Has there ever been a greater speech?

[drjoek]

Today marks the 145 Anniversary of Lincoln's Gettysburg address.

Has there ever been a greater speech? What would it be?


Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
http://www.medalofhonor.com/civilwar/gettysburg_address.jpg
This is claimed to be an actually picture of Lincoln after the speech. The photographer assuming Lincoln would speak for quite some time didn't rush to take the picture and Lincoln was done in 2 minutes. It is said Lincoln did not think it was a great speech but has gone on to be revered.

[topless_mike]

lincoln was the fucking man.

[KingGeno]

These kind of things makes me wish that technology advanced much further earlier. Would be great to listen to it, and listen to the reactions.

[Furtherman]

Yea, it's a great speech, but unfortunately no one is sure if it is the exact speech that Lincoln actually said. There is only a few surviving manuscripts and they're all different. Also newspaper reports of the day are also have varied reports.

But the gist of the speech is a good one.

But I'd say the one speech that not only inspired people but has the physical proof that shit got done was JFK's challenge to the American people to put a man on the moon in 10 years. Considering he was just screwed up the Pay of Pigs, I'd imagine the country's morale wasn't exactly high. So a challenge was presented, and a challenge was met.

"I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth."
— Pres. Kennedy, May 25, 1961

What other speech delivered on its promises?

[Hottub]

His address before congress announcing imancipation FTW. (http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/congress.htm)

[Knowledged_one]

Al pacino in any given sunday
mel gibson in braveheart

[KingGeno]

What other speech delivered on its promises?

That's true. I just watched that Discovery special When We Left Earth a few months ago, and that speech by John Kennedy kicked there ass all over the place. I can't even imagine what the work atmosphere was like for those years.

[Zorro]

lincoln was the fucking man.

The George W of his day..."Mission Accomplished!"

[Recyclerz]

Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address (http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres32.html)


Pericles' Funeral Oration (http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GREECE/PERICLES.HTM)

These are two that served as models for those that followed.

Or at least that's what they told me in school.

[EddieMoscone]

Chicago should be proud of their native son.

[TjM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F36WaBvpLms

[El Mudo]

Chicago should be proud of their native son.


Lincoln was born in Kentucky and lived in Springfield

The ironic thing is, the Press HAAATED the speech, to the point where one paper called it "silly, flat, dishwatery utterances". The main attraction of the day was orator Edward Everett, who spoke for something like 3 hours, and who (rightfully) claimed that Lincoln had said more in 2 minutes that he had in over 3 hours

The second paragraph is always what gets me:

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

If Patrice ever wondered what the price white people paid for slavery was, he need look no further

http://www.worldofstock.com/slides/PHI1475.jpg

http://www.rhythmontherock.com/images/GettNatCemWEB.jpg

http://www.rhythmontherock.com/images/Union_dead_at_Gettysburg.jpg

[Recyclerz]

Let's not forget this one.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PbUtL_0vAJk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PbUtL_0vAJk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

If Patrice ever wondered what the price white people paid for slavery was, he need look no further

Nicely put.

[Zorro]

Chicago should be proud of their native son.

R. Kelley ?

[Freakshow]

I just drank two bottles of tequila, my wife doesn't know I'm here. Any of you girls over 18?"

- Duke Phillips

[EliSnow]

I don't know guys. When W told me that OB/GYNs nationwide are being stopped from loving their patients, I was certainly moved.

[TheMojoPin]

If Patrice ever wondered what the price white people paid for slavery was, he need look no further

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/exploration/resources/rainsplash_drop_800.jpg

http://www.byrneunit.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/bucket1.jpg

[EddieMoscone]

Lincoln was born in Kentucky and lived in Springfield



Yes I know, I was calling back to the 50 States of Confusion from Sunday Night. Illinois claiming 3 presidents even though Lincoln was from Kentucky.

Obviously I should have said Illinois instead of Chicago...

[suggums]

there has been a greater speech

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oRGUqd_M6Mg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oRGUqd_M6Mg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[KC2OSO]

R. Kelley ?
Peter Cetera?

[jennysmurf]

Let's not forget this one.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PbUtL_0vAJk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PbUtL_0vAJk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>



Nicely put.

"I Have a Dream" always gives me goosebumps. He was a master orator.

