Public Speaking 102
A PROJECTQUESTION ESSAY
Public Speaking 101 is a tough class to make it through. For most of us, it’s the first time we’ve ever had to stand before of a group of strangers and express ourselves.
No matter how much you’ve successfully practiced at home, it’s easy to lose all confidence the second you find yourself at the front of the class. Once you look up and see that all eyes are on you, even the topic of your talk becomes hard to remember. As you begin to speak, the clock on the wall appears to stop and a large magnifying glass comes down out of the sky to burn your every syllable with scorching scrutiny. Naturally, you start stumbling over your words until what comes out doesn’t even resemble what you had prepared to say.
Unfortunately, this is also the phenomenon so many of us experience when given the opportunity to publicly state our opinions concerning power relations. In private, we freely express our distaste with the injustice of hierarchical institutions.
Who among us hasn’t heard or voiced, at least a hundred times in private, sentiments like “Politicians are crooks, throw the bums out.” “Big business is out to screw the little guy, throw the bums out.” “We could run this place better than those jerks in their fancy suits, throw the bums out.”?
And who among us hasn’t chickened out when it came to forcefully voicing these same sentiments in public to a group of strangers?
Whether it’s at a social function or being interviewed by your local news channel, no one wants to say the wrong thing and look stupid. Struggling under the weight of a stranger’s attention, we tend to play it safe and water down the degree of our discontent, not to mention the severity of our solutions. Furthermore, as the audience grows in size, you begin to worry about who’s listening.
Statements like “big business is out to screw the little guy” quickly turn into “money is tight and times are tough” while suggestions like “throw the bums out” turn into “well yeah, but what can you do about it?”
Well, one thing we can do about it is to offer free of charge a new public speaking class. A class that doesn’t just help you say things out loud, but shows you the importance of making your voice heard. Maybe we could call it Public Speaking 102.
A class where you’re relieved that people are paying attention. A class where you can’t wait to get your turn. A class where you’ll see the faces not as judging you but as part of your human family. A class where you won’t freeze when you take the stage, and you can say exactly what you mean.
Like in your normal public speaking class, articulation would come from practice as well as from listening to the presentations of others. But more than that, Public Speaking 102 would grade you on the honesty of your presentation.
To speak your mind in front of others spotlights your share of responsibility. For this reason, such a class would require following up words with action.
Politicians of all stripes have proven that sincerity in public speaking can easily be faked. Only when effort and sacrifice are put toward turning rhetoric into achievement can a speech be given a passing grade.
Saying things out loud magnifies their importance. Public Speaking 102 would give us a reason to examine what we believe and make sure it is worthy of our own conviction, much less public consumption.
Many activists and organizers find it frustrating when so few people are willing to lend their voices to the causes of social justice. Yet it’s not so much that the people need convincing. It’s that they need confidence.
It is true that few of us want to stand out. But if everyone stands up, standing out will no longer be our greater concern.
Whether it’s a project on a website or a new nationwide curriculum, we need a Public Speaking 102. Fortunately, it could start with something as small as an honest and open-minded civil dialogue. And what better class could we offer for democracy?
