Being as fond as I am of avoiding any and all formality, I will simply introduce the following speech as my speech for the "Season of Nonviolence" speech contest.
Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen. My name is Mercedes Thorne, and I am currently a freshman at Alameda Science and Technology Institute. I would like to thank you for being here today.
This year's theme is "Security Within Your Community". But what is security? There are many ways we can define this word, and each definition changes our approach in radical ways. Where do we start? Sometimes, we need to work backwards, from a solution to our question.
To achieve security in a community, a family, or in any situation or circumstance, there are three rules we should follow. They are not easy to abide by but are nevertheless important. These rules are as follows:
1) See things how they really are and not how you want to see them. 2) See what needs to be done. and 3) DO IT
The first rule is the hardest to follow. Seeing things how they really are is one thing, but learning to see past the lies we tell ourselves everyday is something entirely different. Every day we tell ourselves lies. We say things such as “oh, it can’t really matter that much” and “ that won’t cause me any problems” when we know for a fact that that’s not the truth. One of the things we frequently choose not to see is bullying. When we see someone being bullied, we tell ourselves that it’s how the world works, that it doesn’t matter that much. We know this is a lie, and yet we listen to ourselves, and over time, our judgment becomes clouded by such lies, to the point where it becomes a challenge to see things how they are. It’s like sugar-coating absolutely everything.
But if a single individual were to stop lying to themselves even half the time, the fog surrounding their life would thin, allowing them to see everything at face value. And as soon as this cloud begins to thin, it won’t stop. Of course, it may be impossible to be completely honest with yourself all the time, and that every now and again there is that one unavoidable lie you tell yourself. Like the lie I told myself moments ago, "I'm not nervous.” But to the extent we can learn to be true to ourselves, we’ll be in a better position to keep our communities secure.
The second rule builds on the first, as we can only see what needs to be done if we can see everything clearly. However, seeing what needs to be done can be very difficult. Most will see two paths, the one where you do the right thing and one where you do what’s easy. For example, our society allows us to overlook bullying, despite what everyone says about stopping this disturbing trend. A teacher can see a child under verbal or physical abuse from another child and can look past it because they don’t want to deal with calling any parents, arranging detentions, talking to the administration, etc. So they see what needs to be done, and they take the easy way out, convincing themselves that “boys will be boys”. or “it’s just kids messing around”. When if fact, there may be something more serious happening. However, we must keep in mind that sometimes it actually is just kids messing around. This is where this rule ties into the first. We have to see the situation for what it is.
And finally our third rule is the easiest to understand of all three. Do what needs to be done. This is where the rules tie most into today’s theme. If we can see the problem clearly, see how to deal with the problem, and then choose the right path, then our communities will be safe enough for us to be who we choose to be.
Mahatma Gandhi once said "we shall begin with the children... [because of their] natural innocence... [and] peace"
If what Gandhi said is true, then I think this is a task for all of us. The children of my generation, their parents, their little sisters and brothers need to see the world as it really is and realistically judge our progress. To see what needs to be done and find the courage to do it
If we can follow these rules, and take down many of society’s issues with them, our community will become much safer, more secure, and more tolerant.
Thank you.
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