PUBLIC SPEAKING AND PRO-LIFERS
By Laura Echevarria, NRLC Director of Media Relations

Public speaking - - these two words cause many people to break out into a cold sweat. For many pro-lifers, public speaking is, at best, a necessary evil. They understand that if they want to convey the pro-life message to many people at the same time, in the same place, the best way to do it is with a speech. But they are terrified of the idea of speaking in front of a crowd.

If you feel that way, rest assured you are not alone. A majority of Americans list fear of public speaking as their greatest anxiety. Is there a way to get over the jitters, make yourself more comfortable? Absolutely!

There are three basic principles of public speaking - - preparation, practice, and persistence.

Who Is Your Audience?
First, when preparing for a speech keep in mind your audience. Are they pro-lifers? Is the group a mix of pro-lifers and abortion supporters? Are you dealing with an audience of fence- straddlers, people who don't have a clear position on abortion? Also, ask yourself, what does your audience need?

You want to tailor your message to the audience. Pro-lifers may not need to hear about fetal development but they may need a speech motivating them before an upcoming special event. A mixed audience may need a speech about the beautiful symphony of fetal development wrapped in a sincere message of compassion for mother and child.

Drafting a speech can be the hardest and most daunting task aside from actually giving the speech. Done properly, however, it will relieve most of your anxieties.

Begin by writing a simple outline of what points you would like to make. Expand your outline by adding sub-points. For example, your speech may be titled "The Person of the Unborn Child." In your introduction you may want to give a brief overview of the Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court ruling and what it did to strip an unborn child of her rights as a person.

Your first point may be "I. The Humanity of the Unborn Child Is Unique" and your first sub-point, "A. The genetic makeup of the unborn child is separate from her parents." Your second sub-point may be "B. The development of the unborn child shows her humanity from the moment of conception." Continue until you have the outline of your speech.

After completing the outline, keep adding additional supporting information and facts. However, keep in mind your time limit. Even if you haven't been assigned a limit, most people, especially in our microwave-fast food-television society, don't have the attention span to tolerate a lengthy speech. Close your speech with a summary that clearly conveys the main message of your speech.

Ad-libbing Rarely Works
Second, a successful speech is one that has been practiced. Few people can "wing it" when giving a speech. Those people who can, more often than not, are expert speakers. Even they will not always be able to successfully ad lib. The most important aspect of any presentation is practice.

The old adage, "practice makes perfect," is absolutely true. If you are uncomfortable practicing in front of others, practice first in front of a mirror. Practice your gestures. Ask yourself when are gestures appropriate in your speech and what gestures do you feel comfortable using? Practice with any props you may handle. Are you using a fetal model? Are you using posters or charts? Make sure you can refer to them comfortably. Practice is the time to work out any potentially awkward moments.

When you are comfortable in front of a mirror, try a live audience. Your audience can consist of family members or friends. Ask them to tell you if a gesture seems stiff, uncomfortable, or unfamiliar. They also can tell you if something in your speech is awkward or confusing.

Again, practice is the time to work out the details. Regardless of your sincerity, if your delivery is stiff but your speech is about pro-life compassion, you're not going to appear very caring and friendly to anyone in your audience who may be hurting from abortion.

A speech is a golden opportunity to show the compassion we, as pro-lifers, have toward those who have been hurt by abortion. No matter how terrified you may be, someone in your audience may be praying that you say something to let him or her know that help and comfort exist in the pro-life movement.

Giving speeches, even for those of us who have degrees in communications, can be nerve-wracking events. Even seasoned veterans get nervous. Someone very wise once told me that nerves are a sign that you care about what you are doing or saying before an audience.

Use that nervous energy to your advantage by putting it into your speech. Let that energy show in your gestures and in your facial expressions - - a smile, for example, when it's appropriate.

We All Make Mistakes
Third, be persistent in giving speeches. Don't let a speech that doesn't go as planned keep you from giving another. Be persistent; don't let setbacks hold you back. Everyone, even the most experienced speakers, will stumble occasionally or cough right in the middle of delivering an important fact.

Don't give in. Who knows how many people you speak to about fetal development, or the emotional pain of an abortion, will someday come to recognize the truth about abortion and the toll it takes on all of us.

Every pro-lifer, at some point, may be called upon to speak before an audience. Regardless of nervousness, remember that the message you convey is one of the most important people will ever hear. Take advantage of any opportunity you may be given to speak. What you say in a speech before a church, synagogues, or other assembly may change a person's life or save another's life.