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There was a thread earlier where the subject of the ability of some leaders to make statements that are totaly on the mark and can give inspiration and courage in even the most dire of circumstance or unite us to move mountains came up.
I've been thinking about that this past week and thought I'd start this thread up so people can share some speeches that they think helped us pull through when it was needed.
For myself, I mentioned some speeches I saw when they were first made.
Here's one from Ronald Reagan:
We don't agree on much, but on this you have my full support. I also love:
Churchill wrote:What General Weygand has called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be freed and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands.
But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new dark age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves, that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, This was their finest hour.
I get shivers just reading it. To think that Britain gazed into the abyss. It's barely imaginable.
Lastly, we can't forget:
The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.
And:
You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: 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.
Remember, though, there are two sides to Churchill His speech about the general strike is a black mark against his name.
"Our crops will wither, our children will die piteous
deaths and the sun will be swept from the sky. But is it true?" - Tom Kirby, CEO, Games Workshop Ltd
When we watched Independence Day in the cinema, after the president's speech, there was a lot of whooping and clapping. We thought at first "Wow, the surround sound is really awesome here!" and then we looked across at a big group of americans going crazy. That was the first time I was aware that americans are quite culturally different to us. Though I guess we still applaud when a pilot lands a plane.
I had a Korean student on a date to that movie and by the time the speech was over, she was in full tear mode because, according to her, what he said was so awsome.
