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.
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