Courageous Speakers

Imagine…

You’re standing before crowds of people.

They’re all watching and waiting…

… wanting to hear what you say.

Your words are being sent around a large arena

by a loud and echoing microphone.

Your voice is being sent through airwaves

to countless people listening to radios.

Are you nervous?

Now imagine this…

You stutter.

I can imagine the pressure and stress

that would come from standing

before countless people and speaking.

I can imagine the stress

 of speaking into a booming microphone.

I can’t imagine speaking across radio waves.

I cannot imagine doing any of that as a stutterer.

I watched “The King’s Speech” today.

I am stunned by the great courage of King George VI.

Anyone who can overcome such inner torment

and overcome such hurdles

deserves recognition.

What a brave man.

I’m inspired to read King George VI’s biography now.   It’s titled: “A Spirit Undaunted”  and was written by Robert Rhodes James.  I’m pleased to learn that this King “went on to distinguish himself as an inspired, inspirational and even eloquent leader.”

The strength of character portrayed in the movie

made me curious about less famous stutters.

At a camp in 2011,

 a group of child stutterers got together

and wrote this list for their teachers:

DO - tell others not to tease us.
DO - treat us like everyone else in the school.
DO - ask us what helps us to speak more fluently.
DO - ask how much we want to contribute to class assembly and concerts.
DO - be positive and make eye contact.
DO - give us time to express ourselves.
DO NOT - rush us- give us time to finish.
DO NOT - finish off words/ sentences for us.
DO NOT - answer for us.
DO NOT - interrupt when we are trying.
DO NOT - tease/ mimic us.
PLEASE DO - share this information with others.

http://jerrygarrett.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/ten-secrets-behind-the-making-of-the-kings-speech/

http://www.stammering.org/

http://www.speakeasy.org.au/