Page 83 - The Voice of Authority

Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, the Bible, and Shakespeare
from an early age. Classical literature and military history
remained an interest of his throughout his lifetime.
Yet when he spoke to the troops on the frontlines, he
spoke their language. He used no metaphors from mythol-
ogy. His purpose was action, not theory. The lower rank-
ing the group, the more tactical his message.
Consider the following excerpt from his most famous
speech, delivered on June 5, l944, to the troops on the eve
of the invasion of Europe—D-Day. Notice the directness
of the language, the emotional pull for his audience, the
sentence patterns, the simplicity of the sentences and word
choices.

Men, this stuff that some sources sling around about
America wanting out of this war, not wanting to fight,
is a crock of bulls—t. Americans love to fight, tradi-
tionally. All real Americans love the sting and clash of
battle. You are here today for three reasons. First, be-
cause you are here to defend your homes and your
loved ones.
Second, you’re here for your own self-respect, be-
cause you would not want to be anywhere else. Third,
you’re here because you’re real men and all real men
like to fight. When you, here, every one of you, were
kids, you all admired the champion marble player, the
fastest runner, the toughest boxer, the big league ball
players, and the All-American football players. Amer-
icans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a
loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to
win all of the time. I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for
a man who lost and laughed. That’s why Americans
have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very
idea of losing is hateful to an American.

Is It Clear? 71