Dahle Communication

McGovern's 1972 Acceptance Speech

If you have read my blog at all, you know that I am a big fan of John F. Kennedy's speech writer Ted Sorensen. I always felt that his writing paired with Kennedy's speaking ability is the greatest we have seen. However, while reading up on some memories of the late Senator George McGovern, I (and apparently most of the known universe) have missed out on a great speech - McGovern's 1972 acceptance speech.

The reason a lot of people missed it is that it was given at 2:00 a.m. after a contentious convention. Unfortunately for McGovern, most people didn't see the speech or hear it. What I find interesting is how much more powerful those words are today, and how they can still be used today.

Take this passage: Let the opposition collect their $10 million in secret money from the privileged few and let us find one million ordinary Americans who will contribute $25 each to this campaign, a Million Member Club with members who will not expect special favors for themselves but a better land for us all.

Isn't that something that can be said today? However, I think his closing paragraph is the most powerful and something that hits home to a lot of us. I even think President Obama could echo these words:

From secrecy and deception in high places; come home, America. From military spending so wasteful that it weakens our nation; come home, America. From the entrenchment of special privileges in tax favoritism; from the waste of idle lands to the joy of useful labor; from the prejudice based on race and sex; from the loneliness of the aging poor and the despair of  the neglected sick — come home, America. Come home to the affirmation that we have a dream. Come home to the conviction that we can move our country forward. Come home to the belief that we can seek a newer world, and let us be joyful in that homecoming, for this "is your land, this land is my land — from California to New York island, from the redwood forest to the gulf stream waters — this land was made for you and me." So let us close on this note: May God grant each one of us the wisdom to cherish this good land and to meet the great challenge that beckons us home.

I think regardless of party affiliation, this is something we can all believe in.

 

Senator McGovern and Debate

Being from South Dakota, a state of only about 800,000 people, we have had our share of nationally prominent people. One of the greatest of those passed away this weekend, former Senator George McGovern.

Most people know McGovern as the candidate who was defeated easily by Nixon in the 1972 presidential election. However, he was much more than this.

I had the honor of meeting Senator McGovern three times in my life. The first time I met him was at a high school debate tournament in Mitchell, SD that is named in his honor - the Mitchell McGovern. At the tournament, McGovern spoke briefly to the students about the importance of debate and the impact that it had on his life.

Most recently, I got a chance to speak with him briefly at his 90th birthday party in Sioux Falls and he once again talked to me about how valuable his experience in debate was and how it impacted him. I always felt honored to be advocating something that such a great man valued and clearly took to heart.

Senator McGovern was much more than a politician; he was a statesman. He was a soft spoken man who stood up for what he believed was right: protecting the weak from the strong and advocating the end of hunger throughout the world.

McGovern proved with his work and his life that you don't need to be the greatest most powerful public speaker to make a difference. All you need is the willingness to speak and the courage to do so.

If you have a child, or nieces and nephews or grandchildren - try to encourage them to get involved in an activity that will challenge them and maybe push them towards something great. Maybe they too can make a difference and make the world a better place.

Here's to you Senator McGovern - thank you for your service and your contribution to the world.

3 Years and 150 plus posts

3 years ago I decided to start sharing my thoughts and ideas on communication - both in how people need to become better speakers, how people in the public eye use communication and how we all use communication. It's been a lot of fun and hopefully 3 years from now I'll have another 150 plus posts!

I just wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts and for taking the time to read my random thoughts that I have from time to time. There will be more to come for sure.

 

Travis

Ron Paul Twitter Post backfires

Ever had that one idea. It's a great idea. Almost epic! Of course, the next morning you wake up and think - wow, that was a really, really bad idea - next time, probably not going to challenge the bikers at the biker bar to a fight.

This is probably what Ron Paul is thinking this morning after the following was posted on his twitter account:

@JonHuntsman we found your one Iowa voter, he's in Linn precinct 5 you might want to call him and say thanks

Now, I think that is funny - for someone probably not running for President. 

This tweet is an example of what probably seems like a good idea at the time, but when looking back at it, probably isn't going to look as good the next day.

This is a problem with Twitter in that you can post your thoughts instantly without thinking about it. As I've noted before, that can be a problem.

Communication is vitally important to a political campaign. Will this derail the Paul campaign? Who knows. What we can all learn though is, we have to be careful when we use Twitter - especially if we are running for President!

Dr Pepper Ten - is it manly or offending?

Maybe its because I'm the only guy in a house with 3 other women or I'm just secure enough of a man, but I just don't get the whole "manly" advertising of some companies. The latest attempt at advertising directly to men is Dr. Pepper Ten. When I first saw this commercial it just made me laugh. The overt machoism and sexism is way over the top. Which I guess is what Dr. Pepper is going for. But what are they really communicating with this ad?

First off, they are saying that most men are so insecure about being a man that they can't drink diet pop because its too feminine. Which is exactly what their research told them. Really guys. Look, I don't drink diet pop, not because I'm afraid to, but I just can't stand the taste of it. Not sure why guys would be afraid to drink diet pop if they were okay with the taste, but insecurities are a good way to market products - at least that is what Dr. Pepper thinks.

Secondly, Dr. Pepper is communicating that they really don't mind about being sexist, at least when it comes to this product. Interestingly, they said that they did a test market in several areas and about 40% of those trying Dr. Pepper Ten were women because they "got the joke." I wonder if they watch SNL's mocking of the Shake-a-weight when thinking about getting the joke. 

What I would be concerned about as a business is offending 50% of my potential client base. So, we'll have to see if people will look at this and just laugh about it or if people will get offended.

I would mostly like to see soft-drink companies make a diet soft drink that doesn't taste aweful. Maybe Dr. Pepper Ten did - so maybe I will try it...

 

 

How early is too early for Christmas Music?

One thing I like about co-working with everyone at Meso is the relaxed, yet get your work done, atmosphere. What I have learned over the past couple of months is that it has the relaxed feel of a coffee shop, but the people here all have things to do and are not here just to get coffee and chat. Its the perfect mix of coming to work, yet being able to banter from time to time.

Part of that relaxed atmosphere is the music we decided to play. Its not the typical 92.5 music (Sioux Falls people will know, for those of you not in Sioux Falls, think light pop music from the 80's, 90's and today - we all have them). I've created a station of mostly alt-country acts on Slacker Radio including Wilco, The Jayhawks and Ryan Adams that we listen to sometimes. Overall, its a different mix of music that adds to the atmoshpere.

This morning however, my ears heard something that I didn't expect to hear for at least another 10 days - Christmas Music! Don't get me wrong - I love Christmas music, especially the songs done by greats like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra! But a week before Thanksgiving?

So, what do you think? When is it too early to play Christmas music? When do you start singing along with the radio to all of the songs you know by heart because you hear it every year? Is today a little too early? My co-workers don't think so - some of them I'm suspecting probably have their trees up already.