and so advances her purpose to persuade the Assembly to adopt the UDHR.

In “Malala’s speech” Malala Yousafzai purpose is to speak “so that those without a voice

can be heard”.Throughout the text, the speaker uses various forms of rhetoric to advance his

purpose.One example of this is when she uses ethos when she says,” This is the legacy of change
that I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

This is the philosophy of nonviolence that I have learnt from Gandhi Jee, Bacha Khan, and

Mother Teresa”.This is an example of ethos because it appeals to the audience’s sense of

credibility by mentioning names that were powerful enough to change the course of the world

through history through their words. Furthermore, Yousafzai uses metaphor to advance her

purpose when she states, “let us empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge and let us

shield ourselves with unity and togetherness”.This specific example of metaphor advances

Yousafzai purpose because by comparing knowledge to a weapon, Yousafzai suggests that

knowledge can be dangerous; by comparing unity and togetherness to a shield, she suggests that

these qualities are protective.

In “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, the purpose of the text is

Direct action must be taken to end injustice.Throughout the King uses various forms of rhetoric

to advance that purpose.One example of this is when he uses pathos when he says, “They will be

the James Meredith's, courageously and with a majestic sense of purpose facing jeering and

hostile mobs and the agonizing loneliness that characterizes the life of the pioneer. They will be

old, oppressed, battered Negro women”. This is an example of pathos because King’s

descriptions of the “real heroes” of the South emphasize the fearlessness of the

protesters.Furthermore, King uses vivid language to describe the “inhuman treatment of Negroes

here in the city jail”.This specific example of vivid descriptions advances King’s purpose

because it makes it clear to King’s readers, who might not have experienced police brutality

first-hand, just what the African American community is struggling against and creates support

for his cause.

 To conclude,over time humans have been making a huge progress for human rights and

freedom.There is no perfect equality in the world.But we have come very far because in this

generation there are many people from different skins, background, and culture getting an equal

opportunity to be successful in life.Chicago Academy high school has students from different

background, different skin, and culture sitting next to each other getting their education.This

school shows that we have made progress for human rights because of the diversity it has.That’s

what Malala and King fought for which is an equal shot between people to be successful in this

life.