Practice makes Perfect

I believe that public speaking is a fine skill to practice, and what better subject matter, than speeches?  With this noble intent, I set forth!

Ronald Reagan is held in great esteem in the United States, and I believe he loved his country.  And his rhetoric at the Berlin wall, unquestionably, serves as proof, that words can matter.  

But they can’t be meaningless, they must ring true in the ear of the listener.  When President Reagan called for that wall to be torn down, his words not only rang true, many of the listeners must have recognized the same yearning in themselves, that the words expressed!  “Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate.  Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

Inspiring.  Such insights must have required a tremendous understanding of the complex international interests at play, and more importantly, the interests of the people.  I hear those people cheering President Reagan’s statements.  They cheered because they agreed!  They cheered because it was true!  Their roar, proportional to their agreement!

I wish to draw the attention of my fine countrymen who choose to look away from Ukraine, to another insight of Ronald Reagan.  This one, from his remarks made at a ceremony marking the annual observance of captive nations week, on July 19, 1983.

I quote:  


“Today, we speak to all in Eastern Europe who are separated from neighbors and loved ones by an ugly iron curtain. And to every person trapped in tyranny, whether in the Ukraine, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Cuba, or Vietnam, we send our love and support and tell them they are not alone. Our message must be: Your struggle is our struggle, your dream is our dream, and someday, you, too, will be free. As Pope John Paul told his beloved Poles, we are blessed by divine heritage. We are children of God and we cannot be slaves.”


To those who question what interest does the United States have in Ukraine?  I wonder what interest did the United States have in Czechoslovakia at the time?  President Reagan said our struggle IS their struggle.  Their dream IS our dream.  Our interest is in taking responsibility for our fellow human beings.  If the United States can, in any way, be called virtuous, it is only a result of the virtue it creates.  What a magnificent opportunity awaits our great nation!  

So I reiterate his words. I am completely insignificant in relation to the man who originally spoke them, but they ring true to me:  Ukraine, we send our love and support.  You are not alone.  Your struggle is our struggle, your dream is our dream, and someday, you, too, will be free.



When I concluded my speech the solitary young girl before me clapped briefly, quietly, politely.  She then said, “Sir, this is a Wendy’s.”




Please find an audio file of the essay above, in the box below.  The words are always mine.

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