Written vs Oral

I do believe that written text can communicate just as well as an oral presentation. There are some definite benefits to an oral presentation that do not come with the written word, such as emotion and persuasion. But there are also benefits of the written word that are not found in oral presentations. Therefore, I believe that they can both communicate effectively.
With an oral presentation the speakers tone can portray great emotion behind the words to give a better context to what the writer is trying to communicate. Even with proper punctuation the written word can be misinterpreted in tone and emotion. Just look at how confused people become with email language and emotional tone. That’s why emotocons were invented.
On the other hand, the written word can be more thought out and detailed as you have all the time in the world to complete it. With an oral presentation, the speaker can forget or skip parts that may have added to the content, or in listening, the audience could miss a part. With the written word, it is simple to go back over and reread parts that you misunderstood, unlike an oral presentation. (Unless you record it or videotape it)
I am still a firm believer in the ideal that "the pen is mightier than the sword," but I also think that a good speech can rally people together and form change just as well as the written word. The written word and spoken word can both communicate effectively in different ways. Overall, I just think it depends on the author/speaker as to which they prefer and what form of communication works best for each person.