Ali Defends His Decision Not to Participate in Military Draft Induction

Keys to success in public speaking

The first key

"Elizabeth" (1998)

Video 1a

Queen Elizabeth Addresses Rival Clergy on a Unified Church of England

Elizabeth: If there is no uniformity of religious belief here, then there can only be fragmentation, disputes, and quarrels. Surely, my lords, it is better to have a single Church of England. A single Church of England, with a commonprayer book, and a common purpose. I ask you to pass this Act of Uniformity not for myself, but for my people, who are my only care.

Clergyman 1: Madam, by this Act, by this Act you force us to relinquish our allegiance to the Holy Father.

Elizabeth: How can I force you, Your Grace? I am a woman I have no desire to make windows into men's souls. I simply ask, can any man, in truth, serve two masters and be faithful to both?

Clergyman 2: Madam, this, this is heresy!

Clergyman 3: It is heresy, indeed.

Elizabeth: No, Your Grace. This is common sense, which is a most English virtue.

[scene interrupts to conversation among "imprisoned" Clergy leaders]

Clergyman 4: Your Majesty would improve all these matters, if you would agree to marry.

Clergyman 2: Aye, marry.

Elizabeth: Aye, but marry who, Your Grace? Would you give me some suggestion? For some say "France" and others "Spain" and some cannot abide foreigners at all. So, I'm not sure how best to please you, unless I marry one of each.

Clergyman 5: Now Your Majesty does make fun of the sanctity of marriage.

Elizabeth: I do not think you should lecture me on that, my lord, since you, yourself, have been twice divorced -- and are now upon your third wife.

Each of you must vote according to your conscience. But remember this: In your hands, upon this moment lies the future happiness of my people and the peace of this realm. Let that be upon your conscience also.

● Language has powerful means of influencing people. Effective speakers use linguistic devices to attract and hold attention. There are a lot of ways to make your argument more convincing. Here are some useful techniques.

Repetition

Repetitions can vary both in the number of words and in the position in the sentence.

It’s comfortable. It’s comfortable because it’s well-designed, made of the best materials and very easy to use.

"To raise a happy, healthy, and hopeful child, it takes a family; it takes teachers; it takes clergy; it takes business people; it takes community leaders; it takes those who protect our health and safety. It takesall of us."

Hillary Clinton, 1996 Democratic National Convention Address

"What we need in the United States is not division. What we need in the United States is not hatred. What we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness; but is love and wisdom and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country whether they be white or whether they be black."

Robert F. Kennedy, Announcing the death of Martin Luther King

"...and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."

- Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address (here delivered by Jeff Daniels)

"Here he is! The one and only winner of the Gemini Croquet contest! This boy is fueled, like FIRE! So start melting ladies 'cause the boy is hotter than hot. He'shot! Hot! HOT!!"

delivered by Chris Tucker (from the movie The 5th Element)

"Isn't extraordinary that the Prime Minister of our country can't even urge his Party to support his own position?! Yeah. Weak! Weak! Weak!

Tony Blair, 1997 House of Commons exchange with Prime Minister John Major

Questions

Questions can be used both as transition devices and as means of arresting attention.

Can anyone look at the record of this Administration and say, "Well done"?

Can anyone compare the state of our economy when the Carter Administration took office with where we are today and say, "Keep up the good work"?

Can anyone look at our reduced standing in the world today and say, "Let's have four more years of this"?

-- Ronald Reagan, 1980 Republican National Convention Acceptance Address

Note: Reagan was a particularly effective user of "stacked" rhetorical questions.

"What is George Bush doing about our economic problems? He has raised taxes on the people driving pickup trucks and lowered taxes on the people riding in limousines."

-- William Jefferson Clinton, 1992 DNC Acceptance Address

"Ali" (2001)

Video 1b

Ali Defends His Decision Not to Participate in Military Draft Induction

Ali: I ain't draft-dodgin.' I ain't burnin' no flag. And I ain't runnin' to Canada. I'm stayin' right here.

You wanna send me to jail? Fine, you go right ahead. I've been in jail for 400 years. I can be there for 4 or 5 more.

But I ain't goin' no 10,000 miles to help murder and kill other poor people. If I wanna die, I'll die right here, right now fightin' you -- if I wanna die.

You my enemy. Not no Chinese, no Viet Cong, no Japanese.

You my opposer -- when I want freedom.

You my opposer -- when I want justice.

You my opposer -- when I want equality.

Want me to go to somewhere and I fight for you. You won't even stand up for me right here in America for my rights and my religious beliefs. You won't even stand up for me right here at home.

“Devil’s Advocate”

Catalogue Multimedia 1280 (1.23.30 – 1.25.51)