Ping
Posted on 12/02/2009 7:39:14 PM PST by TXnMA
For an extra treat, visit their website and listen to the actual audio of General MacArthur's incomparable oratory.
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And, while you're at it, notice that the General used the term, "victory" six times -- including in this immortal line:
"Yours is the profession of arms, the will to win, the sure knowledge that in war there is no substitute for victory; that if you lose, the nation will be destroyed; that the very obsession of your public service must be: Duty, Honor, Country."
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(You might be well advised to have tissues handy; I must admit that I found myself in need of them...)
Ping
It is good to be reminded that America produced such greatness -- and that our language is still capable of such power and emotion...
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I owe a debt of gratitude to my wife's octogenerian uncle, who recently reminded me of its power and majesty -- by quoting lengthy passages of it -- from memory!
Thanks, Don!
My mom had a book when I was a kid. Great American Speeches. This speech was in it.
....back in ‘68 I served with a Captain who was there when McArthur gave this speech....at the time every one knew it was a great address and it’s grown over the years....I assume Westmoreland was the CG at West Point then...
MacArthur was a bit of a drama queen (Ike said he studied dramatics under him for seven years when Mac called him the best clerk he ever had) but he certainly knew how to make a speech and inspire people.
yeah dugout doug was a great inspiration in the philippines in 1942. didn’t deserve the medal of honor.
MacArthur would have made a great president. He is one of the few men in history to have a monument built and maintained for him by the people that he ruled as a military occupation governor. Older Japanese rightly revere him.
Having said that Mac took his trade seriously and victory was the only objective worth considering. He only asked that he be able do his job, protect America and that is done by winning the conflict by devastating the enemy. These day the enemy is preserved and nothing is achieved.. If the present leadership was in charge with it policies in 1945 we would still be fighting World War II.
Wonderful! Thank you oh so very much, dear brother in Christ!
wow.
He was an imperfect man, but there was never any doubt about his personal courage or his devotion to this country.
“If the present leadership was in charge with it policies in 1945 we would still be fighting World War II.”
....you got that right!...and the NY Times would be demanding that the crew of the Enola Gay be tried as a war crimnal.
My dad was fortunate enough to hear this in person, as he was a cadet at the time.
My dad was fortunate enough to hear this in person, as he was a cadet at the time. I do believe there is an audio recording of this speech as well.
See Post 13.
Marking.
This is terrific. I was not aware of the “American Rhetoric” site until now!
There is legitimate dispute about whether MacArthur was a great general (I’m on the “not really” side), but one can’t dispute that it’s a great speech.
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