You are either with us, or against us

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In political communication, the phrase "you are either with us, or against us" and similar variations are used to generate polarisation and reject non-partisanship.[ citation needed ] The implied consequence of not joining the partisan effort of the speaker is to be deemed an enemy. A contemporary example is the statement of former US President George W. Bush, who declared at the launch of his anti-terrorism campaign, "Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists." [1]

Contents

Background

The statement generally is a descriptive statement identifying the beliefs of the speakers, and thus state a basic assumption, not a logical conclusion. It may also be interpreted as a speech act. Sometimes it is interpreted as a splitting or a false dilemma, which is an informal fallacy.

Some see the statement as a way of persuading others to choose sides in a conflict which does not allow the position of neutrality. [2] Only when there are no alternatives like a middle ground does the phrase hold validity as a logical conclusion. The phrases are a form of argumentation. [3]

Ancient examples

20th century examples

21st century examples

Fictional examples

See also

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References

  1. Bush: 'You Are Either With Us, Or With the Terrorists' – 2001-09-21, Voice of America via Internet Archive - archived URL at VOA News
  2. Orwell, George (1968). George Orwell: The Collected Essays, Journalism & Letters Volume 2 – My Country left or right. p. 226.
  3. Schiappa, Edward (1995). Warranting Assent: Case Studies in Argument Evaluation. State University of New York. p. 25. ISBN   0-7914-2363-8.
  4. Aristotle, 384 BCE-322 BCE (21 July 2008). The Athenian Constitution. Translated by Kenyon, Frederic G. (Frederic George).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. New Revised Standard Version
  6. Pro Ligario 11 (33), translation from Cicero, Marcus Tullius; Duncan, William (1811). Cicero's Select Orations, Translated Into English. Sidney's Press.
  7. Speech Delivered at an All-Russia Conference Of Political Education Workers Of Gubernia and Uyezd Education Departments 3 November 1920
  8. "Italo Balbo, il manager delle trasvolate". Il Giornale. 18 November 2010.
  9. "Moscow's Satellites—In and Out of Orbit; Change and growing diversity, an observer finds, mark the Eastern European bloc today". The New York Times . 15 March 1964.
  10. "LECTURE NOTES 18B.HUNGARY, CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND EAST GERMANY, 1968–1980. THE BALKANS, 1948–1980". Anna M. Cienciala. 1 November 2009.
  11. The American Interest
  12. WhiteHouse.gov Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People.
  13. Hansard, No. 79 of the 41st Parliament (1st Session) of Canada
  14. Canadian Broadcasting Corp – surveillance critics siding with child porn: Toews
  15. Bill C30
  16. "Palin rips Never Trump Republicans: 'You are either with us or against us'". Politico. 1 July 2016.
  17. Ao, Allison Steele, Anna Orso, Laura McCrystal, Bethany. "Whole Foods employees demand right to show support for Black Lives Matter; Philly Queer March attracts hundreds; fathers honor George Floyd and other men". inquirer.com. Retrieved 9 July 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. H. Bruce Franklin (1988). War Stars: The Superweapon and the American Imagination. Oxford University Press. pp. 124–5. ISBN   0-19-506692-8.
  19. Taylor, Chris (22 November 2016). "Star Wars is political, and it always has been". Mashable.

Further reading