Barack
Obama is considered one of the world’s best speakers, alongside Les Brown and
Bill Clinton. But, what makes him such a great speaker? Confidence? Maybe. What
makes him such a great speaker is what he does when he speaks, the message
behind his words, and how he is an inspiration to people around the globe. And
he showed the world, then again, at the United Nations General Assembly.
When
he delivers a speech, we can always hear, and see the basic components of
public speaking: clear enunciation, eye contact with the audience, memorized
speech, pausing between phrases and words for a natural effect, uses different
tones in his voice to avoid sounding monotone, uses hand gestures when needed,
and so forth. These are the basic steps to becoming a good public speaker. But
what makes him a better speaker than
others? Is it how he delivers the speech? Or he can fit in a slight sense of
humor? Is it the language he uses? Actually, it’s all three. When we compare
the transcript [of the speech] to what he delivers, it is clear that the
transcript and the delivery are not the same thing. Also, Obama has the power
to capture and keep the audience’s attention. Also, he uses words that are
powerful and have meaning.
Obama
centers speech around America, and the Middle East. He admires and is inspired
by what they have accomplished, by working together. The Middle East –Tunisia,
Egypt, Libya, etc. - used to be a land of chaos, there are countries that used
to be ruled by dictators, clinging on to their positions, desperate for power. The
USA helped some of these countries move forward from that time, showed them how
violence is never the answer to their problems, and most importantly, helped
them accomplish peace in a matter of time, a notion that they could not
accomplish in a decade. He wants a world where “people can resolve their differences peacefully; that diplomacy
can take the place of war; and that in an interdependent world, all of us have
a stake in working towards greater opportunity and security for our citizens”, or where “individuals should be
free to determine their own destiny, and live with liberty, dignity, justice,
and opportunity”. He wants a world where
people could their voices heard, insisting on their innate dignity, and the
right to determine their future. Most importantly, he wants a world where countries
are working TOGETHER, not against each other.
Obama,
while having admirers himself, he doesn’t hesitate to look up and accept the
advice of others. Even though he doesn’t speak much of Gandhi in the speech, he spreads his words of advice to others: “Intolerance is itself a form of violence
and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.” It may not be as
clear as his other inspirations, but when listen closely to what his words
represent, we come to understand that Obama truly admires many people: the citizens
of countries in the Middle East, the American citizens that risk their lives to
help the people in the Middle East, and just people in general, because if they
try, they can create miracles. Even the everyday, ordinary person can be
admired for what they has done. Chris Stevens was “born in a town called Grass Valley, California, the son of a
lawyer and a musician. As a young man, Chris joined the Peace Corps, and taught
English in Morocco. He came to love and respect the people of North Africa and
the Middle East, and he would carry that commitment throughout his life. As a
diplomat, he worked from Egypt to Syria; from Saudi Arabia to Libya. He was
known for walking the streets of the cities where he worked – tasting the local
food, meeting as many people as he could, speaking Arabic and listening with a
broad smile.
Chris went to Benghazi
in the early days of the Libyan revolution, arriving on a cargo ship. As
America’s representative, he helped the Libyan people as they coped with
violent conflict, cared for the wounded, and crafted a vision for a future in
which the rights of all Libyans would be respected. After the revolution, he
supported the birth of a new democracy, as Libyans held elections, built new
institutions, and began to move forward after decades of dictatorship.
Chris Stevens loved his
work. He took pride in the country he served, and saw dignity in the people he
met. Two weeks ago, he travelled to Benghazi to review plans to establish a new
cultural center and modernize a hospital. That’s when America’s compound came
under attack. Along with three of his colleagues, Chris was killed in the city
he helped to save. He was 52 years old.
I tell you this story
because Chris Stevens embodied the best of America. Like his fellow Foreign
Service officers, he built bridges across oceans and cultures, and was deeply
invested in the international cooperation that the United Nations represents.
He acted with humility, but stood up for a set of principles – a belief that
individuals should be free to determine their own destiny, and live with
liberty, dignity, justice, and opportunity.”
Like I
mentioned before, he does present lessons that we can all learn. For example understands
that not everyone supports him, and that there are going to be people that
discourage his views on the future of the world, of the USA, of international
economics, and most importantly, world peace. “I accept that people are going to call me awful
things every day, and I will always defend their right to do so. Americans have
fought and died around the globe to protect the right of all people to express
their views – even views that we disagree with.”
Barack
Obama has proved to the world that is doesn’t matter what colour your skin is,
or what kind of childhood you grew up with. But what matters is what you can do
to change it and the effect you have on the world.
