Josh's Top Speeches/Monologues

After reading back over this list, I realized that I got a little crazy with the political speeches and topics like liberty and justice. Oh well. A somewhat serious post now and again is still enjoyable. Also, this list took me forever because Dan stole several of my choices.

10. Looking Back with Wonder
At the end of "The Wonder Years" adult Kevin muses over the way things turn out. Things change, people move on, and it doesn't always turn out the way you expected. The speech is a bit long, but you can read it here.

9. President Bartlett Kicks Butt
This speech is number nine because I've used it on this blog before. Here, President Bartlett puts a conservative talk radio host in her place. It is also an interesting discussion of the applicability of direct biblical quotes on 21st century life.



8. Will Elrond Let Man Fall?
Dan took the most epic speech in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, this monologue by Galadriel is also inspiring, albeit in a different way. Galadriel lays the full situation of the war against Sauron and Saruman at Elrond's feet. Man will fall without the help of the elves. Will Elrond let them?

The power of the enemy is growing. Sauron will use his puppet Saruman to destroy the people of Rohan. Isengard has been unleashed. The Eye of Sauron now turns to Gondor. The last free kingdom of men. His war on this country will come swiftly. He senses the ring is close. The strength of the ringbearer is failing. In his heart, Frodo begins to understand. The quest will claim his life. You know this. You have foreseen it. It is the risk we all took. In the gathering dark, the will of the ring grows strong. It works hard now to find its way back into the hands of men. Men, who are so easily seduced by its power. The young captain of Gondor has but to extend his hand to take the ring for his own and the world will fall. He is close now, so close to achieving his goal. For Sauron will have dominion over all life on this Earth, even until the ending of the world. The time of the elves is over. Do we leave Middle Earth to this fate? Do we let them stand alone?

7. Letters from the battlefield
In the third season of "South Park" the boys attend a civil war re-enactment. After placing a bet that he can change the outcome of the civil war, Cartman shows up to play General Lee. During the episode, Cartman sends two letters from the battlefront. The first really captures the feeling on the battlefront during the civil war. The second later is an eloquent tribute to a brave fallen soldier.

Dear guys.

Words cannot express how much I hate you guys. As we fight our way northward into the great unknown, only that one thing remains certain: that I hate you guys with every tired muscle in my Confederate body. We have taken Topeka, and now I must lolly the men over to Missouri. Because I will not stop until we have won it all, and you guys are my slaves. Because, I hate you guys. I hate you guys so very very much.

Yours,
General Cartman Lee

Dear Ms. McCormick

It is with a very heavy heart that I must inform you that your son Kenny was killed in battle on the morning of November 18, at Ruby Hills Funland in Chattanooga. This war has taken something from all of us, and, although your son seems to be the only casualty so far, know that we all share your pain. Your son did not die in vain. I shall persevere and make Stan and Kyle my slaves. Because I hate those guys. I hate them so very very much.

Yours,
General Cartman Lee

6. Tell us everything!
This monologue from "Goonies" captures the hidden guilts of children everywhere. Enough said.



5. Asking America Questions
In Kennedy's famous inaugural address, he did more than instruct us to "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." He called upon the then young generation of Americans to stand up and fight against the enemies of man. The words are just as accurate today.

In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

Now the trumpet summons us again -- not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need -- not as a call to battle, though embattled we are -- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation,"² a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.

4. Meat Wagon
Tommy Callahan in this moving sales pitch explains the importance of buying quality products.




3. I Know Why You Did It
Moving words. A bit heavy handed, but how heavy handed does a government have to get before you would stand up to it? Definitely a tough question.


2. If This Is Your Army, Why Does it Flee?
What is a life worth, if it is a life of bondage?


1. Free speech
President Shepherd, in the movie "The American President" delivers a powerful speech about a number of things, including free speech. I didn't embed the speech, but I really enjoy this description of free speech.

America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center-stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.