Berl Falbaum
While I have read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address dozens of times over the years, I have not read or listened to New Jersey Senator Cory Booker’s record-breaking marathon oration delivered on the Senate floor last week.
Lincoln’s address, generally considered the greatest political speech in U.S. history, was all of 272 words (one sheet) and was delivered roughly in three minutes.
Booker’s is 1,164 pages and was delivered over 25 hours and 5 minutes, starting on Monday night (March 31) at 7 p.m. (EDT) and ending at 8:06 p.m. Tuesday. He broke the previous record owned by South Carolina Senator Strom Thurman who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes in an attempt to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
Now, the Lincoln-Booker comparison is not intended as criticism of the New Jersey senator.
He deserves credit for displaying much-need political courage, eloquence, and saying things that needed to be said.
While his speech deserves more attention, most of the media covered, not his remarks, but how he prepared for the speech, his stamina, reaction, but little of the substance of the speech.
So, I scoured the Internet and compiled some quotes that did receive coverage and that I thought deserve more attention and reflection.
• “I rise tonight because I believe that our country is in crisis.”
• “These are not normal times in our nation. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate. The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent, and we all must do more to stand against them.”
• “Let’s be bolder in America with a vision that inspires, with hope that starts with the people of the United States of America. That’s how this country started – we the people. Let’s get back to the ideals that others are threatening. We need that now from all Americans. This is a moral moment. It’s not left or right. It’s right or wrong (emphasis mine). This is not a partisan moment. It is a moral moment. Where do you stand?”
• “In just 71 days, the president has inflicted harm after harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the foundations of our democracy and any sense of common decency.”
• “These are not normal times in our nation. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate.”
• “The most powerful man in the world and the richest man in the world have taken a battle axe to the Veterans’ Association, battle axe to the Department of Education. What will we do in this body.
Right now, the answer is nothing.”
• “Let’s get in good trouble.” (This is a partial quote from the late Georgia Congressman John Lewis, a black man viciously beaten in the South during the Civil Rights Movement.) The full quote: “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America.”
• “Where does the Constitution live? On paper or in our hearts?”
• “What kind of man is in our White House that makes fun of the disabled?” Booker was referring to Trump, who in his first presidential campaign, mocked a reporter who had arthrogryposis.
• “If America hasn’t broken your heart, then you don’t love her enough.”
• “Fear is a necessary precondition to courage,” adding, “I’m scared too.”
• “Our American history, if nothing else, is a perpetual testimony to the achievement of impossible things against impossible odds.”
• “This is not who we are or how we do things in America. How much more can we endure before we, as a collective voice, say enough is enough? Enough is enough. You’re not going to get away with this.”
• “Congress is being too complicit to an executive that is overstepping his authority and violating the Constitution and hurting people…”
• “The president has inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy.”
• “The power of the people is greater than the people in power.”
• “We should be stepping up and saying we accept a lot of responsibility for this moment, but we also have a lot responsibility for meeting the moment.”
• “How much more of these indignities will we take as [Trump} turns his back on our allies?”
As Booker approached his conclusion, he challenged his colleagues: “… to look in the mirror and say, ‘We will do better.’”
If even one Republican would say something along these lines. And he/she would not have to speak for 25-plus hours. A speech on one sheet containing 272 words would be enough.
Lincoln’s address, generally considered the greatest political speech in U.S. history, was all of 272 words (one sheet) and was delivered roughly in three minutes.
Booker’s is 1,164 pages and was delivered over 25 hours and 5 minutes, starting on Monday night (March 31) at 7 p.m. (EDT) and ending at 8:06 p.m. Tuesday. He broke the previous record owned by South Carolina Senator Strom Thurman who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes in an attempt to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
Now, the Lincoln-Booker comparison is not intended as criticism of the New Jersey senator.
He deserves credit for displaying much-need political courage, eloquence, and saying things that needed to be said.
While his speech deserves more attention, most of the media covered, not his remarks, but how he prepared for the speech, his stamina, reaction, but little of the substance of the speech.
So, I scoured the Internet and compiled some quotes that did receive coverage and that I thought deserve more attention and reflection.
• “I rise tonight because I believe that our country is in crisis.”
• “These are not normal times in our nation. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate. The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent, and we all must do more to stand against them.”
• “Let’s be bolder in America with a vision that inspires, with hope that starts with the people of the United States of America. That’s how this country started – we the people. Let’s get back to the ideals that others are threatening. We need that now from all Americans. This is a moral moment. It’s not left or right. It’s right or wrong (emphasis mine). This is not a partisan moment. It is a moral moment. Where do you stand?”
• “In just 71 days, the president has inflicted harm after harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the foundations of our democracy and any sense of common decency.”
• “These are not normal times in our nation. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate.”
• “The most powerful man in the world and the richest man in the world have taken a battle axe to the Veterans’ Association, battle axe to the Department of Education. What will we do in this body.
Right now, the answer is nothing.”
• “Let’s get in good trouble.” (This is a partial quote from the late Georgia Congressman John Lewis, a black man viciously beaten in the South during the Civil Rights Movement.) The full quote: “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America.”
• “Where does the Constitution live? On paper or in our hearts?”
• “What kind of man is in our White House that makes fun of the disabled?” Booker was referring to Trump, who in his first presidential campaign, mocked a reporter who had arthrogryposis.
• “If America hasn’t broken your heart, then you don’t love her enough.”
• “Fear is a necessary precondition to courage,” adding, “I’m scared too.”
• “Our American history, if nothing else, is a perpetual testimony to the achievement of impossible things against impossible odds.”
• “This is not who we are or how we do things in America. How much more can we endure before we, as a collective voice, say enough is enough? Enough is enough. You’re not going to get away with this.”
• “Congress is being too complicit to an executive that is overstepping his authority and violating the Constitution and hurting people…”
• “The president has inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy.”
• “The power of the people is greater than the people in power.”
• “We should be stepping up and saying we accept a lot of responsibility for this moment, but we also have a lot responsibility for meeting the moment.”
• “How much more of these indignities will we take as [Trump} turns his back on our allies?”
As Booker approached his conclusion, he challenged his colleagues: “… to look in the mirror and say, ‘We will do better.’”
If even one Republican would say something along these lines. And he/she would not have to speak for 25-plus hours. A speech on one sheet containing 272 words would be enough.
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