Full Stack Philosopher

Audio clipped from Vox's today explained podcast: https://www.vox.com/today-explained, https://rss.art19.com/today-explained the last 2 minutes from March 14, 2018

On August 28, 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave one of the most powerful speeches of all time. I know I cannot do this speech justice. But to be honest, I’m not doing any of these speeches justice. I’m studying and I’m practicing. I’m studying history, and what makes a great speech. and I’m practicing my oratory. I’m doing so with the words of masters in my mouth, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to study these great words. So please forgive me for butchering some of the most moving and eloquent words spoken...

On April 8, 1933, the Main Office for Press and Propaganda of the German Student Union proclaimed a nationwide "Action against the Un-German Spirit", which was to climax in a literary purge or "cleansing" by fire. On May 10, 1933, Nazi Germany staged an event unseen since the middle ages young German students from universities, which formerly had been regarded as among the finest in the world, gathered to burn over 25k books. On April 6th, two days before the initial declaration, William Lyon Phelps of Yale University, who taught the first American University course on the Modern Novel shared the following thoughts on a public radio broadcast.

ON June 14, 1946 The Baruch plan was proposed during it’s first meeting of the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission. Less than a year after the US dropped fat man and little boy it was time to put in motion a plan to make sure that such destruction could be prevented from ever happening again. Hi, I’m Jack Reichert, I decided to practice my oratory skills by reading speeches and essays. Since I’m already recording it, I thought I’d share it with you. So without further ado. Bernard Baruch’s Speech before the first session of the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission
Hunter College, New York

On May 10th 1940 Germany invaded Belgium, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom upon the resignation of Neville Chamberlain. The United Kingdom invaded Iceland and Belgium declared a state of emergency. As the new prime minister, Churchill was called on to form a wartime coalition government. On May 13, 1940 Winston Churchill gave his First Speech as Prime Minister to the House of Commons. Hi I’m jack. I decided to practice my oratory muscles by recording myself speaking out loud. And since I”m doing that, I decided to put it out there. Today I will share what Churchill said on that day...

I wrote this next piece about a year ago while pondering the trend that was emerging to ensure that everyone has a “safe space” to protect them from ideas they don’t like. Hi I’m jack. I decided to flex my oratory muscles by recording myself speaking out loud. And since I”m doing that, I decided to put it out there. You’ll find on this podcast essays and speeches, some I wrote, others I didn’t. All I’m thinking about.i

On September 12 1962 John F. Kennedy gave a speech at Rice University where he declared his plan to send man to the moon within the decade. I chose this as the first speech I would practice because it serves as a constant source of inspiration to me. This speech gives me chills each time I hear or read it, and it is the prime example, for me, of the power of speeches. I know I won’t do it justice, so I plan to return to it frequently. Hi I’m Jack, and I’m practicing reading aloud, I’m reading out loud because of the power of speeches. I plan to practice essays of my own, as well as others and great speeches that moved mankind forward. Since I’m doing this, I thought I might as well record it and put it out there in case someone else would like to listen. I consider this a conversation, I’m opening, feel free to join in. For my first go at this speech I’ll be reading a few excerpts. so without further ado...

I don’t consider myself any more special than any of you. As far as I’m concerned, what makes my ideas special here is that I’m sharing them. That’s all. HI I’m Jack. I don’t care if anyone listens. I’m doing this for me. To practice speaking aloud. But since I’m doing it, I thought I might as well put it out there in case someone else would like to listen. I consider this a conversation, I’m opening, feel free to join in. This is an experiment. I like to read and I like to write about the things I’m reading about, whether books or articles, about technology, literature, politics, economics and speeches. I thought I’d practice speaking by sharing my thoughts aloud. I thought I’d start with the most recent essay that I posted on my site: jackreichert.com I titled it: “For if Achillês is left alone to fight…” – Zeus Cloudgatherer You can read it here: https://www.jackreichert.com/2016/05/achilles-left-alone-fight/ I hope you enjoy. Please send me your thoughts if you have about this piece. This is Jack, thank YOU for listening.