Have the Chinese authorities lost their commonsense? They are asking their people to smoke more. They don’t seem to realise that it is such a short-sighted way to help their economy. How does encouraging more people to die of cancer do any good in the long term? Surely it cannot be that in an over-populated country that it what they actually want?
The pollution problems in Beijing had to be tackled before the Olympics could be held. Asking people to smoke more is surely putting even more strain on their lungs and adding to the numbers who have breathing problems. With such a huge population this means a huge increase in medical conditions…
Of course the fact that they use complimentary medicines such as acupuncture may mean that they are saved the enormous bills western countries face for medical care. Nonetheless by this call to smoke they are flying in the face of all scientific findings on the dangers of smoking. They are putting themselves out of step with the rest of the world. It is inconceivable that any Government would ignore the scientific findings in this way simply as a means of raising taxes. Smoking too is an anti social habit as well as being medically unwise. Put simply smokers stink. Perhaps, though, if everyone is going to smoke that aspect, at least, doesn’t really matter.

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The people aren’t having State banquets. They are not going on junkets. Instead they are having tea parties. In 1773 the Boston tea party was about taxation without representation. These tea parties are about taxation being spent recklessly and without consultation. After all nearly half the electorate didn’t vote for President Obama and even many of those who did are worried about the current spending spree.
As every prudent housewife knows you have to live within your budget. You do without things when you cannot afford them. Ask any small business person what they do when things are tough. They tighten their belts and only invest where it will yield returns. They will, for instance, have closed doors sales. Governments should do the same. The money they spend should be money that will yield dollars for every dollar spent… We should only invest in schemes that will prove profitable. That means no jobs for cronies but only for those who work hard and earn that money. It means definitely no money for the feckless who are not prepared to work. It means money poured into education to help those who need it to find jobs. It means putting money into research and into encouraging entrepreneurship. It means making every dollar work hard.
Tea parties themselves won’t make a difference but people talking at those tea parties can and will. In fact they may send the President an invitation to their next one. They may remind him that he took a pledge to serve with Liberty and Justice for all and that includes taxpayers…

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Newspapers do it for birthdays so too do greeting card manufacturers. They print a newspaper or a card detailing a certain event that happened on a certain date. Anyone who was born on the 18th January might be interested to know that on that date in 1778 Captain Cook discovered the Sandwich Islands, now known as Hawaii. Alternatively he or she might be surprised to know that A.A. Milne creator of the children’s book character Pooh Bear was born on that date.
Birthdays are special days to most of us and if someone goes to the trouble of finding out something that ties up with a certain birthday the recipient is bound to be impressed. Obviously if someone is born on an important day such as that of the Apollo moon landing he or she will be already be aware of that fact. On the other hand he or she may not be aware that on his or her birthday June the 12th 1964 Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment in Pretoria.
If you are giving a speech at a birthday party you will obviously be gracious about the birthday boy or girl. You will speak of their attributes and kindness and wish them well in the future. Make your speech different. Tie up the date with some date in history, especially something that is relevant to the celebrant. If a pop singer was born on the 5th July he or she might like to hear that the Rolling Stones gave a free concern in Hyde Park on that date in 1969. A swimmer born on that date might be very impressed to think that on that date in 1946 a bikini was modelled for the very first time in Paris.
History, as unwilling students often say, is over. An interesting and personalised birthday speech, though, never goes out of date.

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Has it ever occurred to you to use sports commentators as role models for when you are giving a speech? They make their subject sound so exciting and keep their audience enthralled with their descriptions of the games. Your subject should sound equally exciting and you too should captivate your audience with your enthusiasm for it. Sports commentators also know their facts and figures and do their research on the players. Do you put the same effort into preparing your speech? If you are talking about Pele or trying to convince your audience that sport is for all you may probably have that enthusiasm but if you are speaking on a more general subject such as the Bermuda triangle or Ageism your speech may not have that same passion. Yet those sports commentators make their particular race or game exciting even when favourite falls at the first fence or one team is being murdered by the other. They are professionals of course, experts at keeping their audience on the edge of the seats. If you are giving a speech you owe it to your audience to be professional too. Then your speech will be a winner.

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A sentence can be a history lesson. Think of the words “The King is dead, long live the King!”  Over the years we have heard of monarchs and Generals who have changed the world by their actions and by their words. In this time of recession John F. Kennedy’s words “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country” are surely a clarion call to action by each one of us.