[Enabler]

The speech Fez's "family friend" gave at the 50th Anniversary party deserves mention. Though he may have had a speech writer...

[drjoek]

Bluto Blutarsky. Over? Nothing is over until we say it is......

[scottinnj]

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

That is what gets me everytime, that this man knew how futile words or gestures could make greater the tragedy of Gettysburg.

I thought of the Gettysburg Address when Ronnie was talking about Guiliani making 15 million off speeches he's given about 9/11. But with all that money, not much can add to the fact of what we lost as a nation that day.

9/11 aside, Gettysburg was the pivotal point in the Civil War, and the cost to swing it to the Union side was enormous, and if you ever visit the place, I highly recommend going to the field where Pickett's charge took place and picture that covered in Confederate dead-they may have been the "bad guys" but they were Americans, and it took killing a shitload of them to preserve our way of life.

And I hope we never reach that point again. It would shatter this country to unrecoverable levels, and the world would lose it's hope in humanity and follow us down the rabbit hole to insanity.

[razorboy]

Let's not forget this one.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PbUtL_0vAJk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PbUtL_0vAJk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>


I would certainly say that is the one that instantly comes to mind, and the one that I find most moving. Couple that with Dylan doing Only a Pawn in Their Game at the podium and I almost always get welled up.

[mendyweiss]

http://www.cadillacnews.com/ww/news/photos/2008/10814.jpg

I Didn't Hear You Right Sarah,

A Darkie Was Elected WHAT ? !!!!

[scottinnj]

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o217/themarshal/LincolnHappy.jpg

[TheMojoPin]

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cRj01LShXN8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cRj01LShXN8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[underdog]

It's probably not on the same level and may just be because I watched it live, but Obama's acceptance speech was fucking amazing.

[A.J.]

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0u7qswjJEA4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0u7qswjJEA4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[AKA]

It's probably not on the same level and may just be because I watched it live, but Obama's acceptance speech was fucking amazing.

It will all depend on what history will gleen from these times. If Obama's presidency has an impact, certainly there are instances leadnig up that people will point to...

Obama's Iowa Caucus Victory Speech (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqoFwZUp5vc)

Obama Concedes New Hampshire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkWdOa2ypYg) I also loved

"A More Perfect Union" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU) - the one that I think will be remembred by the history books is his bold speech on race (and Rev. Wright) that he gave in Phily

"We the people, in order to form a more perfect union." Two hundred and twenty one years ago, in a hall that still stands across the street, a group of men gathered and, with these simple words, launched America's improbable experiment in democracy. Farmers and scholars; statesmen and patriots who had traveled across an ocean to escape tyranny and persecution finally made real their declaration of independence at a Philadelphia convention that lasted through the spring of 1787.

This time we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and fight together, and bleed together under the same proud flag. We want to talk about how to bring them home from a war that never should've been authorized and never should've been waged, and we want to talk about how we'll show our patriotism by caring for them, and their families, and giving them the benefits they have earned.

I would not be running for President if I didn't believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country. This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation - the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.

Home run.

[joethebartender]

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying this is in the same league as Lincoln's, Dr. King's, or Kennedy's but it's a great one:

NUMBER ONE SPEECH


"Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.

"There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game, and that's first place. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don't ever want to finish second again. There is a second place bowl game, but it is a game for losers played by losers. It is and always has been an American zeal to be first in anything we do, and to win, and to win, and to win.

"Every time a football player goes to play his trade he's got to play from the ground up - from the soles of his feet right up to his head. Every inch of him has to play. Some guys play with their heads. That's O.K. You've got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more importantly, you've got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you're lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second.

"Running a football team is no different than running any other kind of organization - an army, a political party or a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win - to beat the other guy. Maybe that sounds hard or cruel. I don't think it is.

"It is a reality of life that men are competitive and the most competitive games draw the most competitive men. That's why they are there - to compete. To know the rules and objectives when they get in the game. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules - but to win.

"And in truth, I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat.

"I don't say these things because I believe in the 'brute' nature of man or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man's finest hour - his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear - is that moment when he has to work his heart out in a good cause and he's exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."

--Vince Lombardi

[Furtherman]

<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/d6wRkzCW5qI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/d6wRkzCW5qI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>

[NewYorkDragons80]

Did Lincoln go to work today?

[Furtherman]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WibmcsEGLKo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>