Argument and Advocacy: Cesar Chavez Balloon Debate - COMM 3572

This assignment presents arguments for a balloon debate centered on Cesar Chavez, advocating for his survival based on his significant historical legacy. It highlights his lifelong fight for justice, especially for minority groups and farm workers. The arguments cover his establishment of the National Farm Workers Association, his efforts to improve migrant camps, his advocacy for agricultural workers' rights, and his broader impact on American society and politics. The assignment emphasizes Chavez's principles of persistence, sacrifice, faith, and hard work, illustrating his enduring legacy as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for positive change, inspiring future generations to fight against discrimination and inequality. The document includes references to support the claims made in the arguments.

Running Head: BALLOON DEBATE ARGUMENTS 1
Balloon Debate Arguments
Name
Tutor
Institution
Date of Submission

BALLOON DEBATE ARGUMENT 2
Balloon Debate Arguments
Cesar Chavez (“Famous civil & human right activist”)
Proposition: Cesar Chavez should survive in the balloon because of his important historical
legacy
Argument #1:
Claim: As a Mexican-American boy originating from a poor family faced with harsh injustice,
Cesar dedicated his life to fighting for justice especially for the minority groups.
Evidence: He faced hostile racism in grammar school where the teachers and students used
English whereas he knew only Spanish.
Evidence Source: This according to the rhetorical career of César Chávez, 2003.
Significance of this point, connection to the proposition: Though he never joined high school,
he became a lover of books such as cooperatives, unions, and philosophy (Hammerback &
Jensen, 2003) that influenced his actions throughout his life.
Argument # 2.
Claim: As a farm worker from the age of 10, he understood the challenges that were facing farm
workers very well.
Evidence: He helped his parents in the farm at a tender age.
Evidence Source: According to the rhetorical career of César Chávez, 2003.
Significance of this point, connection to the proposition: He knew the difficulties they faced,
hence bowed to dedicate his entire life in improving the working conditions, pay, and treatment
of farm workers (Hammerback & Jensen, 2003).
Argument #3.

BALLOON DEBATE ARGUMENT 3
Claim: As he fought for economic and racial discrimination, in 1962, he led to the establishment
of the National Farm Workers Association.
Evidence: He co-founded the union with Dolores Huerta
Evidence Source: According to Shaw, (2010) in Beyond the Fields.
Significance of this point, connection to the proposition: It operated under principles of non-
violence thereby bringing to attention the plight of workers.
Argument #4.
Claim: Cesar fought not only to end racism and provide farm workers with better life, but also
improving the migrant camps.
Evidence: Cesar and his family became migrants after their land was taken away from them
(Hammerback & Jensen, 2003).
Evidence Source: The rhetorical career of César Chávez, 2003.
Significance of this point, connection to the proposition: The injustice he saw and the life at
the camp made him fight for the migrants tirelessly.
Argument #5.
Claim: He fought for the legislation of the Bill of Rights for agriculture workers.
Evidence: Cesar organized several boycotts and strikes (Shaw, 2010).
Evidence Source: Beyond the Fields, 2010.
Significance of this point, connection to the proposition: This saw the employers and
government respect the rights of farm workers.
Argument #6.
Claim: His love to protect his people extended past the farm workers to the whole nation of the
United States.

BALLOON DEBATE ARGUMENT 4
Evidence: Cesar joined the US army when he was 19 years.
Evidence Source: The rhetorical career of César Chávez, 2003
Significance of this point, connection to the proposition: This was in the fulfillment of his
passion for fighting for freedom and protecting the people (Hammerback & Jensen, 2003).
Argument #7.
Claim: Cesar influence was not based in agriculture only, but also in politics
Evidence: Cesar and his colleague, Fred Ross, taught people the importance of voting as well as
how to vote.
Evidence Source: Pawel, (2014) in his writing on the crusades of Cesar Chavez
Significance of this point, connection to the proposition: Therefore, they got the attention of
the community leaders who helped them solve the problems they were facing.
Argument #8.
Claim: Cesar was a beacon of hope for all the people of United States.
Evidence: He taught people the significance of persistence, sacrifice, faith, and hard work.
Evidence Source: Pawel, (2014) on the crusades of Cesar Chavez
Significance of this point, connection to the proposition: Through these principles, he brought
justice to the people in the long-run.
Argument #9.
Claim: Though Cesar died many years ago (1993), his legacy still remains to date.
Evidence: He fought for people while despising his life and fasted for many days (Jensen,
Burkholder, & Hammerback, 2003).
Evidence Source: According to a 2003 report, Cesar was referred as a martyr for a just cause

BALLOON DEBATE ARGUMENT 5
Significance of this point, connection to the proposition: He showed characters of a true hero
that leaders of the current century can borrow.
Argument #10.
Claim: Though Cesar came from a poor background and the minority groups, he showed that we
can raise above our limitations to bring a positive change in the world.
Evidence: Cesar rose from the field and brought revolution in the entire region of the United
States.
Evidence Source: Shaw, (2010) in Beyond the Fields
Significance of this point, connection to the proposition: As such, people are motivated to
raise their voice whenever discriminated. He showed that fighting for justice and equality is not
in vain.

BALLOON DEBATE ARGUMENT 6
References
Hammerback, J. C., & Jensen, R. J. (2003). The rhetorical career of César Chávez. Texas A&M
University Press.
Jensen, R. J., Burkholder, T. R., & Hammerback, J. C. (2003). Martyrs for a just cause: The
eulogies of Cesar Chavez. Western Journal of Communication (includes Communication
Reports), 67(4), 335-356.
Pawel, M. (2014). The crusades of Cesar Chavez: A biography. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.
Shaw, R. (2010). Beyond the Fields: Cesar Chavez, the UFW, and the Struggle for Justice in the
21st Century. Univ of California Press.