I rarely raise my voice and tell this story to kids of all ages. They always get the point.
I was once at a meeting addressed by the late Amilcar Cabral, a man I got to know slightly and admire a lot. He was the leader of PAIGC, the Party trying to free Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde from the Portuguese. He was a small, slight man, very gently spoken and quite shy. He did not seem like a great leader but appearances are deceptive.
After being introduced, Amilcar Cabral took the stand and started to tell the audience about his Party's campaign for his country's independence.
He spoke very quietly and several people at the back of the room shouted, "You'll have to speak up, we can't hear you back here."
Amilcar Cabral looked, smiled and replied in the same quiet voice, but not at all patronising, "I'm very sorry, it's force of habit. When you're in the bush hiding from the Portuguese army, you learn how to speak quietly and how to listen."
Everyone laughed. Amilcar Cabral then continued his talk. The audience listened quietly and heard every word.
He received resounding applause at the end.
I was once at a meeting addressed by the late Amilcar Cabral, a man I got to know slightly and admire a lot. He was the leader of PAIGC, the Party trying to free Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde from the Portuguese. He was a small, slight man, very gently spoken and quite shy. He did not seem like a great leader but appearances are deceptive.
After being introduced, Amilcar Cabral took the stand and started to tell the audience about his Party's campaign for his country's independence.
He spoke very quietly and several people at the back of the room shouted, "You'll have to speak up, we can't hear you back here."
Amilcar Cabral looked, smiled and replied in the same quiet voice, but not at all patronising, "I'm very sorry, it's force of habit. When you're in the bush hiding from the Portuguese army, you learn how to speak quietly and how to listen."
Everyone laughed. Amilcar Cabral then continued his talk. The audience listened quietly and heard every word.
He received resounding applause at the end.
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