On communication, professional and otherwise.
by David Murray // 1 Comment
Boringly, citizens of the world object to the U.S. president's provincial but politically mandatory speech-closing prayer, "May God bless the United States of America."
Here's how the Dalai Lama closed out a March 10 speech in Dharamsala, India:
"Finally, I offer prayers for the happiness and well-being of all sentient beings."
He's a Big-Tent Tibetan.
by David Murray // Leave a Comment
Writing Boots’ Hong Kong correspondent, speechwriter Lorne Christensen, alerts us to this speech, given in support of a gay marriage law in Maine, last spring. He calls it “a humble and powerful speech from the heart,” and adds that its genuineness would appeal to people on either side of the gay marriage debate.
As far as I’m concerned, that’s the test all communication has to pass—does it affect (even subtly, even silently) the sworn enemies of the idea it espouses? Or does it only excite those who agreed in the first place?
by David Murray // 14 Comments
Michelle Obama thinks Chicago should get the Olympics because it will help stem the American problem with childhood obesity and inspire the poor people to greatness. As she said in her Copenhagen speech yesterday:
When we're seeing rates of childhood obesity increase, it is so
important for us to raise up the platform of fitness and competition
and fair play; to teach kids to cheer on the victors and empathize with
those in defeat, but most importantly, to recognize that all the hard
work that is required to do something special. …And I just think, wouldn't it be great if
that kind of spirit was happening right down the street in our
community? Just think of that. Kids and communities across the city, in
Austin, kids who grew up in Cabrini, kids who live so far from the
city. Now just imagine if all of that was happening right in their own
backyard. That's what I think about.It does something to a kid when they can
feel that energy and power up close and personal. And for some kids in
our communities and our city, around the nation, around the world, they
can never dream of being that close to such power and opportunity. So
that's what excites me most about bringing the Games to Chicago—the
impact that it can have on the lives of our young people, and on our
entire community.
Oh, really? In America, the problem is that we haven't sufficiently exposed the kids to sports?
Back to the drawing board, Michelle. I can see how people lie lustily and playfully, but to spout such dismal falsehoods as this stuff with a straight face … it's draining just to think about it.