Bill Gates is another who has been responsible for changing our world to a global village. In doing so he became aware of the needs of the less fortunate on our planet. He said, “The challenges are great but so is the opportunity to improve people’s lives”. Again his words are of those of a leader encouraging others to follow his example.

Martin Luther King had his dream of course and it is probably their dreams that make such people stand out from the rest of us. They have a vision of what can and should be achieved. They do or say something that strikes a chord with the rest of us.

When the first men on the moon landed and Neil Armstrong made his announcement we all knew exactly what he meant that they had taken “One small step for man one giant leap for mankind.”

Most of us won’t address a worldwide audience but, in our own sphere, our words too can make a difference.

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All eyes are on Washington just now. President Obama has the unenviable task of making a speech that will make a lasting impression on the watching world…He will have to use words that will resonate with the audience such as the words of great orators like President Kennedy or Martin Luther King. It’s an unenviable challenge but he will have a speechwriter or indeed a team of speechwriters to write his speech for him. Will they be able to put his thoughts into words? Will his speech express what he believes and feels or should he simply speak, without notes, from the heart with passion and conviction? Whatever he says will be reported and analysed all over the world. What is really important is whether his actions will speak louder than words?

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Topicality is a speechwriters’ best friend. That is not to say that in January your speeches should be confined to Chinese New Year speeches or even Australia Day speeches. It does not mean that you have to write about Martin Luther King either although his day is celebrated that month. It simply means that these events give you some link that you can use, something with which to tie your own particular speech. At a son’s 21st birthday party in January for instance, you could start by saying. “We are not the only ones raising a toast this month. All over the world Scots are raising a glass to toast the immortal memory of their favourite Bard Robbie Burns”.
Today though we are toasting our favourite son..Obviously then you would go on and speak about your own son and his growing years.
Whether you link your speech with some historical event or with a current happening it will add a some interest and capture the attention of your audience. You have, you see, introduced the unexpected. So whether you are speaking at a wedding anniversary, a company function or a sporting occasion spread your net a little and make your audience think.

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Nelson Mandela probably comes top of the list when people are asked with whom they would like to share a meal. That’s understandable because his life has been such an interesting and inspiring one. Historically, though, there are others who would make fascinating dinner companions if they were still alive. Think of Winston Churchill and how he inspired a nation during the war. Did he actually write his own speeches or did some civil service get him to stiffen the backbone of the British people with his immortal words, “We shall fight them on the Beaches”? If you wanted glamour at your table Princes Diana would have been the perfect guest and wouldn’t it be interesting to find out exactly what went on behind the walls of Buckingham palace?  If Bill Gates came to dinner there is no doubt but that you would have plenty of questions to ask him about how became such an entrepreneur and, perhaps more interesting, why he became such a well known philanthropist. The good hostess knows that however famous a guest may be they also have to be charismatic and reach out to people and make them feel special. That person could be John F. Kennedy but as he and most of these people cannot come perhaps it would be wiser to invite your own special friends. At least you know they will listen to your stories!

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Choosing a wedding gift can be difficult. Many couples choose to have a bridal registry with a big store which can, of course, ensure that you buy something they actually want.
If you have been asked to speak at the wedding, though, you can ensure that your gift of speech is very personal and will be treasured for life.
If you are the best much you will know about the groom but may not know much about his bride. So if you want your speech to be special the first thing to do is to do your homework. Naturally you will discover any story about the courtship but you must do more. Speak to the bride’s mother, sister or best friend and find out what she loves and hates. Ask for treasured memories of childhood. Speak to the groom’s people too and find out childhood stories and fantasies. Did they have invisible friends? Do they love The Beatles?  Did they have a teddy bear that went everywhere with them? Find out about their secret dreams and wishes and give a brilliant best man’s speech by painting a picture of the groom who ran away from home when he was five, insisted on eating beans at every meal and helps out at the local homeless shelter. Speak about his kindness and his wonderful sense of humour. Speak too about his parents and his family life. In other words know your subject and his bride.
Whether you are speaking as a father of the bride or as the mother of the groom ensure that your speech is personal and loving and shows the couple in a wonderful light. They will love you for it and they will remember your speech when the flowers are dead and the cake well eaten.

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The bookies will be out of a job
The papers will be much thinner
And what will they do on TV shows
When they cannot talk to a winner?
Sport is for all or so they say
The ratings prove it’s true
The Olympic games wooed us all
We watched as though stuck by glue.
They give their all for a nation’s pride
Though steroids and sport are the nasty side
Of what should be sport at its peak, its best
The answer to challenge, the ultimate test
Of speed and skill and heart and pace
We watched them all race by race.

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