What political speech(es) inspire you the most?

[Guest Cerebus]

Not exactly a current event, but since we're always talking about politics in here, I thought it appropriate.

 

So which speeches and/or essays have you heard/read that you feel transcend partisan politics, or always instill pride in your country no matter how many times you read/hear them?

 

One of mine is Barbara Jordan's statement on the Articles of Impeachment against Richard Nixon (which is actually quoted in my sig). Here are my favorite parts:

 

Earlier today, we heard the beginning of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States, "We, the people". It's a very eloquent beginning. But when that document was completed, on the seventeenth of September in 1787, I was not included in that "We, the people". I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation, and court decision, I have finally been included in "We, the people".

 

Today I am an inquisitor. An hyperbole would not be fictional and would not overstate the solemnness that I feel right now. My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total. And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of the Constitution.

...

Common sense would be revolted if we engaged upon this process for petty reasons. Congress has a lot to do: Appropriation, Tax Reform, Health Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, Housing, Environmental Protection, Energy Sufficiency, Mass Transportation. Pettiness cannot be allowed to stand in the face of such overwhelming problems. So today we are not being petty. We are trying to be big because the task we have before us is a big one.

...

If the impeachment provision in the Constitution of the United States will not reach the offenses charged here, then perhaps that 18th century Constitution should be abandoned to a 20th century paper shredder.

 

Has the president committed offenses, and planned, and directed, and acquiesced in a course of conduct which the Constitution will not tolerate? That's the question. We know that. We know the question. We should now forthwith proceed to answer the question. It is reason, and not passion, which must guide our deliberations, guide our debate, and guide our decision.

 

Another essay that I read countless times in college when writing poli sci essays was Orwell's Politics and the English Language:

 

A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.

...

The word Fascism has now no meaning except in so far as it signifies "something not desirable." The words democracy, socialism, freedom, patriotic, realistic, justice have each of them several different meanings which cannot be reconciled with one another. In the case of a word like democracy, not only is there no agreed definition, but the attempt to make one is resisted from all sides. It is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it: consequently the defenders of every kind of regime claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might have to stop using that word if it were tied down to any one meaning. Words of this kind are often used in a consciously dishonest way. That is, the person who uses them has his own private definition, but allows his hearer to think he means something quite different.

...

In our time it is broadly true that political writing is bad writing. Where it is not true, it will generally be found that the writer is some kind of rebel, expressing his private opinions and not a "party line." Orthodoxy, of whatever color, seems to demand a lifeless, imitative style.

...

When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink. In our age there is no such thing as "keeping out of politics." All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred, and schizophrenia. When the general atmosphere is bad, language must suffer.

[Guest thebigjig]

Barack Obama's speech at the 2004 DNC. I've never felt that inspired by a politician... ever.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Paul Martin's address to the nation last night motivated me....to vote for the Conservatives.

[Highland 0]

Paul Martin's address to the nation last night motivated me....to vote for the Conservatives.

 

I don't think that's what Cerebus had in mind about inspirational speeches....

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

MikeSC's "cult of death" number for me.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

I liked that Cancer Marney speech about how the Republicans were going to milk Reagan's death for every ounce of money or sympathy it could get them, and how Ronnie would be seen smiling at them from the clouds for doing it.

 

Perhaps it wasn't greatly inspiring, but it certainly was honest.

[2GOLD 0]

Bill Pullman in Independence Day

Since real politicians do nothing for me.

 

Although I gotta admit, the Gettysburg Address sounds like it would have been one awesome speech to hear live.

[Vern Gagne 0]

That wasn't really a politicial speech, and many historians say with Lincoln's high voice and no mics at the time, the speech had to be repeated to audience members far from the stage, by another person.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Just about anything I say.

 

The first thing that came to my mind was Tony Blair addressing Parliment shortly after 9-11. I even started a thread about it that nobody responded to...

[Perfxion 0]

MLK - I have a dream. That speech is the best one I have ever heard.

[Guest Brian]

MLK's delivered better speeches IMO. That's just such a great soundbyte.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

That last snippet of the Orwell stuff, seemed to have sentences that don't relate to each other. They still make sense, but the first sentence and the rest of what he said don't really connect. I am probably missing something however. I really liked the other stuff though.

 

Pick one from any of these: http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/....cfm?pageid=389

 

Churchill was the man.

[LessonInMachismo 0]

Just about anything I say.

 

The first thing that came to my mind was Tony Blair addressing Parliment shortly after 9-11. I even started a thread about it that nobody responded to...

The guy from The Beltway Boys -- not Mort, the other one -- brings that speech up at least once a month, and tears always come to his eyes. Mort teases him about it.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

First Speech as Prime Minister

May 13, 1940

to House of Commons

 

"We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, "come then, let us go forward together with our united strength."

 

Just gives you an idea of what exactly was going on and the chaos of the times when he first became Prime Minister, and the immediate challenge presented to his people.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

The guy from The Beltway Boys -- not Mort, the other one -- brings that speech up at least once a month, and tears always come to his eyes. Mort teases him about it.

Fred Barnes, who always sits with the crossed arms.

 

And what are you talking about?...

[LessonInMachismo 0]

And what are you talking about?...

Blair's speech. Fred liked it. A lot.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

MLK - I have a dream. That speech is the best one I have ever heard.

Forget political speeches. Regardless of political orientation, that's the greatest words I've ever heard, and I think we can pretty well all agree on that.

 

The first thing that came to my mind was Tony Blair addressing Parliment shortly after 9-11. I even started a thread about it that nobody responded to...

 

That speech got a round of appluase from a crowd as cynical as my high school. I'm not kidding. Even though the speech was from a Buffalo news station, broadcast on a video screen in our auditorium( that I honestly called the Titan Tron), a bunch of grade niners who'd been making out through the whole thing started clapping. A good speech indeed, even if I hate Blair.