Churchill used to start speaking in the morning, and did not end until late at night (yet his most famous and enduring: “Never ever ever give up” speech stays with us).
Wesley was known to bring down the house (or the tent) with fire and brimstone sermons.
And of course, I have a dream.
It might seem long ago, but not too distant a past. Cuba remained frozen in time, at least, when Robert Redford in Havana was still good-looking.
Those American-made automobiles, which cost twice as a house down there.
You may think the State of the Union addresses are long. Not long enough. Each important issue got barely a paragraph.
We hear a few speeches a year, often right before meals (so make it short).
Soon, it will be a lost art of orator.
Yet speeches have inspired people through the centuries. Great speeches were delivered by great leaders.
The essential hallmark of a leader is his/her ability to draft up and deliver a rousing speech, of substance and style.
Ask not.
Yes, there are all kinds of gadgets now a day to help, from teleprompter to tweeter.
But the burden still lies in the heart and vocal chords of that speaker.
A city on the hill. A thousand points of lights. Yes we can.
I have seen the voice made the man, the clothes that made the man, and now, the gadget that made the man (Facebook and Xiaomi).
People will not sit still (not from morning til night). So you will have to come to them from multiple points, the way Hollywood is now doing with cut-aways, cuts through the chase and just jump-cuts.
Email are too long and burdensome (not to mention “hackable” as in Sony’s). So, just in-mail and tweets.
These blogs have by far, our modern-day substitutes for long winding treaties. They serve their purposes: a digital marking in an era where gadgetry is king and that short attention span is further compressed to its breaking point. Never ever give up though. Ask not. Yes, you can. I still have a dream. Shoot not. Ask question first. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year.
Thang Nguyen 555 