Fight the Power Speech: Lack of Response to Natural Disaster (Florida)

By Josh Sperber

This speech is written and spoken by the "Mayor of Florida"

We have seen many a natural disaster dirty the beautiful shores of this beautiful country of ours.  And now, another disaster has broken our sturdy shores, and strong hearts, and our strapping minds.  Hurricane hannah has ravaged our shores, and yet, the government does nothing.  Maybe we thought that since Katrina destroyed New Orleans, the response would be increased in speed and more supplies to help us.  But it is not our president who creates this problem, it is FEMA.  Martin Luther King, a former "policemen" of the south with a goal of eradicating the injustice of segregation said, "whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."  Our current state is following this point exactly.  Our hurt is hurting the economy, and pains the minds of people with friends still under the wreckage, or grieving for their lost friends and property.  Some have left Florida, not just to carry "their thus saith the lord," but to spread the word of their survival and the help that they and the rest of us so dearly need.  As our ruined city cries for rebirth and rescue, I propose the same for FEMA.  Electing me as the leader of FEMA would not only give the position to someone very qualified for the job, but it would give them someone who feels the pain of natural disasters more than much of the USA, as many a natural disaster has ravaged our state of home, body and mind.  Join me to bring you all to the eye of the storm of injustice where together (pause) together (pause) we can calm the storm, so America (pause) can be calm in every storm.  

What would you die for?

Leader Speech

Obama’s television broadcast to the entire east coast right after a huge flood caused by global warming

Everyone was warned this would happen. We were warned. I was warned. But did we—did I—act upon it? I tried. But in order to solve the problem that will govern our everyday, we must work as a unit. Together.
Creon from Sophocles’ Antigone once said, “as for our city’s fortune, the gods have shaken her, when the great waves broke, but the gods have brought her through to safety again.” We have been hit, literally, with a wave and our country’s luck has not been too optimistic. But we can pray and hope that together, we can pull through.
A home is more than a house or an apartment. Our homes give us security. Like a small child in his mother’s arms, we feel most safe and comfortable there. But now, our homes are in wreckage. Torn and tattered. I, too, have lost my home.
I chose you today. I chose all of you because I know that you are strong and can handle what I am going to ask of you. At this point, my colleagues and I have decided that evacuation is necessary. This means leaving our home, our feeling of safety. But I want you all—all Americans—to understand that the United States of America is your home. No matter where you are, in the fields of Georgia or in the mountains of Oregon, you—we—are at home. And that safety, the feeling the little boy has in his mother’s arms, is everywhere.
This evacuation will take a lot of effort, and that is why I am here. I will stand strong; nothing can break me when my country, my people need me. I am going through exactly what you are going through and we must all come together. (Pause) Together. (Pause) Together, we can make this flood a puddle.

What I Would Die For

This was before it all went dark. 6th grade had begun and September was moving lethargically. I was taking dance classes and my mother had come to pick me up one night. As we approached I-91, there was traffic ahead. Unknowing of what was about to happen, my mother decided to take another route, swerving down dark side roads. We were coming up Saxon Woods Road, right near my house. As my mother turned onto Mamaroneck Road, my street, bright lights flashed, this tingling sensation crawled down my spine, and suddenly everything went dark.
When it all came back, when the dark went away, it seemed as though my worries had grown. They became bigger than me, stronger than me.
I worry about anything. Every thought, every fact, every idea is constantly weighing me down. Ever since I was a child, my mother has been telling me “Don’t obsess over that,” “Stop worrying.” Ever since 6th grade, it has escalated.
In 7th grade, I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
People always say, “Oh my god, I am so OCD,” but they don’t get it. They don’t stay up all night worrying that their mother is going to die of a freak knife accident because they did not touch their hand to their lips 5 times in a row. Or that their grandmother is going to slip and fall face first into a curb in the Bronx because they did not brush their hair a certain way. No, they don’t. They never will. But I want that. I want my mind to be free.
I would die for a world that is worry free. Even after all of the therapy and medication, I still have anxiety. I wish life could be simpler, less complicated. I want to live always in the present, in the now, never looking back, never looking forward. If I were to live in the present, I would not have to worry. I would be able to control my anxiety and not let my anxiety control me. But I can’t.

