Not everyone can become a great leader, but a great leader can come from anywhere. Regardless of their background, leaders step up during times of need – bringing people together and inspiring the masses to take action for a greater good. However, whether people come together or become divided is ultimately determined by how leaders convey their messages. Join Wordsmith as we examine how a few words can spark inspiration… or outrage.
A city in turmoil
Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” arrangement has been a hot topic of debate since the proposal of a controversial extradition bill that would allow the Hong Kong government to legally surrender alleged fugitives to stand trial in foreign nations. Given that free speech laws currently allow people in Hong Kong to speak out against China, many feared that the passing of the bill would result in more “abductions” like the vanishing booksellers in 2015. As a result, millions repeatedly took to the streets to protest against the bill – often clashing with police forces who responded with tear gas or other violent means of dispersal.
Although the bill has since been declared “dead” by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, her refusal to acknowledge or respond to “The Five Demands” of protestors gave rise to further unrest. One such action was the massive citywide strike on August 5, where transportation services across Hong Kong (including key MTR stations and cross-harbour tunnels) were disrupted – effectively crippling travel across the city. The Chief Executive and her top officials made a public statement that morning in response to the citywide disruption.
Lam began by condemning the actions of radical protestors, some of whom had thrown petrol bombs at police, defaced China’s national emblem and thrown the Chinese flag into the harbour. She claimed that such deeds would bring about the “mutual destruction” of Hong Kong – perhaps a hint at what would happen if the PLA forces stationed outside the city were ordered to move in. Shortly after, she denounced the citywide strike, saying:
“Many workers live paycheque to paycheque, and those affected are grassroots families. There are many who want to go to work but were affected by the non-cooperation movement.”
Lam’s statement showed empathy towards the people affected – however, more than just compassion is at play here if you also consider her previous line:
“Do we want to use the lives of seven million people and the future of Hong Kong as betting chips?”
Not only did she fuel commuters’ resentment by justifying their frustrations, but she also disregarded the goals and intentions of millions of people who had marched and protested peacefully. Her speech pointedly ignored the protestors’ five demands, merely repeating that the extradition bill was “dead” or “suspended”. She has also made it clear that her immediate resignation was out of the question:
“I don’t think at this point in time, my resignation or some of my colleagues would provide a better solution, but we’ll continue to adopt what I have described on the first of July as a style of governance that would enable us to listen more, engage more and do more that will meet the needs or wishes of the people.”
Refusing to acknowledge protestors’ demands while claiming to “listen more, engage more and do more” only angered protestors further, which led them to escalate the severity of their methods – which led to chaos and shutdowns at Hong Kong International Airport.
Barack Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention propelled him to fame and brought Americans closer together.
A country in agreement
In the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks, the US was left dazed and reeling. In response, President George W. Bush announced the War on Terror, and vowed to hunt down Al Qaeda and other terrorist organisations – but that also invited blatant racism towards non-white ethnicities within the country. Hate crimes towards Muslims, Indians and other ethnic groups spiked drastically, regardless of their birthplace or citizenship.
When the 2004 US presidential elections rolled around, the nation was experiencing increased infighting and racism. At the Democratic National Convention in Boston, a relatively unknown senator from the state of Illinois, Barrack Obama, stepped up to deliver a keynote address in support of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. That night, his words took him from obscurity to the world stage.
Mindful of the country’s racial turmoil, Obama began with a story about his family – how his grandparents came to America, and through hard work they created a new future for themselves… the American Dream. He then segued to the constitutional rights of Americans as outlined in the Declaration of Independence:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Although the Declaration of Independence was drafted over two hundred years ago, Obama inspired audiences to ponder whether those truths were still true today – even as the rights of their fellow Americans were being stripped in front of their very eyes.
Next, he appealed to the people of America. As a senator, he was well acquainted with the declining job prospects of blue-collar workers suffering from cost-cutting strategies (such as the relocation of manufacturing plants overseas). However, instead of painting American workers as unfortunate souls in need of a handout, he empowered them and preserved their dignity – positioning them as decent, hard-working people who just needed a little help to get back on track towards the American dream:
“People don't expect the government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a slight change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. They know we can do better. And they want that choice.”
Obama’s words demonstrated incredible compassion for all Americans – and stressed his belief that in order to unify the country, everyone must be entitled to the same rights.
“Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America.”
Although Kerry lost the 2004 election, Obama’s performance that night made him a household name – bringing people together and imbuing Americans from all walks of life with hope, which ultimately led to his inauguration in 2008.
A public statement is a powerful tool for reaching out to the masses. Whether the message brings people together or forces them apart is up to the intent of the speaker, and the skill of their speechwriters. Interested in making a heavyweight impression the next time you step up to the podium? An experienced speechwriter can help you make the most of your time in the spotlight.