My Speech:

Good evening America,

Today was a day of sadness. Our nation grieves with those who morn over loved ones lost at Virginia Tech. We hold these victims in our thoughts. We lift them up in our prayers. We ask God to comfort those in suffering, and to keep them strong through this reckless time.

As of this moment at 5:08 on April 17, 2007, we have concluded that 32 fellow student and faculty Americans are dead, and many others wounded. A school should be a place of safety, safe-haven, and learning, not of tragedy, disaster, and devastation. This tragedy is not only felt throughout the nation, but most importantly, our classrooms. Our flags are being flown at half-staff at the White House and at all public buidings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels. We remember and respect.

Though we are in sadness, we must understand, we hang our heads knowing that their will come a better day. Just like the sun, our heads shall rise with great respect for the ones lost. With tears or not, we must stand strong, and not rest on the past, but also not forgetting our loved ones, but look towards our future. Tonight we stand as one nation, the United States of America. All thoughts and prayers are with all those in suffering.

May you find peace, and may God be with you,

Ross L. Name

Claim:
assertion of reckoning

Warrant:
respect, prayers, and thoughts with those who are dead or in sorrow

Backing:
32 dead many others wounded
flags flown at half-staff all over our nation

Rebuttal:
raise our heads to a new day, look towards the future, but not forgetting our loved ones lost