Fisher Mason

1/27/16
Rhetorical Analysis
Its interesting how a words denotation and connotation can be so different. The nature of
language is that its always evolving. Its not uncommon for a word to take on a completely
different meaning than its original denotation. One of these words is evangelical. Religion has
always been a big part of American culture. Many of the first European settlers to cross the sea to
the Americas were evangelists, meaning they came intending to spread their religious beliefs and
win new converts. The word was, at that time, used exclusively in reference to churches and
missionaries, and almost exclusively in a Christian context. Its changed quite a bit since those
days, though. Evangelical has been partially removed from Christianity, and is used to describe a
person who spreads a belief of any kind. People talk about evangelical vegans, and evangelical
pacifists. Its also taken on a more political context. Evangelicals in the Bible belt make up a key
demographic for the Republican Party, so much so that they can simply say the word and conjure
up a mental picture of a specific voter: the conservative, traditional-values Christian the party so
often appeals to. Their opposition in the Democratic Party has also used it as a subtle way to
throw shade on the small-town country image idealized by Republican politicians. One word
holding so much meaning makes it useful for candidates or political commentators to bandy
about; getting a lot of ideas out in a few words.