Red, White, and Blue | Noor Tabba | TEDxLosOsosHighSchool

hello my name is nour tabla and I wrote

hello my name is nour tabla and I wrote a poem but I didn’t just write this poem

a poem but I didn’t just write this poem

a poem but I didn’t just write this poem to entertain you guys I wrote this poem

to entertain you guys I wrote this poem

to entertain you guys I wrote this poem to challenge some of your biases

to challenge some of your biases

to challenge some of your biases misconceptions as well as some of

misconceptions as well as some of

misconceptions as well as some of perceptions you may have it’s titled red

perceptions you may have it’s titled red

perceptions you may have it’s titled red white and blue and I really hope that

white and blue and I really hope that

white and blue and I really hope that you enjoy this poem but I also hope that

you enjoy this poem but I also hope that

you enjoy this poem but I also hope that you listen to it with an open mind I

know there’s some suspicion don’t be

know there’s some suspicion don’t be calling me a magician there isn’t a

calling me a magician there isn’t a

calling me a magician there isn’t a rabbit in the Hat here I just keep on

rabbit in the Hat here I just keep on

rabbit in the Hat here I just keep on chilling so don’t stress about the speed

chilling so don’t stress about the speed

chilling so don’t stress about the speed that may not be existent because these

that may not be existent because these

that may not be existent because these fire bars I’m dropping are all you need

fire bars I’m dropping are all you need

fire bars I’m dropping are all you need to listen what’s going to be straight

to listen what’s going to be straight

to listen what’s going to be straight sorcery is the pile of fame and glory

sorcery is the pile of fame and glory

sorcery is the pile of fame and glory that’s left when I buy dust someone come

that’s left when I buy dust someone come

that’s left when I buy dust someone come pick up the legacy and I know you all

pick up the legacy and I know you all

pick up the legacy and I know you all are wondering who the heck is this well

are wondering who the heck is this well

are wondering who the heck is this well I’m a girl who’s lost but I’m finding

I’m a girl who’s lost but I’m finding

I’m a girl who’s lost but I’m finding the right path and I’m figuring out the

the right path and I’m figuring out the

the right path and I’m figuring out the cost that the road to power has you see

cost that the road to power has you see

cost that the road to power has you see power is a strange human need some

power is a strange human need some

power is a strange human need some believe it’s equitable to greed and

believe it’s equitable to greed and

believe it’s equitable to greed and others say it’s the same as lust because

others say it’s the same as lust because

others say it’s the same as lust because power is one we must rise and be better

power is one we must rise and be better

power is one we must rise and be better than others but didn’t someone say we’re

than others but didn’t someone say we’re

than others but didn’t someone say we’re equal that we all came from a mother

equal that we all came from a mother

equal that we all came from a mother before you arrived at the toll and take

before you arrived at the toll and take

before you arrived at the toll and take that cash out of your pocket to enter

that cash out of your pocket to enter

that cash out of your pocket to enter that city of power that sucks all of the

that city of power that sucks all of the

that city of power that sucks all of the energy out of the socket

energy out of the socket

energy out of the socket think about it because once that key is

think about it because once that key is

think about it because once that key is thrown the gates are closed you leave

thrown the gates are closed you leave

thrown the gates are closed you leave behind the what and who you loved and

behind the what and who you loved and

behind the what and who you loved and owned to get that label name success but

owned to get that label name success but

owned to get that label name success but up above they look and laugh because we

up above they look and laugh because we

up above they look and laugh because we barely have a clue about how living

barely have a clue about how living

barely have a clue about how living needs grace finesse so look at that

needs grace finesse so look at that

needs grace finesse so look at that promise of red white and blue and tell

promise of red white and blue and tell

promise of red white and blue and tell me is it really that good you know that

me is it really that good you know that

me is it really that good you know that dream that dream or everyone’s a shining

dream that dream or everyone’s a shining

dream that dream or everyone’s a shining being that dream where you are

being that dream where you are

being that dream where you are the only clever one that has a shot at

the only clever one that has a shot at

the only clever one that has a shot at glory the dream of America well what’s

glory the dream of America well what’s

glory the dream of America well what’s happening in Syria is giving me hysteria

happening in Syria is giving me hysteria

happening in Syria is giving me hysteria look at the freakin media are you

look at the freakin media are you

look at the freakin media are you serious Trump’s wife Melania and I bet

serious Trump’s wife Melania and I bet

serious Trump’s wife Melania and I bet you all are curious why my people are so

you all are curious why my people are so

you all are curious why my people are so delirious well imagine gas chambers

delirious well imagine gas chambers

delirious well imagine gas chambers being thrown losing children that you

being thrown losing children that you

being thrown losing children that you owned love and all that started it was a

owned love and all that started it was a

owned love and all that started it was a simple cry for freedom then the dictator

