Here’s my list of the great orators of the 21st century:
It’s a short list, to be sure. I almost put Alan Keyes on the list, but I haven’t heard him lately. I was impressed with him during the 2000 presidential campaign season. You may not like his views, but he’s more impressive to listen to than anyone I’ve heard lately.
If you read speeches from our founding fathers and some great people who followed, you should be impressed with their style and command of the English language.
There have been great speakers from the last century. Bill Clinton admits to crying like a baby
when he heard Martin Luther King, jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
This posting was inspired by Tony Woodlief’s posting “The Dividing Line“.
“I’ve been listening to Martin Luther King’s speeches today, and lamenting that the times of great oration have passed for our country. Words are cheaper now, as are most of the men who utter them. Ideas have been displaced by soundbytes. It’s safer to speak that way, I suppose, and the overriding goal of the politician is to win, not to lead.”
"There must be some bits here somewhere."