A Special Essay, Speech Example

Dear Michelle,

Here is your speech.  I hope it is what you were looking for.  If we need to “tweek” any parts of it, just let me know. 

Thanks, Gary

About a month ago on May 11^th California resident Deborah Felix was sentenced to 11 years in prison for vehicular manslaughter resulting from a DUI.

Felix had been drinking and was driving home when she lost control of the vehicle. According to a local newspaper, Felix’s truck caused a 400-foot “path of destruction” across several front yards.  She hit a couple of mailboxes, swiped utility pole, smashed into a parked car and finally crashed into the corner of a garage.  Along the way, her vehicle struck and killed a woman – a 35-year-old mother of three.

When I came across this tragic story, I read a few blog entries that people wrote about this woman.  Several referred to her as a monster.  Words like heartless and selfish were common – and there more than a few comments containing language that I really couldn’t repeat here.

This horrible incident is an extreme example of what can happen when someone chooses to drink and drive.  Of course, not everyone who drives under the influence is going to end up killing someone.  The odds of that happening are a mere 1 in 13,000.  The problem however is, pretty significant – and there is a lot of strong public sentiment about drunk drivers.  I would guess that most people in this room have some kind of opinion about those people.  When we think of drunk drivers, we tend to think about people like Felix who are reckless, careless, and have no concern for others.

But… the fact is – most drunk drivers are not monsters.  They are nurses, teachers, salesmen, clerks, mothers, uncles, soldiers, or students like us.  There are a lot of regular, ordinary people – honest people – good people – who get behind the wheel after having a few drinks.  It’s not just drunken derelicts staggering to their cars after drinking all night in seedy, smoke-filled bars.  People drive after having a couple of martinis at a business lunch, after having had a few beers at a ballgame, or maybe after sharing a bottle of wine with their boyfriend on date.

People who get DUI’s are not “those people.”  They are people just like you, and as I found out two years ago – people like me.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I could get a DUI.  In the first place, I don’t drink very often.  And in the second place, I’m a very responsible person.  When I do drink, I don’t get stupid and dance around with a lampshade on my head.  I’m certainly not a drunk.  Once in a while, I’ll hang out with friends, have a few beers, and then be on my way.  I think – “I’ve had a few beers, I’m not all drunk and silly- I can drive home – No big deal.”

Well in August of 2008, that all changed.  I had been drinking with some friends, felt fine to drive and headed back to the base.  Well apparently I was impaired.  I got pulled over did the “touch-your-nose” thing on the side of the road, and ended up getting a ride in the back seat of a police car.

I was devastated.  There I was, a young, intelligent, responsible woman serving her country in the Air Force –sitting in a holding cell like some kind of criminal.  I was so humiliated.  I just couldn’t believe this was happening to me.

Well, despite the fact that there is a lot of drinking in the military, Uncle Sam doesn’t take too kindly to irresponsible behavior like getting a DUI.  Eventually, I ended up in front of my base commander explaining what happened and why he should let me stay in the Air Force.  Before I spoke with him, I had prepared a speech asking for a second chance.  I reminded him of my excellent service record, my recognition as airman of the quarter, my success as a flight physical training leader, and the volunteer work I did in the community during my off-hours.

That was a hard speech to write – and to give.  Part of the speech was to convince my commander to let me stay in the Air Force.  And I suppose another part of the speech was to convince myself that I really was a good person – despite this lapse in judgment.  There were more than a few times that I had to stop writing because the tears made it hard to see the paper.

(pause)

Well… I didn’t get kicked out of the Air Force, but I did receive a reprimand and some extra duty.  As hard as the whole experience was for me, I consider myself lucky.  I could have lost my career or worse yet hurt or killed someone like the lady in California.  I learned a hard lesson – an important lesson – and a lesson I hope to share with you.

This story is hard to tell.  Believe me… It would have been a lot more fun telling you about some of the outrageous practical jokes my friends and I play on each other.  But this story is important.  I am so aware of drinking and driving behavior these days.  I see it all the time.  I see my friends do it.  I see my coworkers do it.  I see it when I go out to dinner.  I’m sure you’ve seen it too

Now don’t get me wrong.  I’m not out on some crusade to change the world.  People are going to do what they’re going to do.  I share my story because I want to challenge people who think like I used to think; I’ll never get a DUI.  I mean – that’s ridiculous.  Having a few beers really doesn’t affect me that much.  Besides that, I’ve driven dozens of times after a few drinks and never had a problem.

I’m here to tell you that those words were my words a few years ago.

The fact is, that alcohol – any alcohol – impairs a person’s judgment.  And driving behind a cocktail or a few beers is a bad idea.  One of the problems with alcohol, is that it impairs your judgment long before it begins impairing your physical abilities.  You don’t have to be falling-down drunk for your judgment to be impaired.  After only one or two drinks, you will be impaired just enough to no longer be qualified to judge for yourself whether or not you are in good enough shape to drive.  After a six-pack, you are definitely too impaired to drive, but your judgment is too clouded for you to realize that.

I still like to have a drink with my friends every once in a while.  But having been through this terrible DUI experience, I am a lot more careful now.  If I know I will be drinking, I’ll hitch a ride with someone who I know doesn’t drink.  Planning ahead is important too.  Last year I went to a New Year’s Eve party and knew there would be a lot of alcohol there.  Instead of relying on having enough judgment to know that I should take a cab home, I just took a cab to the party.  That way there was no possibility of my thinking that I might be sober enough to drive home at 2 o’clock in the morning.  I would have to take a cab home because I didn’t have a car there.

We all know about designated drivers and other things we can do to prevent getting a DUI.  The problem is, a lot of us don’t do them.  We tend to think that we haven’t had that much to drink and the odds of getting pulled over are 1in a million.  Actually, the odds are 1 in 87.

That’s right.  The average person busted for DUI has driven while impaired 87 times before getting caught.  That’s why it is so easy for people to dismiss the danger of driving after drinking.  They have a few drinks – drive home – nothing happens – no big deal.

I have told you my story.  I have been honest with you.  So now I ask for your honesty.  Have you ever gotten behind the wheel of your car after having a few drinks?  If so, how many times?  Has it been 87 yet?  If not, the clock is ticking and somewhere down the line there’s a back seat in a cop car with your name on it.

I don’t stand in judgment of you or of anyone for that matter.  But I know the shame and humiliation of explaining to your boss that you need the day off to go to court.  I know the pain and remorse of looking your parents in the eye and seeing their disappointment in what you’ve done.  I know the knot in your stomach when you hear people talking about drunk drivers – “Damn drunk drivers – They should just shoot the sons of bitches” I know what it’s like to look in the mirror and be disappointed in yourself.

Life is about experiences and I want to experience as much as I can and learn as much as I can.  There are however, some lessons that are better learned from the mistakes of others.  You don’t need to experience my story to learn from it.  I encourage you to really think about what I have shared with you the next time you think about driving after drinking.  Believe me – it is a big deal.