Un discurs per a convèncer

Els discursos existeixen per provocar canvis. Potser estem massa acostumats a creure que són un mer tràmit. Que  es pot esperar poc d’ells. No obstant això, de vegades es produeixen exemples que ens porten al seu objectiu primordial: fer que alguna cosa canviï en la ment i en l’opinió del receptor. El discurs de Zach Wahls és un d’aquests discursos.

Zach Wahls és un estudiant modèlic. Té 19 anys i un expedient ple de A+, puntuacions altes i reconeixements. Té una empresa. Estudia enginyeria a la Universitat de Iowa i és fill d’una parella de dones homosexuals. O el que és el mateix, és un bon ciutadans tot i ser fill de gais. Això és el que pensarien molts dels que s’oposen al matrimoni homosexual a Iowa i a la possibilitat de tenir una família. Però el que ens explica Wahls és que és un ciutadà modèlic perquè li dóna suport a una família. Sense etiquetes. Una família normal.

De fet, Wahls interpel·la al propi president de la comissió que estudia el tema a l’assemblea legislativa d’Iowa: “If I was your són, Mr Chairman, I believe I’d make you very proud.”

El discurs de Wahls és un exemple de com preparar, redactar i exposar un discurs que pretén produir canvis en l’audiència. Aquestes són les 5 claus de la seva intervenció:

1. Entén perfectament el context. Tant el lloc des del que parla com per a qui parla. Per això, fa referències constants al fet de ser un ciutadà d’Iowa, al fet que molts legisladors presents a la sala tindran o han tingut fills en edat universitària que han lluitat per la màxima puntuació. Pot posar-se en la seva pell i permetre que ells es posin en la seva. I a més, mostra un respecte enorme pel lloc on es troba: duuvestit, parla amb educació i amb determinació.
2. Exemples clau. Wahls no escatima en utilitzar exemples que tothom pugui entendre. Aquí està la base del seu discurs: és un noi normal. La seva família és una família normal que s’enfronta a problemes normals: “our family really isn’t so different from any other Iowa family. You know, when I’m home we go to church together, we eat dinner, we go on Vacations. Ah, but, you know, we have our hard times too, we get in Fights … you know “
3. Entonació, posició i llenguatge no verbal: Wahls convenç per la seva manera d’interpretar el seu discurs. Centrat, modulant la veu, posant passió quan es necessita, augmentant el ritme del discurs. Ha assajat i ho ha fet a consciència. El discurs flueix, el seu llenguatge no verbal és coherent amb el que narra.
4. Un bon text. El discurs de Wahls està ben escrit i estructurat. Les paraules donen forma al seu discurs i escolliu bé què dir i quan dir-ho.
5. La importància del preroratio. L’argument final, el resum de la tesi, és la que mou consciències i és la que genera en el receptor aquesta necessitat de plantejar les coses. M’ha convençut? “But in my 19 years, not once have I ever been confronted by an individual who realized independently that I was raised by a gay couple. And you know why? Because the sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character.”

Us deixo la transcripció íntegra del discurs de Zach Wahls.

“Good evening Mr. Chairman. My name is Zach Wahls. I’m a sixth-generation Iowan and an engineering student at the University of Iowa and I was raised by two women.

My biological mom, Terry, told her grandparents that she was pregnant, that the artificial insemination had worked, and they wouldn’t even acknowledge it.

It wasn’t until I was born and they succumbed to my infantile cuteness that they broke down and told her that they were thrilled to have another grandson.

Unfortunately, neither of them lived to see her marry her partner Jackie of 15 years when they wed in 2009.

My younger sister and only sibling was born in 1994. We actually have the same anonymous donor so we’re full siblings, which is really cool for me.

Um, I guess the point is our family really isn’t so different from any other Iowa family. You know, when I’m home we go to church together, we eat dinner, we go on vacations. Ah, but, you know, we have our hard times too, we get in fights…you know.

Actually my mom, Terry (Terry Wahls) was diagnoses with multiple sclerosis in 2000. It is a devastating disease that put her in a wheelchair. So we’ve had our struggles.

But, you know, we’re Iowans. We don’t expect anyone to solve our problems for us. We’ll fight our own battles. We just hope for equal and fair treatment from our government.

Being a student at the University of Iowa, the topic of same sex marriage comes up quite frequently in classroom discussions…you know Source: LYBIO.net The question always comes down to, well, “Can gays even raise kids?”

In question, you know, the conversation gets quiet for a moment because most people don’t really have any answer. And then I raise my hand and say, “Actually, I was raised by a gay couple, and I’m doing pretty well.”

I scored in the 99th percentile on the A.C.T. I’m actually an Eagle Scout. I own and operate my own small business. If I was your son, Mr. Chairman, I believe I’d make you very proud.

I’m not really so different from any of your children. My family really isn’t so different from yours. After all, your family doesn’t derive its sense of worth from being told by the state: “You’re married. Congratulations.” No.

The sense of family comes from the commitment we make to each other. To work through the hard times so we can enjoy the good ones. It comes from the love that binds us. That’s what makes a family.

So what you’re voting here isn’t to change us. It’s not to change our families, it’s to change how the law views us; how the law treats us. You are voting for the first time in the history of our state to codify discrimination into our constitution, a constitution that but for the proposed amendment, is the least amended constitution in the United States of America.

You are telling Iowans that some among you are second class citizens who do not have the right to marry the person you love.

So will this vote affect my family? Will it affect yours?

In the next two hours I’m sure we’re going to hear plenty of testimony about how damaging having gay parents is on kids.

But in my 19 years, not once have I ever been confronted by an individual who realized independently that I was raised by a gay couple.

And you know why? Because the sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character.

Thank you very much.”