ARTICLES TO BUILD YOUR POLITICAL STRATEGIES & SKILLS
Presentation Types
Elements of a Great Patriotic Speech
For political folk, the patriotic speech is your chance to get above the hurly burly of party politics and paint the vision that convinced you to run for office in the first place.
Wave the flag or banner speeches belong to that category of
presentation which features a mood: love of country, love of cause,
love of life as we are living it. This is not the time for a heavy
history lesson.
Here are some quick to do's and not to do's to help you impart your vision whether you are giving an
'impromptu' speech at the family picnic or addressing thousands at an
official event:
THE ELEMENTS
- Be
brief.
Not only are most of these presentations at festive occasions; but many times, the audience is standing. Your brevity will be welcomed.
Even if this is a solemn occasion such as a memorial service, a short, tightly woven piece of emotion-evoking prose will have a far greater impact. than a lengthy tome.
- Skip
the humor/humour
This is not the time for knee slapping jokes. Only use humor to counterpoint a heavily emotional point, and, then make it subtle.
(see positive quotes on patriotism and serving your community at http://www.quotegarden.com/patriotism.html ).
- Skip
the training component
Even though most experts agree that we are all sadly lacking in the knowledge of our history, any attempt to slide in more than one fact will probably be rejected by most of the audience.
- Be
emotive
Let your listeners know that you really care, for your country, and, in today's context, for the world. Perhaps, you can utilize Italian nationalist, Giuseppe Mazzini's thought provoking quote, "God has given you your country as cradle, and humanity as your mother; you cannot rightly love your brethren of the cradle if you love not the common mother."
If this type of quote sits a little heavy on the potato salad, put into your own words just what living in your community and country means to you and your family.
- Be
eloquent
This is the time for flowery phrases and flowing rhetoric. You want to evoke a feeling of sentimentality and of pride. You can even get a bit sappy in the "care, share, and dare" genre. If you can get them reaching for their hankies, you have done your job.
For those of you who are far from home, it is especially appropriate to wax sentimental about 'home'.
- Leave
the audience inspired to 'keep the faith'
The most significant aspect of any patriotic speech is the 'call to action'. It may be as simple as "Kiss your kid" or, as deep as "Remember the fallen". In most cases, however, it should stress the need for vigilance to protect what we have and the need to correct those areas which detract from quality of life of our communities.
Much of that peace and security has evolved because of the ideas of great thinkers expressed in writing or in speeches which has led to movements and legislation to advance the cause of entire communities. We hope that our SpeechGems suggestions, in some small way, help you do the same.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine.
I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.
When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image.
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