The 2024 Presidential Debate; The Power of Rhetoric and Democracy

Long, long ago in a land filled with whispers and shadows, democracy was born. 🌟

But it wasn’t always here, dear reader. No, once upon a time, the people lived in terror, ruled by creatures that forbade them to speak. If they dared to raise their voices, it was off with their heads! The people knew what they wanted—a place where they could rule themselves—but they had no idea how to do it. Without a clue, they cowered beneath the threat of a mighty figure—a Minotaur, a menace, or a mighty ruler—forever silencing them.

And so the people dreamed of freedom.

That’s when rhetoric entered the scene. Rhetoric wasn’t just talk. It was a gift, an art—a techne. Just as we speak of technology today, rhetoric was the leading edge of its time. It gave people a way to exchange ideas, to settle differences not through violence, not through silence, but through speech and gestures—through hands raised, heads nodded, and voices lifted.

🎇 Now, picture this: Zeus, ruler of the skies, gazing down from Olympus. He admired the world he helped shape, but something troubled him. Despite the beauty, the people were killing each other, tearing each other apart with angry, senseless words. His dream of a democratic world—a world ruled by the people—was slipping away. So, Zeus hatched a plan. He called Hermes and said, “Go to the people and give them a gift—a gift more powerful than fire. Give them rhetoric.”

Hermes soared down to Earth but stopped mid-flight. “Wait a minute,” he thought, “shouldn’t only a few have this power, like the healers, builders, and wise ones?” So, he flew back to Zeus and asked, “Shall I give rhetoric to everyone or just a few?” Zeus, after pondering deeply, said, “Give rhetoric to ALL.”

And so, on that day, rhetoric was given to the world. And from that moment, democracy and rhetoric became one, like two sides of the same piece of paper—inseparable, entwined.

✨ It’s a beautiful tale of origins, but don’t miss the deeper lesson here. Nietzsche, the philosopher, had much to say on this. Like a scholar of old, he reminded us: democracy and rhetoric didn’t just fall from the sky. The Greeks worked on it, lived it, breathed it. They were curious, and through that curiosity, they built something powerful.

John Quincy Adams believed the same for America. As one of our nation's most eloquent voices, he lectured at Harvard on rhetoric and the art of oratory, insisting that everyone should have access to the power of speech. He even published those lectures, leaving behind a blueprint for the kind of democracy we strive for—one where every citizen has the tools to speak, to persuade, to lead.

Just as Adams believed that everyone in America should have the power of speech, this is our moment to ask ourselves: What is rhetoric? How can we use it to navigate the storm of opinions and beliefs around us?

Here’s the truth: Rhetoric belongs to YOU. It’s not reserved for the mighty or the elite. You hold it in your hands, ready to use whenever you engage with the world around you. 🗣️ So, get curious. Examine the discourse. Ask questions. Seek the truth.

And remember with rhetoric comes the ultimate tool—a baloney detection kit.  I love Carl Sagan’s way of sprinkling rhetoric with his star-dust style of speech! Use it well, and you’ll see through the nonsense, elevate the conversation, and keep the dream of democracy alive.

Peace out.