simple cry for freedom then the dictator

simple cry for freedom then the dictator and terrorists say take her bleed him

and terrorists say take her bleed him

and terrorists say take her bleed him torture her don’t feed him people always

torture her don’t feed him people always

torture her don’t feed him people always like to say that they’re not a fighter

like to say that they’re not a fighter

like to say that they’re not a fighter they’re a lover but what about that girl

they’re a lover but what about that girl

they’re a lover but what about that girl in Aleppo why don’t you love her or the

in Aleppo why don’t you love her or the

in Aleppo why don’t you love her or the boy in Somalia why don’t you love him

boy in Somalia why don’t you love him

boy in Somalia why don’t you love him the parents in Iraq why don’t you love

the parents in Iraq why don’t you love

the parents in Iraq why don’t you love them is it because their skin is a bit

them is it because their skin is a bit

them is it because their skin is a bit darker or because their God has a

darker or because their God has a

darker or because their God has a different name is it because it’s more

different name is it because it’s more

different name is it because it’s more simple to turn a blind eye or easier to

simple to turn a blind eye or easier to

simple to turn a blind eye or easier to let them die in vain

let them die in vain

let them die in vain i watch al jazeera with my grandmother

i watch al jazeera with my grandmother

i watch al jazeera with my grandmother reports on Damascus her city she can’t

reports on Damascus her city she can’t

reports on Damascus her city she can’t help but think of her sisters and

help but think of her sisters and

help but think of her sisters and brothers but then when we get Chitti and

brothers but then when we get Chitti and

brothers but then when we get Chitti and chatty I ask her well Syria ever be the

chatty I ask her well Syria ever be the

chatty I ask her well Syria ever be the same and she looks at me with sullen

same and she looks at me with sullen

same and she looks at me with sullen eyes and says in that beautiful language

eyes and says in that beautiful language

eyes and says in that beautiful language of those people a Rabb’s

of those people a Rabb’s

of those people a Rabb’s who wear the red Fez she looks at me and

who wear the red Fez she looks at me and

who wear the red Fez she looks at me and she says there is no more Syria and you

she says there is no more Syria and you

she says there is no more Syria and you all wonder why those damned Muslims are

all wonder why those damned Muslims are

all wonder why those damned Muslims are coming to America now you’ve seen my

coming to America now you’ve seen my

coming to America now you’ve seen my magic trick bars hitting you like a pile

magic trick bars hitting you like a pile

magic trick bars hitting you like a pile of bricks but don’t think that we’re

of bricks but don’t think that we’re

of bricks but don’t think that we’re done here America is a show that isn’t

done here America is a show that isn’t

done here America is a show that isn’t finished the little black boys mom says

finished the little black boys mom says

finished the little black boys mom says that daddy’s no longer with us the

that daddy’s no longer with us the

that daddy’s no longer with us the little black boy asks why while mama

little black boy asks why while mama

little black boy asks why while mama said it was gang-related violence

said it was gang-related violence

said it was gang-related violence daddy couldn’t drive a car though he was

daddy couldn’t drive a car though he was

daddy couldn’t drive a car though he was too bored to get a license his death

too bored to get a license his death

too bored to get a license his death went unreported full of silence too bad

went unreported full of silence too bad

went unreported full of silence too bad his paycheck couldn’t have been bigger

his paycheck couldn’t have been bigger

his paycheck couldn’t have been bigger too bad he couldn’t have run away

too bad he couldn’t have run away

too bad he couldn’t have run away quicker too bad somebody had to pull the

quicker too bad somebody had to pull the

quicker too bad somebody had to pull the trigger daddy died because he was a

daddy died because he was black red

daddy died because he was black red white and blue more like yellow brown

white and blue more like yellow brown

white and blue more like yellow brown and black I’m sick and tired of me and

and black I’m sick and tired of me and

and black I’m sick and tired of me and my brothers being attacked whacked

my brothers being attacked whacked

my brothers being attacked whacked lynched and sacked I’m sick and tired of

lynched and sacked I’m sick and tired of

lynched and sacked I’m sick and tired of the exploitation the diplom a shin

the exploitation the diplom a shin

the exploitation the diplom a shin hyunjun treating us like animals

hyunjun treating us like animals

hyunjun treating us like animals crustaceans but we can’t be living in a

crustaceans but we can’t be living in a

crustaceans but we can’t be living in a land of cannibals

land of cannibals

land of cannibals I’ll willing to eat each other for a

I’ll willing to eat each other for a

I’ll willing to eat each other for a dollar bill the plastic and material

dollar bill the plastic and material

dollar bill the plastic and material trying to kill our brothers and sisters

trying to kill our brothers and sisters

trying to kill our brothers and sisters and earth keep up like this and the

and earth keep up like this and the

and earth keep up like this and the birth of words similar to my grandmother

birth of words similar to my grandmother

birth of words similar to my grandmother will be said there is no more America

will be said there is no more America

will be said there is no more America and the rape of our planet in the name

and the rape of our planet in the name

