I don't think anyones called it "the best in history", but I think it does stand up to the best of them. If you don't get the chills, well, I don't either. Not everyone reacts to speeches like that, and some people just react to different kind of speeches. Have you ever read the "Ich bin ein Berliner" -speech? Seriously, I can't grasp the feeling. I can rationalize that if that was thought to be an important speech, it says a lot about the times, but I don't get any kind of a special feeling from it.
Even without the chills, I do think this was a very impressive speech. What makes it impressive for me is not so much the oratory as the simple courage it takes to try and make that kind of a speech. Had that speech failed, it could have killed his whole campaign. Trying to take the higher ground on a delicate subject like race, while already being under suspicion for racism and facing constant ridicule for his hopeless idealist image, that could've been a total recipe for disaster. But Obama didn't only manage to walk that tightrope, he also made some really good points. For me it's kind of like watching a wallclimber take on the impossible wall, or a hockey team making a bold attack shorthanded on overtime, and succeed... Except this is a game with much higher stakes, and a subject that really matters.
Skill, courage, intelligence and a just cause. What's not to like there?
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