In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense: and have no other preliminaries to settle with the reader, than that he will divest himself of prejudice and prepossession, and suffer his reason and his feelings to determine for themselves that he will put on, or rather that he will not put off, the true character of a man, and generously enlarge his views beyond the present day. (excerpt from Common Sense by Thomas Paine, 1776).
Not another question…
I grew up across the street from one of the parks in our town. This park was immediately recognizable by a slightly worse for wear statue of Thomas Paine, front and center for all to see. As a young kid, I had no idea who Thomas Paine was or what his statue was doing in the park across the street from my house. Being curious, hence asking questions, was a character trait I exhibited from a very early age. I always had questions – I was surprised (and then disappointed) that many folks had no time to answer my inquiries.
I spent lots of time at the local library. The librarians seemed to anticipate my questions. They were never too busy for my inquiries. Usually, those wonderful lady librarians pointed me in the general direction of resources leading to new information about the topic of my questioning. After I had been led to the general area that housed the information I was seeking, it was up to me to dive into the materials in front of me.
And so I became acquainted with Thomas Paine and then Patrick Henry leading to the discovery of the writings and speeches of this country’s founding elders. There was an urgency and need for precise meaning in the words those architects of our country’s values crafted. Those writers considered the effects of their words. After all, their very lives depended on the impact and the power of their words. They were willing to die to defend their words and their actions. There was noble purpose in their writing and speech-making.
The words those folks crafted had impact, had effect, had the power to convict and to call to arms. The messages those words offered had consequences. Meaningless phrases and empty sentiment were absent.
A Huge Hole in My Education
I do not have many regrets in my life but one oversight or one weakness in my education was learning to write well. No one suggested improving my style, my vocabulary, the possible effect on others as to the meaning of my words when they were heard or read. The writing lessons I had in school were all about assignments – a 500-word essay on sportsmanship or a six-page lab report from my science class describing and defending the reasons for the outcome of my classroom experiments. No one discussed the mechanics of writing.
Even when I got to seminary, writing (as in writing sermons) was left to the practical suggestions of my peers. colleagues, and mentors. Fortunately, in that group were some folks who believed it was their job to comment on my writing – choice of words, syntax, conciseness – on and on. I attended several conferences to learn how to create a meaningful sermon as well as how to deliver that message to an audience who actually intended to listen to my words.
Important Items to Consider…
The other day I read a post from social media. I can’t remember the exact words of that post but I do remember the impact the post had on me. Basically the question posed was: in speaking or writing consider this: 1) are your words the truth, 2) are they kind words, 3) is what you are writing necessary? I would add the following: 4) what is the purpose of what you are writing, (a bit different than point three), 5) have you anticipated and taken into account the response your words might have on diverse readers, and 6) what is the context/the circumstances that have inspired your words?
All this being said, eloquent speech speaks to the common good, to shared values and threats to those shared values. Eloquent speech incites us to stand up and respond with our lives and our scared liberty.
I would like to end this post with some eloquent speech written by Patrick Henry, one of the most outspoken voices of the American Revolution. Consider his choice of words and his message. This is eloquent speech, speech befitting the gravity of revolution.
“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.”
“The eternal difference between right and wrong does not fluctuate, it is immutable.”
“For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and to provide for it.”
“The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I am not a Virginian but an American.”
“When the American Spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different; Liberty sir, was then the primary object.”
And so, may you write and speak eloquent, honest, and inspiring thoughts that create a climate of unity among the people and repair the things that have gone asunder.
As always, I could be wrong.