"Imagine" Ted Cruz Presidential Speech

Larsen’s cultural myths of an audience suggests that an audience will allow themselves to be persuaded based off of their value system. Appealing to various value systems seems to be an effective way for political candidates to elicit support and gain momentum for their campaign. On March 23, ted Cruz declared his bid for the republican presidential nomination.

Coming of the Messiah

Cruz uses many of Larsen’s cultural myths in his speech, of which I will cover two in detail. The term coming of Messiah indicates that all will be well. Instead of war there is peace, no one will go hungry, there will be no oppression, and justice will prevail. Cruz is asking us to imagine how our lives would be if many of the processes our government currently adopts were abolished and something better be put in its place. This is, in a not so literal way, asking us to imagine what it would be like in a “perfect world” similar to what it would be like for the coming of the Messiah. Cruz encourages us to just “imagine” how great our world could be in 2017 if we had a president who could do the following things: Create economic growth, allow small businesses to grow a prosper, allow innovation thriving on the internet which will provide more opportunity, becoming energy self-sufficient, having a country with no health care reform and keeping the government out of healthcare, create a flat tax that lets every American fill out their taxes on a post card, abolishing the IRS, ensure that boarders are secured, allow a legal immigration system to allow people to come achieve the American dream, support a government that stands for the first amendment rights of every American, protect the sanctity of human life and the sanctity of marriage and ensure that it is upheld, protect the right to bear arms, protect the privacy rights of every American, be rid of common core, and allow school choice so that every child has a right to a quality education, standing in one with the people of Israel, honor the constitution, and so on. Have you ever heard of the phrase “it sounds too good to be true”, similar to the notion that we will live in a state of bliss and peace with the coming of the Messiah. Cruz is promising with him as president he will be able to do all of those things he mentioned, and then some, thus creating a “heaven on earth” nation.

Wisdom of the Rustics

Another one of Larsen’s cultural myths in his speech is the wisdom of the rustics. Americans value the humble beginnings of their country and believe that difficulty teaches us valuable lessons. He asks us to imaging being privy to unimaginable and difficult historic events such as in 1775 when Patrick Henry made the bold statement “give me liberty or give me death”, or in 1776 watching the signing of the declaration of independence stand together and pledge their lives, fortunes and sacred honors to ignite the promise of American, imagine it is 1777 general Washington as he lost battle after battle fighting for freedom. Imaging listening to President Roosevelt in 1933, during a time of great depression, that we “have nothing to fear but fear itself”. Imagine listening to Ronald Reagan promise growth and prosperity and that we could win the cold war. These are great American examples that show that albeit difficult times, good things came from struggles.

Process Premise

He asks us to imaging a lot of things. He uses “need” as a process premise. We “need” to imagine, to change, we “need” to take action. He asks us all to rise up and re-ignite the promise of American. We “need” to stand together for liberty, not only for ourselves, but for future generations. By asking us to “imagine”, Cruz does enroll us into his vision throughout his speech. It is intended that we feel the “need” to make our world better, and although it may be difficult it will be worth it. He definitely is trying to appeal to our patriotic duty.  I am starting to wonder if we can only imagine it because it is only imaginable, not probable, that all of these changes would take place and be supported by the majority of Americans during a 4 year presidential period. That is a lot to “imagine”.

The Power of Vulnerability

Brene Brown draws out feeling, emotions and recognition in her speech tilted “The Power of Vulnerability”.  This speech can be found on Brown’s website brenebrown.com.  Following Fogg's Behavior Change Model, Brown uses motivation, abilities and triggers to help us as the listener have a better understanding of shame and vulnerability that we all experience in our lives.  She then leaves us with the ability to use that information to be a better person.

According to BJ Fogg, three elements must be present in order for a behavior to change. Motivation, ability and triggers.  With all three elements present, we can change our behaviors, permitting us to live our lives in a more positive way.

Brown, who titles herself a research story teller, believes that connection is the reason we are here and what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.  We are wired to feel connection.  While doing her research she concluded that the shame that people feel is really a disconnection from others.   So Brown set out to deconstruct shame.  She says that shame, the fear of disconnection, or the belief that “I am not (fill in the blank) enough” causes excruciating vulnerability.  Since vulnerability is often seen as a characteristic of weakness, we often find that we opt out of being vulnerable which leaves us struggling for love, belonging and being worthy. This is very persuasive, as these characteristics are all things we long to possess and are motivated to have.

Motivation

Brown set out to deconstruct shame from a scientifical standpoint, to uncover the reasons why we defy vulnerability.  She knew that she herself hated being vulnerable, so this was her chance thru research to understand or overcome vulnerability.  This became her motivation.  As she began her research she became more and more motivated to understand what gave the people she interviewed a sense of worth, or a sense of loving, which she titles “whole hearted people”.  In essence she was searching for what caused some people to frame things in a more painful, fearful, not worthy way versus what allowed others to live their life with a sense of worthiness and love.  What gives these people compassion, courage and the ability to connect? What gives these whole hearted people the courage to be imperfect? 

Abilities

According to Fogg, ability falls under the simplicity factor. Fogg says, "In order to perform a target behavior, a person must have the ability to do so".  How hard or easy is it to become more vulnerable?  Does it involve time, money, effort, social deviance and so forth.  In Brown's case, in the simplest form possible she desired to know how vulnerability related to the ability to be a whole hearted person.  This required time and effort.   Because she was motivated, she sought out a therapist who help her learn about and become vulnerable.  Most of us have the ability to be vulnerable, to love and be a “whole hearted person”.

Triggers

The last component necessary to change behavior is to have a trigger.  Triggers can vary, however Fogg points out three specific triggers: facilitator, signal and spark.  In Brown's case, her research was the facilitator.  Through her research, she saw a pattern of vulnerability with those that she considered to be “whole hearted”.  This sparked her curiosity. What are the choices contrary to the norm that the “whole hearted” are making?  She makes compelling arguments as to why being vulnerable is so essential to our well-being.

Process Premises

Brown has a very humorist approach to persuade and motivate us to desire for change.  She touches on all the areas of the process premises in her speech including needs, emotions, attitudes, consistency.

We all have the need to feel connected.  We all on some level feel shame out of fear of not being connected.  This shame makes us feel vulnerable.  We try to avoid vulnerability as it does not bring us pleasure.  What she discovered however, is that when we numb ourselves from vulnerability we inadvertently hamper our ability to experience things in life such as joy, gratitude and happiness. Brown appeals to our need to have such positive emotions, which will avoid the alternative of feeling unhappy and depressed.  Brown has a very positive attitude and with ease, insists that we as well can win our lives back.  She conveys that life is imperfect, but we are worthy of being loved and capable of being amazing.  We must be consistent in allowing ourselves to be vulnerable.  She suggests that when we let ourselves been seen, love without any guarantees,  practice gratitude and joy instead of worrying about what catastrophe is around the corner and believing that we are enough, it will allow all of us to be better people.   

Brown took these three elements: motivation, trigger and abilities to make a change in her life.  Through this process she claims she won her life back.  By learning to be vulnerable she could work better, love better, and be a better mother and a better person.  By her being vulnerable to her own audience, she was motivational and left the listeners persuaded and excited with the possibility of allowing vulnerability into their lives, thus creating an improved more joyous fulfilled life. 

I am so excited to be back in class......

Said no one, EVER...!!