WEBVTT 00:00.213 --> 00:02.630 (soft music) 00:07.558 --> 00:08.870 - Hi everyone, this is Chaplin Bursin 00:08.870 --> 00:10.980 and today's thought is about critics. 00:10.980 --> 00:13.550 In 1910 President Theodore Roosevelt 00:13.550 --> 00:16.860 gave what would be one of his most famous speeches. 00:16.860 --> 00:19.820 Often called the Man in the Arena speech. 00:19.820 --> 00:22.440 He spoke against cynics who were critical of those 00:22.440 --> 00:24.610 who were trying to make the world a better place 00:24.610 --> 00:26.550 without actually doing anything positive 00:26.550 --> 00:29.160 or risking anything themselves. 00:29.160 --> 00:31.667 In this famous speech, he said, 00:31.667 --> 00:35.647 "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena. 00:35.647 --> 00:39.497 "Whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood. 00:39.497 --> 00:41.467 "Who strives valiantly, who errs, 00:41.467 --> 00:44.127 "who comes up short again and again. 00:44.127 --> 00:48.210 "Because there is no effort without error and short coming." 00:48.210 --> 00:49.760 Unknown to Roosevelt he would 00:49.760 --> 00:51.820 live out this speech two years later 00:51.820 --> 00:53.480 as he ran for president while giving 00:53.480 --> 00:56.220 15 to 20 speeches a day. 00:56.220 --> 00:58.800 As he prepared to give one of these campaign speeches 00:58.800 --> 01:03.340 on October 14, 1912 a saloon keeper shot Roosevelt 01:03.340 --> 01:06.300 at nearly point blank range in the chest. 01:06.300 --> 01:08.440 Thankfully the bullet traveled through 01:08.440 --> 01:10.190 the paper of his large speech 01:10.190 --> 01:12.990 as well as his steel glasses which slowed it down 01:12.990 --> 01:15.620 just enough that it didn't enter his heart. 01:15.620 --> 01:17.850 But with his shirt soaked in blood 01:17.850 --> 01:20.800 Roosevelt got up to deliver his speech still 01:20.800 --> 01:22.960 and spoke for 90 minutes with the bullet 01:22.960 --> 01:24.920 lodged in his chest. 01:24.920 --> 01:26.540 He spent eight days in the hospital 01:26.540 --> 01:29.980 and the bullet remained in him for the rest of his life. 01:29.980 --> 01:32.530 Literally marred by sweat and blood 01:32.530 --> 01:36.130 Roosevelt had valiantly strived to become president again 01:36.130 --> 01:38.940 and to make the world a better place as he saw it. 01:38.940 --> 01:42.043 But he would come up short, losing to Woodrow Wilson. 01:42.990 --> 01:45.250 The critic in this case was the assassin 01:45.250 --> 01:48.400 who did not work for years to improve the world 01:48.400 --> 01:50.850 but cowardly shot a man who he didn't agree with. 01:51.750 --> 01:54.210 But Roosevelt's legacy continues to live on 01:54.210 --> 01:56.600 in the accomplishments of his presidency 01:56.600 --> 01:59.663 including the national parks and forests that he created. 02:01.430 --> 02:03.020 Most people would never even recognize 02:03.020 --> 02:05.940 the name of the saloon keeper who shot Roosevelt. 02:05.940 --> 02:08.090 He has no enduring legacy. 02:08.090 --> 02:10.960 While all of us can benefit from constructive feedback 02:10.960 --> 02:13.730 I hope that we can ignore those critics 02:13.730 --> 02:15.510 taking cheap shots at us without 02:15.510 --> 02:17.640 risking anything themselves. 02:17.640 --> 02:19.300 Because never has there been a time 02:19.300 --> 02:22.940 where we have as greatly needed people to be courageous 02:22.940 --> 02:25.400 and stand up for things that matter. 02:25.400 --> 02:27.740 And yet never has there been such a time 02:27.740 --> 02:30.460 where it is as easy to be the cowardly critic 02:30.460 --> 02:32.513 behind the keyboard who risks nothing. 02:33.400 --> 02:36.310 We will fail and have short comings 02:36.310 --> 02:38.910 but what is most important is that we continue 02:38.910 --> 02:43.110 to strive valiantly to make the world a better place. 02:43.110 --> 02:44.110 Blessings this week.