Great Speaches of the 20th Century - The Guardian

[Fez]

“A speech will only be truly great when it chimes with the times in which it is delivered.”

this isn’t an argument about whether or not hitler’s political views were shared by those of the majority or the german public, but if what he said significantly altered the course of history in the twentieth century which it most assuredly did. of course he took advantage of the situation germany was in and exploited the disenfranchisement of the poor for his own ends, I have already said as much on two separate occasions, but remember the nazi party was democratically elected to the reichstag in 1929 atop mass popular appeal, fuelled as in any other election by what hitler said in order to be elected.

its almost as if you are suggesting the second world war was inevitable because people were so deeply unhappy with the situation following the great war, but no country acts in a unified manner without a leader to rally support. it didn’t have to be hitler, it could have been anybody, but the right thing had to be said at the right time to galvanise the public, establish the nazis in power and prompt the invasion of poland and czechuslavakia.

that’s why I believe hitler’s speeches were great in the context of the twentieth century; yes he subverted the misfortune of others to get what he wanted, of course the facist movement wouldn’t have gained such widespread support even if it was brainwashing – unless he said things people wanted to hear or thought they wanted to hear; ‘chiming with the times in which the speech was delivered’ to misquote the journalist who compiled the list.

Anyway, when does this list get published and who uttered the most memorable words of an entire century? i can tell you what they wont be and at the same time prove tony blair never listens to anything he says himself:

[at the signing of the good friday agreement] “this isn’t a time for sounds bites – but i can feel the hand of history on our shoulders”

[Claire]

Mike - is it still ok for me to borrow the disk and (hopefully) copy it? svp?

[Mike]

I don't see why not. I will bring it with me to the PQ on Tuesday. I hope you speak fluent french because the Charles De Gaul speech is in the native language!

[mr_e]

The translation appears to be on the Guardian's site. Always best to hear it in its native tongue though, otherwise you don't get the full effect, like watching dubbed movies instead of subtitled ones.

[Claire]

mais oui, Monsieur Riley. je peux parler le francais, sans problem! est-ce que tu me douter?

[mr_e]

Surprising myself here, but I could understand a fair portion of it (streaming version's on the Guardian site), which means Claire should indeed have no problem. It was weird to hear a proper French accent, it reminded me of all those weather reports we used to listen to for GCSE French. Thankfully De Gaulle speaks much slower! Plus you get to hear the lovely rhyming bits near the start of the final section (broadcast 22nd June 1940) in the original French.