Rhetorical Analysis Of Violence By Cesar Chavez

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On the tenth anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., labor union organizer and civil rights leader Cesar Chavez published an article arguing that, “nonviolence is more powerful than violence”(12). Cesar Chavez exhibits his perspective of nonviolence through the use of rhetorical question, pathos and anecdote.

Chavez’s precise rhetorical question forces the reader to ponder the consequences of violence. He states, “Who gets killed in the case of a violent revolution?”(78). Chavez then reveals that those who are killed in violent revolutions are the workers, the poor, those most in need. He expresses that because of violence these innocent people are exploited and receive nothing in the end for it. Chavez goes on to express, “We believe it is too big a price to pay for not getting anything”(81). Violence does not bring a real, permanent solution to the problem at hand. It only brings death and no benefits to those who need it the most which is, “the most vicious
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Chavez implores, “If we beat the growers at the expense of violence, victory would come at the expense of injury and perhap death”(66). When violence is put to use, it causes injury and death. Which means that a victory through the use of violence is not a victory at all and brings no benefit to anyone. Violence only oppresses those who lay down their lives, and receive no benefit and produces new opportunities of future violence. Chavez goes on to express, “Such a thing would have tremendous impact on us. We would lose regard for human beings”(70). The more violence is used, the more it desensitizes to the value of a human life. It causes those who use violence to believe that human life is nothing because they would much rather have change instantly than stop and think about the damage they are causing. Violence has a terrible effect and it produces no benefits for