The Right Words

Few among the leaders of any country posses the antique skill of oratory. Few politicians or businessmen drive policy and the future through the strength of their performance behind the rostrum. But when a leader comes forward who can move people with words, who can turn the malcontent into supporters, give the saddened new hope, or put the strength of righteousness into believers, that leader rises to the top.

However, there is no guarantee that any great orator will use the skill for good. The world is not as simple as fiction or pundits would make it, and there is no easy slogan to drive popular opinion in the right way. With the amount of information available to any person with access to the internet, no politician can get away with saying things that are completely unsubstantiated for long. On the other hand, with the amount of information available, a politician who can give people shivers down their spines with the first syllable can get away with saying almost anything.

Evoking the emotions of a nation through oratory raises the stakes on issues both mundane and MAD. It is easy to repeat and whitewash small details into news fiascoes, drawing attention from what matters. The tools of any leader are greatly enhanced by the ability to stand and look a crowd and a camera in the eye and give them something in which they can believe. However, an orator is responsible for the effects of his or her words, and must be careful to use only The Right Words

“There is nothing in the world like a persuasive speech to fuddle the mental apparatus and upset the convictions and debauch the emotions of an audience not practiced in the tricks and delusions of oratory”

Mark Twain