This is the speech that a German student gave in English class about his future aspirations. Perhaps it will also give other students ideas on how to structure a speech well.
The author is currently still using the pseudonym “Latus Crux” and is a very important contributor for us.
Latus Crux
Back to the roots – but to the right ones
- Ladies and gentlemen,
- imagine a land of boundless opportunity, where freedom reigns and innovation knows no limits.
- This land is not a fairy tale – it’s the United States of America, a nation built on dreams and aspirations.
- As someone with personal connections to the USA – my uncle is a medical professor there – I stand before you today to explore the roots of this great nation and envision its future.
- Like many of you, I’ve grown up associating America with positive ideals: freedom, self-governance, and scientific excellence.
- But as we look closer, we must ask ourselves: Is America still living up to its founding principles?
- Freedom, my friends, is the cornerstone of the American dream. The idea that government should be limited, leaving citizens to shape their own destinies, is a powerful one.
- But has the pendulum swung too far? As we speak, the scales of power seem to be tipping, threatening the very liberties that define the American spirit.
- Scientific power has long been America’s trump card. From landing on the moon to developing life-saving medicines, the USA has been at the forefront of innovation.
- But in an age where opinions are often valued over facts, we must ask: Is America still championing the pursuit of knowledge?
- Picture this: a classroom where students are constantly warned about potentially upsetting content, where open debate is stifled by fear of offense.
- Is this the America we want? A nation that once prided itself on robust discourse now seems to be retreating into a cocoon of trigger warnings and self-censorship.
- In the global arena, America’s approach to trade and diplomacy raises eyebrows. The land of opportunity, it seems, is building walls instead of bridges. Sanctions and tariffs have replaced open exchange, contradicting the very principles of free market competition that America once championed.
- My fellow students, it’s time for America to look in the mirror. The notion of American exceptionalism – the idea that America alone knows what’s best for the world – is a dangerous one. From the treatment of Native Americans to racial inequalities that persist to this day, history teaches us the perils of such thinking.
- Imagine an America that truly embraces equality for all, regardless of skin color. An America that works with other nations as equals, not subordinates. An America that values diplomacy over sanctions, cooperation over coercion.
- As I stand here today, I dream of an America that returns to its roots – a beacon of freedom, a bastion of scientific progress, and a true partner in global affairs. An America where the CIA is held accountable, where foreign policy is guided by mutual respect, not military might.
- In the words of John F. Kennedy, let us seek “not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war,” but “a genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living.”
- My fellow students, the America I’ve described may seem like a distant dream. But remember, it is we – the youth of today – who will shape the world of tomorrow. Let us challenge ourselves to be the change we wish to see, to build bridges where others would build walls, to seek understanding where others sow division.
- For in the end, as George Washington wisely counseled in his Farewell Address, true greatness lies not in dominating others, but in cultivating our own garden while fostering goodwill with all nations.
- So let me conclude with the motto of this speech, which applies not only to Americans: back to the roots, but to the right ones
- Thank you, ladies and gentleman, may God bless you.
More information, tips and materials
So far, we have been trying to help mainly German-speaking students with questions about language and literature.
However, we would also like to help English-speaking students with questions. For example, we have tried to explain Kafka’s short stories in a simple way.
https://textaussage.de/understanding-kafka-very-simple-you-just-need-to-have-a-key
Our German pages can be found here:
https://textaussage.de/weitere-infos