Can you play the Cello?

No? But you CAN be a public speaker!

Speaking apprehension is commonly known as the fear of public speaking. I have all kinds of apprehension right now just thinking about talking to my local, state and federal officials. And, I am a public speaking teacher, an actor and an extroverted/introvert to boot!

Katherine Watt of Bailiwick News, who researches and writes tirelessly about DOD’s bioweapon program against it’s own citizens, recently suggested that if people want to “do something” about the state of affairs in our country and the world, they could (should?) speak to their elected officials. Is she talking to me?

And you?

Could it really be true that WE, you and me, are the new media? The current-day press, the pony express, sans social media, up close and personal? Is it actually up to US to get the word out about what the heck is going on? Is it truly conceivable, that WE, you and me, are humans in the very best sense of the word? The kind of humans that actually use our minds, emotions, and heart to do something to right wrongs even when there’s no money in it, and we really, really don’t want to, and we think we can’t and we’re just plain chicken s___?

Well, can Katherine do this all by herself?

In this 5th generation of warfare, where psy-Ops and propaganda, blackmail and blood money are the tactics, and “Who do You Trust?” is the game show of choice, it seems to take a different kind of soldier. It’s not going to be “let the bombs fall and winner takes all.” "I don’t think so. We don’t even know whose on what side half the time.

So, in this confusing climate, is it even safe to “speak?” And what does it look like?

I don’t know exactly, but I’m going to conduct an experiment. A human experiment. I’m going to find out if everything that I know and teach about public speaking and speaking apprehension works for this type of information to action campaign.

If I want my elected officials to “do something.” First I need to know what they know and what they don’t know. How can they act if they don’t know what’s going on? I’m going to make an appointment. And then, I’m going to sit down and tell them what I think. There you have it.

But can I? Am I able to organize my thoughts, can I distill the last two and 1/2 years of research and questions into something coherent that expresses my very grave concerns about the health and well being of my family, community and country?

Can I adequately convey the emotional toll of these many months, and the desperate, yes desperate, longing for some support and help—from any sector for God’s sake, to overcome the monster that has become our own government?

As I write this, I realize the dichotomy. I am going to speak to my government about saving me from my government. Lord help us.

But, that is what I am going to do. If you would like to give it a try, I invite you to join the experiment. Tweak it to serve you and yours. Read the document that I have prepared for this “Information to Action” campaign. It provides A Five-step Format for Citizens in Communication with Officeholders. Basically it’s a how-to.

After teaching public speaking for over 30 years, I have learned this. When you have something to say, and you craft it well, when you tell the story inside you that is true, the audience, whether it be a roomful or one solitary human—will hear it through their heart like the deep resonance of a cello.

And the speaker has lost her apprehension, which allows the field to open. They call this the “now moment.” The place where something can actually change.