Words that inspire are still all around

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Having the ability to inspire an audience is an ability that I have always admired. Over the years, I have heard many outstanding men and women speak in a way that both informed and inspired those in attendance.

It's a talent I don't have, but one I have worked hard on. I have studied outstanding speakers and performances over the years. We've all heard and seen, either in person or in the media, these individuals from time to time.

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I have a collection of some of the best known speeches of the past 100 years. Recently, I watched films of memorable presidential political speeches at the Richard M. Nixon Library in Southern California.

Most memorable speeches that we recall are ones that celebrities or political figures have delivered, and they are the ones which people in the media most usually replay.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's declaration of war Against Japan, baseball great Lou Gehrig's farewell to baseball, or Dr. Martin Luther King's address to civil rights marchers in Washington, D.C. are but three of them. Others also come to mind. It may not have been a speech, but a short comment that had a profound affect, even if not widely acclaimed.

Mother Teresa was the one person in my life who most often impressed me with her insightful and inspiring comments. Otherwise I have to admit that I haven't been overly impressed with the eloquence of too many celebrities or public figures recently.

Teleprompter speeches written by public relations experts don't impress me very much. I understand that this new way of communicating is here to stay, but it's a sad and unfortunate vehicle in which to educate and convince people, in my opinion.

Nevertheless, the ability to connect with people at the grass roots level is not entirely a thing of the past - even though the acceptances speeches at the recent Emmy television awards event in Hollywood would give the audience that impression.

The winners forgot that the event was about the audience, not about them. This is the same arrogant way in which politicians have allowed themselves to be depicted. Meaningless shallow promises and partisan sound bites have intruded into a once noble profession.

In former times, when it was announced that the president would address the nation, it was an occasion when every American felt an obligation to listen.

It's still just as important today, but, unfortunately, very few listen. Instead, insignificant partisan rants from the media substitute for well thought out political and policy analysis. We are told that this is what the people want. I don't believe that this is true at all.

On a recent weekend I again saw the greatness of the people of our country. I saw thousands of people come together in support of the fight against cancer. They walked, chanted and yes, some even cried, but none of them were giving up.

The walkers returned to back yards, like the one I went to in Milton and there listened to Mike Reynolds play and sing great Irish music. Everyone was in this fight together, and it showed.

On the Sunday, we attended the annual Vietnam veterans memorial Mass and dedication in South Boston. We heard U.S. Senator Jim Webb of Virginia, a decorated war hero, Medal of Honor recipients, veterans and neighbors pay tribute to those 25 South Boston men who gave their lives for our country. It was a moving patriotic and civic event.

But getting back to my earlier comment about the ability and importance of communicating. Let me briefly tell you about another equally inspiring event which I witnessed.

At the memorial Mass at St. Brigid's church in South Boston for our deceased Vietnam veterans, Fr. Robert Casey delivered one of those truly memorable sermons when he tied in the sacrifices and generosity of Jesus Christ to the sacrifices of our veterans. Former U.S. Secretary of the Navy Webb also commented on how he was moved by Fr. Casey's comments.

FDR, MLG, Gehrig; maybe Fr. Casey's name won't be in the history books along with them, but it will be for sure in the hearts and minds of all those present at that Mass.

As Irish tenor John McDermott ended the beautiful ceremony by singing "God Bless America," I thought to myself that Fr. Casey's inspiring homily about God's love for all of us, as proclaimed in the gospel, just like our fallen veterans, won't soon be forgotten and will continue to inspire individuals and audiences everywhere.

 

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