"Radio National invites listeners to name the greatest speech. Six thousand respond, their hundreds of nominations including Ronald Reagan, Yitzhak Rabin, William Pitt the Younger, Vaclav Havel, Bill Clinton, Salvador Allende, Mahatma Gandhi, Arundhati Roy and Thomas More.
Dolores Ibárruri, a hero of the Spanish Civil War, is remembered for her “Fascism shall not pass”; Patrick Henry, a leader of the American Revolution, for “Give me liberty or give me death.”
The last words of the Irish patriot Robert Emmet ring out – “I am going to my cold and silent grave”, as does Nelson Mandela’s triumphant “Let freedom ring”. Charlie Chaplin’s closing speech from The Great Dictator is nominated, as is Billy Hughes’s funeral oration for Henry Lawson. There are two nominations for Pauline Hanson’s maiden speech.
I’d forgotten the heartbreaking words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in honour of the Anzacs: “You, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.”
Bob Carr’s Coogee speech for the victims of the Bali bombing is nominated, as is John Howard’s eulogy for Steve Irwin. And the speech Howard never gave – saying sorry for the stolen generation – is celebrated via his namesake; you’ll recall the actor John Howard saying sorry, in words by John Clarke for The Games. And there is support for Peter Sellers for his all-party, all¿purpose speech of political bullshit from a 1960s LP.
The Eugene Goossens Hall at the ABC serves as the tally room for the big announcement of the top 10. Like Kerry O’Brien on election night, I am surrounded by experts. John Bell, artistic director of The Bell Shakespeare Company, provides some readings – and observations on the rhythms, syntax and passion of a great speech."
So begins Phillip Adams' column in The Australian about the fascinating competition run by ABC Radio National. The contenders and speeches submitted were surprising - no less so than some of the winners. Read all about it here.
Dolores Ibárruri, a hero of the Spanish Civil War, is remembered for her “Fascism shall not pass”; Patrick Henry, a leader of the American Revolution, for “Give me liberty or give me death.”
The last words of the Irish patriot Robert Emmet ring out – “I am going to my cold and silent grave”, as does Nelson Mandela’s triumphant “Let freedom ring”. Charlie Chaplin’s closing speech from The Great Dictator is nominated, as is Billy Hughes’s funeral oration for Henry Lawson. There are two nominations for Pauline Hanson’s maiden speech.
I’d forgotten the heartbreaking words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in honour of the Anzacs: “You, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.”
Bob Carr’s Coogee speech for the victims of the Bali bombing is nominated, as is John Howard’s eulogy for Steve Irwin. And the speech Howard never gave – saying sorry for the stolen generation – is celebrated via his namesake; you’ll recall the actor John Howard saying sorry, in words by John Clarke for The Games. And there is support for Peter Sellers for his all-party, all¿purpose speech of political bullshit from a 1960s LP.
The Eugene Goossens Hall at the ABC serves as the tally room for the big announcement of the top 10. Like Kerry O’Brien on election night, I am surrounded by experts. John Bell, artistic director of The Bell Shakespeare Company, provides some readings – and observations on the rhythms, syntax and passion of a great speech."
So begins Phillip Adams' column in The Australian about the fascinating competition run by ABC Radio National. The contenders and speeches submitted were surprising - no less so than some of the winners. Read all about it here.
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