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but make the statement with a rising tone, and it sounds like a question..and as a question, its less assertive, (less threating to the what they beleive to be the established powers that they must obey?--its becomes a way of looking for approval.) it reflects insecurity on the part of the speaker.



Well that's one interpretation of why a rising inflection is sometimes used. Another theory that I have read is that it is a way to assess the attention of the listener. The rising tone invites an interjected "uh-huh" or some other sign of attention. So in a way the rising tone is asking a question, one which is separate from the "plaintext" of the speech: are you listening?