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This expansive volume traces the rhetoric of reform across American history, examining such pivotal periods as the American Revolution, slavery, McCarthyism, and today's gay liberation movement. At a time when social movements led by religious leaders, from Louis Farrakhan to Pat Buchanan, are playing a central role in American politics, James Darsey connects this radical tradition with its prophetic roots. Public discourse in the West is derived from the Greek principles of civility, diplomacy, compromise, and negotiation. On this model, radical speech is often taken to be a symptom of social disorder. Not so, contends Darsey, who argues that the rhetoric of reform in America represents the continuation of a tradition separate from the commonly accepted principles of the Greeks. Though the links have gone unrecognized, the American radical tradition stems not from Aristotle, he maintains, but from the prophets of the Hebrew Bible.

English language -- United States -- Rhetoric. --- Political oratory -- Social aspects -- United States. --- Prophecy -- Social aspects -- United States. --- Radicalism -- United States. --- Rhetoric -- Social aspects -- United States. --- Social problems -- United States. --- United States -- Social conditions -- 1980-. --- Political oratory --- English language --- Rhetoric --- Radicalism --- Prophecy --- Social problems --- Social aspects --- Rhetoric. --- United States --- Social conditions --- Language and languages --- Speaking --- Extremism, Political --- Ideological extremism --- Political extremism --- Parliamentary oratory --- Political speaking --- Forecasting --- Authorship --- Expression --- Literary style --- Political science --- Oratory --- Politics, Practical --- Public speaking --- Political aspects --- Germanic languages