It was a Sunday at home yesterday, and my wife turned to me, “What’s that noise Bob?” I listened. It was like reports of the tsunami. A low far off rumble, and as you listened it grew louder and louder and became increasingly deafening. And then enlightenment came, “Its people talking!” I exclaimed. “It’s a holiday and it’s the sound of all those people in their houses and flats behind us talking!”
The next time it’s a holiday listen.
The world is increasingly becoming a more talkative world. Go to any restaurant and try to hear yourself over the din, its nigh impossible.
I believe it wasn’t always like this:
Two hippies, feeling high, are strolling down the street. Another hippy, walking towards them, gently lifts his hand in greeting and says, “Hi there!”
Four blocks later, one hippy turns to the other and says, “Man, I thought he’d never stop talking!”
I guess whatever their bad points the hippies appreciated silence.
Here’s something about a President of the USA, who loved talking:
President Theodore Roosevelt had a passion for big-game hunting. When he heard that a famous British hunter was visiting the States he invited the man to the White House in the hope of getting some pointers from him.
After a two-hour meeting at which the two of them were closeted together and left undisturbed, the Englishman emerged looking somewhat dazed.
“What did you tell the President?” a reporter asked.
 “I told him my name,” said the worn-out visitor.
And here’s a President who knew how to listen:
When Calvin Coolidge was President of the United States, he saw dozens of people each day. Most had complaints of one kind or another.
One day a visiting Governor told the President that he did not understand how he was able to meet so many people in the space of a few hours. “Why, you are finished with all your visitors by dinner time,” said the Governor, “while I am often in my office till midnight.”
“Yes,” said Coolidge. “That’s because you talk.”
I was at a political function on Saturday last, and had been asked to speak, a short speech, but as I waited for my turn, each politician spoke as if he was there to solve the problems of all the people gathered.
Maybe if the present lot of our leaders would talk less and listen, they would hear more of what our people wanted..!