FDR Pearl Harbor

FDR Pearl Harbor Speech Rewritten

Our government was warned this might happen. I was warned this might happen. The Japanese warned us, “We will attack.” But why should I heed such a warning when so many soldiers’ heartbeats are silent and our country is scared? “We will attack” Pearl Harbor. These soldiers and this state of Hawaii did not deserve the bloody mass of bodies that cover Pearl Harbor at this time of day. But I must stand here, because I have to ask you to come with me, support me, help me find revenge for these occurrences. Until we can walk around and feel safe again, rebuilding ourselves, until we can walk along the streets with comfort, come together in parks free from fear, our families talking, our children running and our soldiers resting – until that day we cannot call ourselves a free nation.
My fellow Americans, we are not alone. Last night, the Japanese attacked Malaya, Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippine Islands, Wake Island, and this morning attacked Midway Island. The Japanese attacked, ATTACKED! Attacked the United States and attacked others as well. We must come together and fight! We must defend ourselves against this common enemy and this Japanese offensive. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. However, with confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

What Would You Die For

Attiucs slowly came to his seat, and sat down. “Tom, we really need to talk.”

It was the final day before Tom Robinson’s trial, and he still wasn’t clear on what he should say in court.
“Tom…when you were a child, what did you want to be when you were older?”
“Well Atticus, what does this have to do with tomorrow?”
“Please, just tell me.”
“Well, when I was a young boy, I always wanted to be a musician; even had my own guitar.”
“Tom, tomorrow doesn’t look to bright for you. I’ve tried all I can, but this jury isn’t going to be too sympathetic toward an African American like you. You need to get away from here. As far as possible and start a new life. Become a musician Tom, live how you always wanted to live.”
“Atticus, why are you talking like this? You told me you wouldn’t let this case go! I know my chances are slim but I have faith in you! I can’t just leave like this they’ll find me!”
“Well what would you rather do? Die!?” Atticus yelled. “You must leave as soon as possible Tom. Otherwise, you will die. People here, they don’t see you as another human being. They see you as an animal, just a dirty old hog!”

There was a deep silence between the two men.
“I can leave tomorrow,” Tom said.

Is Grant a man?

By Robbie Smith

I was warned not to come here. I was warned. They warned me, “Don’t stand behind that coffin”. But why should I heed such a warning when a heartbeat is silent and Jefferson lies dead? “Don’t stand behind this coffin”. Jefferson was as good of a man that we could have known, and was a great innocent person. But why let him stay in his cell and be a hog, stranded in his cell with no life left to live or any choices to make. This is not who Jefferson is, Jefferson is an innocent person who should make a statement before he is executed. It’s unfortunate that on this day, in this time, our neighborhood friend in Jefferson will be killed, but we must not only dwell over it in sadness but also learn from it and grow stronger as individuals. It was that jail cell, that one very jail cell, every day Jefferson woke up in that jail cell and could barely see the light of day as if he were in an in an underground room with darkness and nothing left to live for. But Jefferson was meant to live for more then this, Jefferson is and was a great man throughout his life, and though he was found guilty for something he did not do, its over and we must face the end but deal with it in the correct manner by not letting him die as a hog but making him a man. Ultimately, as a community, together, we must teach Jefferson “A lesson before dying”(Gaines), so we realize we did everything we could do for him and that he died a man. That day, I was with my family, all my friends, I saw Jefferson shackled down in the day room like a hog and that’s when it clicked into my mind that Jefferson is being treated without respect therefore he is being like a hog. On that day, is when I remembered everything that matters to me like all my friends and family. Though I was warned not to intervene with Jefferson, when he went to his deathbed I know he was a man inside my heart, because Paul told me he walked to the execution room, standing tall and proud like a man. During all this time this made me realize 1 thing, I am a man myself and I love my family, friends, and ultimately my soon to be wife, Vivian. R.I.P. Jefferson.