Why Can't We Just Trust Words?

Obama's recent State of Union speech was quite well received and people who watched his speech on TV or internet were particularly appreciative of the liveliness and subtlety conveyed through body languages and facial expressions of the speaker and those who surrounded him.

So far so good.  However, if you ask anyone to name one or two the most effective and memorable lines from this speech or backwards for several years, we usually don't get much.  The truth is that many speakers, including the former and current presidents rely on things beyond words.  I am not trying to find fault; I just hope the words themselves would carry enough weight so when we read them we will get it all.

It is no wonder that we haven't heard any speech on the par of Lincoln's Gettysburg adress for a very long time.

This distrusting of words is not limited in the public speaking arena.  Even in the legit theater, many are guilty of distrusting of words and over produce plays with saturated music, scenic and special effects.

I long for the days of simple essence but not optimistic at all.