Principles of Speech and it's impact

During my time in college I have taken classes that were intimidating because of the amount of work involved or the complexity of the subject. Few classes however have terrified me. None more so than Principles of Speech. As the name might suggest it was a class on public speaking. I have spoken to large groups before in my career but these were usually in a supervisory role and with people that I have built relationships with. Trying to build an instant rapport with an audience can be quite intimidating. I had to really push myself and take a very large step outside of my comfort zone.

The class was well worth it though and I was able to give a final speech to a large group of fellow students. Some I knew but most I did not. So not only did I have to worry about a grade and speaking to strangers but I would then have to see these people afterwards at some point in my college career. This is part of that speech:

I believe in the power a speech can have on its audience. With the right words, the right delivery and the right speaker, a speech can change the outcome of history. We see that no clearer than the speeches given by commanders to their troops on the eve of battle. I have selected General Patton’s famous “Blood and Guts” speech, which he delivered to the Third Army on June 5^th, 1944, the eve of the Allied invasion of France, code named “Overlord”.

            General Patton concluded his speech with:

From time to time there will be some complaints that we are pushing our people too hard. I believe in the old and sound rule that an ounce of sweat will save a gallon of blood. The harder we push, the more Germans we will kill. The more Germans we kill, the fewer of our men will be killed.

There is one great thing that you men will all be able to say after this war is over and you are home once again. You may be thankful that twenty years from now when you are sitting by the fireplace with your grandson on your knee and he asks you what you did in the great World War II, you won’t have to cough, shift him to the other knee and say, 'Well, your Granddaddy shoveled shit in Louisiana.'

No, Sir, you can look him straight in the eye and say, 'Son, your Granddaddy rode with the Great Third Army and a Son-of-a-Goddamned-Bitch named Georgie Patton!’

This conclusion to his speech was complex in its message and effect. First it took on the question that some soldiers might have had about being pushed too hard. He stated simply that the harder they pushed the more likely they would survive and fewer of their friends would die. Next, he assuaged their fears. He kept it simple, primal. It is us or them. He finished it by filling them with pride. Do you want to be a part of history and say you rode with Patton to victory? I particularly like this one because it has not been romanticized or filled with generalized rhetoric as some other battle speeches from history have been. He spoke in a language and a frankness that his troops could understand and respect.

I realized something after this speech. Right after I was done I was relieved and excited, knowing I could do it. Months later, as I sat in my cubicle and reflected on Patton's words, I came to the realization that his words reflected how I lived my life.  I constantly push myself to try new things and strive for greater achievements. I admit that I don't have the same motivation as the boys he was speaking to did. I do not have guys from the neighboring cubicles shooting at me. The principle is the same though. I want to have that fireplace moment with my grandchild and inspire them. I want to look back and, regardless of what I achieved or how many times I failed, see a life full of pride and not regret.