This article may contain excessive or irrelevant examples. Please help improve the article by adding descriptive text and removing less pertinent examples. (March 2019)

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]

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

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. ^ [1] 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. ^ [2] The American Interest
  12. ^ WhiteHouse.gov Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People.
  13. ^ [3] Hansard, No. 79 of the 41st Parliament (1st Session) of Canada
  14. ^ [4] Canadian Broadcasting Corp – surveillance critics siding with child porn: Toews
  15. ^ [5] 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

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