![]() ![]() ![]() I doubt anyone started “the wave” as the Sermon on the Mount was delivered. There wasn’t even a single clap when he uttered the famous line, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” At Gettysburg, there were undoubtedly more bowed heads than clapping hands. Roosevelt delivered countless speeches that were rarely interrupted by applause. The problem with clapping and standing ovations is that they distract, sometimes on purpose, from the message being sent.įranklin D. And, of course, I have discovered that when my children or colleagues give me a “slow clap,” it is not a positive reaction but a sarcastic dig for doing or saying the obvious. I am not anti-clapping - it can be a natural reaction to an inspiring or exciting moment - but I reserve most of those for sporting events. ![]() In a nod to our narcissism and need for approval, we now have professors who research and study clapping. A few historic presidential comparisons: Eisenhower received 57 ovations in his final State of the Union, Kennedy only 37, Clinton 120 and, in an odd twist, Carter’s in 1978 was noted for the number of members sleeping or yawning. Last year when the president addressed the nation, he was interrupted with 53 standing ovations - led by the Republican members of the House and Senate. They are scored like a kindergarten popularity contest, with the winner being determined by the length and decibels of the applause. No longer are these speeches measured by the strength of their vision, the power of their policy or the inspiring principles presented. Such addresses have devolved from critical conversations with the nation to carefully orchestrated pep rallies for the political party in power. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump will enter the chamber of the House of Representatives to deliver the State of the Union address. ![]()
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