Until recently I considered public speaking an ineffective and obsolete means of communication. Television, radio, advertising and other mass media outlets provide important figures with the ability to instantly reach millions of people, something that mere public speaking is incapable of. An experience I had recently changed my mind.
The Mississippi Press Association holds an annual celebrity roast that recognizes and pokes fun at a prominent Mississippian to raise funds for journalism scholarships. This year, Sen. Trent Lott was the honored guest. I was lucky enough to attend the banquet with The Madison County Journal.
Though I suspected Lott might come close to being roasted in the culinary sense, everything turned out to be in good fun. After several guest speakers reflected on the reason that Lott has received so much media attention lately, he was given a chance to speak himself.
The remarks made at Strom Thurmond’s December birthday party affected me as they did all Mississippians. Following the statements made at the party and the national outrage that ensued, it looked as though Mississippi would never elude its negative stereotypes.
That Lott’s comments about the 1948 campaign took Mississippi back to 1948 in the eyes of much of the nation angered and frustrated me more than Lott’s racial insensitivity of . Mississippians know the progress that our state has achieved to improve civil rights. Unfortunately, the national media develops a blood lust when the opportunity to exploit Mississippi’s turbulent past arises.
I admit that I didn’t like Lott very much before I attended the banquet. I was still angry about the comments that he made at Thurmond’s party. I laughed along with everyone else as Sid Salter and Amy Tuck unabashedly ribbed the senator for his clumsy comments and immovable hair.
When the time came for Lott to respond, however, I stopped laughing. Lott made no attempt to avoid the issue and immediately began speaking his thoughts on the ordeal. Lott made no excuses but instead said that the thing he regretted most about his comments was the negative impact it had on Mississippi’s image. The rest of his speech expressed heartfelt pride in his state and genuine concern for its advancement.
The passion in Lott’s voice spoke very clearly to me because it is the same passion that I have in my heart. The desire that he expressed for Mississippi’s advancement and the frustration that he expressed because our state always seems to come last were the same desires and frustrations that I feel.
Lott’s birthday toast to Thurmond used a poor choice of words. They reflected badly on Mississippi and in no way represented the majority of Mississippians’ feelings. However, Lott is truly proud of Mississippi and has worked his entire career for its betterment. He has not only worked for Mississippi’s betterment, but also to bring thousands of jobs to Mississippi’s minorities and to garner support for Mississippi’s historically black colleges.
I forgive Lott for his comments because I know that he will never stop loving Mississippi. I feel strongly that he will continue to work for our state’s betterment. Listening to Lott in person conveyed more to me than seeing a thousand BET interviews. Though Lott’s speech was heard by a relative few, I know that at least one opinion was swayed.
Josh Foreman is a junior communication major.