and the rape of our planet in the name of our flag it’s the only way we justify

of our flag it’s the only way we justify

of our flag it’s the only way we justify the colors on that fabric red for the

the colors on that fabric red for the

the colors on that fabric red for the blood that our earth sheds whites for

blood that our earth sheds whites for

blood that our earth sheds whites for the smoke that we make spread and blue

the smoke that we make spread and blue

the smoke that we make spread and blue for the water that dries up dead and how

for the water that dries up dead and how

for the water that dries up dead and how about the Hispanics can’t you see that

about the Hispanics can’t you see that

about the Hispanics can’t you see that we’re making them panic God it’s as if

we’re making them panic God it’s as if

we’re making them panic God it’s as if we’re insane and manic I’m so sick of

we’re insane and manic I’m so sick of

we’re insane and manic I’m so sick of hearing about these walls I don’t want a

hearing about these walls I don’t want a

hearing about these walls I don’t want a wall that’s 3 or 300 feet tall I don’t

wall that’s 3 or 300 feet tall I don’t

wall that’s 3 or 300 feet tall I don’t want a wall

want a wall

want a wall why walls why do we get pleasure from

why walls why do we get pleasure from

why walls why do we get pleasure from seeing our brothers fall and for those

seeing our brothers fall and for those

seeing our brothers fall and for those who identify as LGBT I can’t believe

who identify as LGBT I can’t believe

who identify as LGBT I can’t believe that we cannot see how we call them

that we cannot see how we call them

that we cannot see how we call them something that rhymes with maggots so

something that rhymes with maggots so

something that rhymes with maggots so make them feel just as small and wrong

make them feel just as small and wrong

make them feel just as small and wrong and I’m not saying I or you I’m saying

and I’m not saying I or you I’m saying

and I’m not saying I or you I’m saying we because as a mr. King jr. once said

we because as a mr. King jr. once said

we because as a mr. King jr. once said injustice anywhere is a threat to

injustice anywhere is a threat to

injustice anywhere is a threat to justice

justice

justice anywhere everywhere and you know that

anywhere everywhere and you know that

anywhere everywhere and you know that every rhymes with we and so we are all

every rhymes with we and so we are all

every rhymes with we and so we are all complicit when we take love and simply

complicit when we take love and simply

complicit when we take love and simply dismiss it power is a strange human need

dismiss it power is a strange human need

dismiss it power is a strange human need right some believe it’s equitable to

right some believe it’s equitable to

right some believe it’s equitable to greed and other say it’s the same as

greed and other say it’s the same as

greed and other say it’s the same as lust because power is one we must rise

lust because power is one we must rise

lust because power is one we must rise and to be better than others but didn’t

and to be better than others but didn’t

and to be better than others but didn’t someone say we’re equal that we all came

someone say we’re equal that we all came

someone say we’re equal that we all came from a mother here’s a message for

from a mother here’s a message for

from a mother here’s a message for America that’s generic a warning so we

America that’s generic a warning so we

America that’s generic a warning so we don’t keep on mourning the loss of our

don’t keep on mourning the loss of our

don’t keep on mourning the loss of our fellow citizens before someone go shoots

fellow citizens before someone go shoots

fellow citizens before someone go shoots up another cinema or before cop decides

up another cinema or before cop decides

up another cinema or before cop decides to go kill them we’ve all got to just

to go kill them we’ve all got to just

to go kill them we’ve all got to just stop and take a walk around the block so

stop and take a walk around the block so

stop and take a walk around the block so we can see how beautifully different we

we can see how beautifully different we

we can see how beautifully different we are maybe we won’t have more untimely

are maybe we won’t have more untimely

are maybe we won’t have more untimely eulogies because I’m done seeing the

eulogies because I’m done seeing the

eulogies because I’m done seeing the suffering of people like you and me and

suffering of people like you and me and

suffering of people like you and me and I know you feel uncomfortable but the

I know you feel uncomfortable but the

I know you feel uncomfortable but the only way we can feel comfortable is by

only way we can feel comfortable is by

only way we can feel comfortable is by being able to recognize to see the

being able to recognize to see the

being able to recognize to see the issues on the table that is our country

issues on the table that is our country

issues on the table that is our country the disease that is power and the plague

the disease that is power and the plague

the disease that is power and the plague that is greed that affects everybody

that is greed that affects everybody

that is greed that affects everybody even the brave ends the free a mr.

even the brave ends the free a mr.

even the brave ends the free a mr. Jefferson once wrote that we are all

Jefferson once wrote that we are all

Jefferson once wrote that we are all equal a nation formed by We the People

equal a nation formed by We the People

equal a nation formed by We the People and I read the words that the white man

and I read the words that the white man

and I read the words that the white man wrote and it blew my mind and now I find

wrote and it blew my mind and now I find

wrote and it blew my mind and now I find that it’s way past time we become

that it’s way past time we become

that it’s way past time we become interdependent thank