Most often here I like to ferret out
speeches you might not see elsewhere, examples of good (and
not-so-good) speechwriting to move us all forward. But every now and
then I run across a speech that someone else has found that just begs
for more attention. Such is the case with a speech by Craig Barnes, who
is alternately described as an author, playwright, essayist, trial
lawyer and negotiator.
I first read his speech – A Second American Revolution – in the February issue of Vital Speeches. So a tip-of-the-hat to Editor Tom Daly for alerting us to it. It's a post-election speech subtitled: Good Men and Desperate Times are Ripe for Change.
Simply put, this is one of the best speeches I’ve read in some time.
What makes it so good? A lot of stuff done right.
- He begins with a story – which sets the tone and flows into the thesis
- He gives a solid structure – a classic 1, 2, 3 structure that’s tailored for the audience to follow
- There's ample use of anecdotes, quotes and research – I am tempted to say they were spread throughout the speech but it’s more like they’re sewn into the speech and help tie it together. These help keep it interesting.
- Barnes relies on a variety of source material – Perhaps because of his diverse background, Barnes pulls on poets, current commentators and pundits, Adam Smith, Genesis, historical references, Winston Churchill, Greek philosophy and more.
- His arguments are sound - stated plainly and solidly supported without being too heavy.
- His use of rhetorical devices is great.
- The language is fresh, imaginative and engaging – “To say it another way, for thirty years at least, we have been guided by myths that greed is good, strength comes from guns, and the world is divided between good and evil. These metaphors are not dead, but at the end of 2008, they are gasping, writhing on the ground.”
There’s more, but you get the picture.
This is a speech to make you think, to question your assumptions and to engage your intellect. On top of that, it's also entertaining. I imagine it would have been a knock-out with the audience.
Check it out when you have a good 25-30 minutes to read through it. If you have more time, keep perusing his website for other commentary and speeches. It’s time well spent.
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