Day to Day Politics: Speaking words that matter.
Monday 17 October 2016
Words crafted with logic and delivered with emotion have throughout history, by their authority, often changed the course of history. In my library I have two books of great speeches. The first is called ”Great Speeches”- words that shaped the world. The second is titled ”Great Australian Speeches”.
They contain the transcripts of many memorable speeches. Speeches by Churchill, John and Robert Kennedy, Obama, Trudeau, Rudd, Keating and the list goes on and on.
Reading them inspires, motivates and reminds us that causes, apologies, confessions, explanations, protests and actions generally start with words.
However, it is in the naked deliverance of words where they have the most impact. When we see and hear the passion of words. Words delivered by people with sincerity and potency. Words that capture an audience. That stir the hearts of an audience. Like Martin Luther Kings ”I have a dream” or Kevin Rudd’s ”Apology” Speeches.
With this in mind I was captivated last week with the anti-sexism speech by Michelle Obama. Here it is:
And so she laid bare her indignation. As a women she was affronted by the possibility that trump could be the next president. Her feelings of moral outrage transcend an election campaign and become a protest against the misogynist sexism of our time.
My thought for the day.
”It is a pity that the written word cannot convey the tone of the spoken one. It has to rely on the skill of the writer”.
25 comments
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Terry2 -
helvityni -
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Michael Taylor -
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Egalitarian -
Harquebus -
Jack Straw -
Michael Taylor -
Harquebus -
Jack Straw -
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Michael Taylor -
Harquebus
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Rossleigh -
Harquebus
Return to home pageI like the Obama’s, they have style and intelligence and both are great public speakers……….and then there’s Donald Trump.
Top couple, Michelle too would make a good President one day. They are a bit like our Whitlams were…
As for the Howards, I remember reading how Jeannette took solace in her washing machine, she turned it on when stressed. Well ,they say cleanliness is next to godliness…..and Johnny listened to Pat Boone….
I don’t know what Lucy does, but I assume Abbott’s girls are busy ironing…that’s the trouble with wearing all white, more washing, more ironing…
Nice one, Lord!!!!
I am a fan of gillard and her speech against the rabbott was great! However, the lack of follow up was lousy because labor is not good at attacking the character flaws of colleagues.
They are not good at senators either pratt replace by homophobic anti-equality bullock and conroy by KK. She will give turnball a focus in the senate. The rabid rabbott style attack will show billy’s mob how to capitalise on ‘innuendo’ and laugh at the Vics.
Certainly, keating’s redfern and whitlam’s ‘men and women of australia’ were great.
But my number 1 is carter’s speech on religion and women.
If Michelle Obama’s words result in a revival of Carter’s words we will be a long way down the path to expose the misogyny of god.
The pen is mightier than the sword and money is mightier than the pen.
“Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world.” — Henry Kissinger.
H’, your comment was removed as that’s the sort of comment that can get us sued. We can’t make claims that someone is a murderer.
Great article, as usual John! You certainly have a way with words & how to make your articles not only newsworthy but also so bloody true! ALL those great speeches you referred to (& probably others also) are so enlightening, & even if said decades ago, are still so relevant today. The great pity today is that a lot of these so-called politicians we have today, could not string proper sentences together in the form of a speech & be as convincing & forthright etc as these “great” speeches are. I also think the Obama’s make a great couple, & yes, I think Michelle Obama would certainly seem a likely Presidential candidate in the future.
Obama for 2020! Obama for 2020!
Michelle would be great, but Barack would be acceptable.
Integrity is one of the most important quality for leaders. Personally I believe Labor has had many great contributors in the past 12 years.
Unfortunately Paul Keating destroyed the fabric of debate in parliament that’s why it’s still so toxic today and Liberals are so full of venom.
So we reap what we sow. Unfortunately those great contributors were naive to the Liberals vicious tactics.Now many of these fine people have left politics and we are now in a worse mess.
Michael.
It wasn’t you making the claim. Can’t you just post the search criteria?
I appreciate it when reasons are given for comment removal. Something that doesn’t happen here very often.
Cheers.
Good old Hyperlink Harquebus is at it again. LOL
H’, we have a number of moderators but I’m not sure some of the others explain why they might have removed or edited a comment. I like to.
John Lord.
Do the authors of those great speeches generally believe in what they are saying or do they just say what we want to hear?
“Scratch an altruist and watch a hypocrite bleed.” — Michael Ghiselin
Michael
As I have stated before, you are a good man.
Barrack Obama ain’t what he appears to be.
Search criteria: obama kill list
And Michelle Obama is a moron.
Search criteria: michelle obama school lunch
Moderator: Edit as required.
Cheers.
Harquebus Can you write an article or piece on your understandings of an issue to be fleshed out by AIMN contributors.It’s all very well to get a comment from The Transylvanian Cemetery Spokesperson on monetarily insights into global warming and fiat currencies. You need to write something that can be explained an understood in your own writings without always going for Hyperlink.
Well said, Jack
H’, some of the moderators prefer to remain anonymous, hence they don’t like to comment. We lost a moderator (Roswell) while I was on leave last January. He found himself the target of one of the most horrible of attacks I’ve yet seen here. He didn’t need that crap so he understandably walked.
Jack Straw
Believe it or not but, there are others who do a better job than I. Hence the hyperlinks.
What I do write I send via email which, theAimn also receives.
Some examples.
Jobs and growth
More Harquebus………
For anyone who wants to be on my list or to contact me, my email address is listed at the bottom of DTM’s links.
Michael
That is a pity.
Keep up the good fight.
“True courage is the path of the spirit-driven activist…the warrior of truth…the status quo crusher.” — Deb Ozarko
Cheers.
Harquebus You are at liberty to have an opinion but I don’t think its your place to tell writers what it is they should be writing about which is what you do with me. I alone choose my own topics thank you. Believe what you want but don’t try to force your opinions on me. I agree with Jack Shaw.
Helvitiny: “I don’t know what Lucy does…”
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/17/luggage-lift-installed-at-the-lodge-cost-83000-before-gst
John Lord.
I don’t recall telling you what to write. Some disagreement I do and plenty of criticism as well.
I also don’t try to force your opinions however, I do try to change them. Fat chance eh?
Only one of us will be forced to face reality and it won’t be me.
BTW: Did you get around to watching Prof. Bartlett’s presentation.
Judging by your last comment, I am still betting that you have not.
Avagoodwun.
Paul, I love having upstairs and downstairs, those stairs keep me fit; also having an active and bossy JR helps, out we go rain or shine.
God is NOT a misogynist ! God is not “a” anything . Small minded men create their own gods and expect us to accept them . If God is Love , as Christianity proclaims , then God must be more female than male , if a gender MUST be assigned to a spiritual being. All such attributes are markers of a small , self promoting immature human.
H. I might be wrong but I think you used the term. ‘You should write about’
Harquebus you wrote: “Only one of us will be forced to face reality and it won’t be me.”
I certainly agree. Nobody would dream of suggesting that you’d ever face reality no matter what!
John Lord
If that be the case then, please accept my apologies.
Please humor me and view Prof. Bartlett’s presentation. I recommend it.
Rossleigh.
When it comes, only then will you learn.
Cheers.