For years I have presented classes, speeches, and presentations about the Founding Fathers of our United States of America. I love to do it. I suppose during one of my speeches, I had become a little too enthusiastic and bombastic. One attendee came up to me afterwards to tell me as much!

I was a little like Dr. Seuss described:
“You did it! Hooray!
You ought to be proud!
You ought to get boisterous,
Noisterous, and loud!”
(Yes, he made up the word “noisterous.” But it sounds good in context!

Then this attendee asked me which one of the Founding Fathers, about which I had spoken, was my favorite?

I had to stop and think for a moment. Then I replyed: “When I’m speaking about George Washington, he’s my favorite! When I talk of Benjamin Franklin, he’s my favorite. When I discuss Thomas Jefferson, he’s my favorite. When I tell about Patrick Henry, he’s my favorite. When I speak of Patrick Henry, he’s my favorite. When I share stories about John Adams, he’s my favorite. And, yes, when I tell about James Madison, he’s my favorite.”

That, of course, didn’t satisfy this person, so she continued: “Well, if that’s the case, then which of these persons have you found to be the most popular?”

That was an easier question to answer. “By far the most popular presentation I give is about Benjamin Franklin.”

Then she continues: “Which of our Founding Fathers have you learned the most about, or about which one do we, the public, know the least?”

The answer to that question was also simple to answer. “I knew the least, and learned the most about Patrick Henry. We have mostly forgotten him as one of our Founding Fathers. And Thomas Jefferson said of him: ‘In matters of the Revolution, he left us all far behind!’ Remember that is Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, speaking!”

Get boisterous, noisterous, and loud!