| | I really love good orators. I love how people can use language in such a beautiful way as to calm an angry mob, or perhaps even move the most reserved of people to the cry out for action.
I came across an article on MSN.com that highlighted ten of America's greatest speeches the got me thinking about how effective communication has changed (read: degraded) over the years, and the power that it has over the masses. Maybe that's a bad statement in an of itself, but think of it as a great example of what I'm talking about.
I would be the first to admit that I am part of this dumbing down of communication. Back in the day when communication was slower, people took the time to compose a letter, have long conversations, and even read (gasp!). Mastery of the English language was an important skill that has fallen by the wayside in the time of e-mail, instant messaging, cell phones, and text messages. We no longer spend the time to read or listen to great speeches, sermons or lectures. Instead we want to have someone cut out the good parts for us, and feed us sound bites for news stories and slogans telling us to "Just do it." Can this be remedied, or is it already too late?
These days I find myself wishing that I had spent more time reading and just taking it slow, but then I just keep on trudging along at full speed until a collapse into a heap and struggle to try and rest. Is it possible? Yes. Do I think I can do it? Maybe, but probably not.
I don't really know where I'm going with this whole thing. I so inadequate at expressing myself at times, often hoping that my being verbose will make up for my lack of cohesiveness or direction. I feel like what Edward Everett--the orator who spoke before Lincoln at Gettysburg--must have felt when he wrote to Lincoln, 'I wish that I could flatter myself that I had come as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes.'"
Maybe someone more eloquent and thoughtful can come up with something that makes more sense, but for now my stream of consciousness writing will have to suffice...
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| | Posted 8/28/2008 1:37 PM - 45 Views - 0 eProps - 1 Comment
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