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Getting Young People Interested In Politics | Lithira Abeysinghe | TEDxYouth@FrogsHollowPark


by people my friends I’m gonna start us

by people my friends I’m gonna start us off with some honesty now this all makes

off with some honesty now this all makes

off with some honesty now this all makes sense so I need you to follow along

sense so I need you to follow along

sense so I need you to follow along I said he wouldn’t fall asleep on the

I said he wouldn’t fall asleep on the

I said he wouldn’t fall asleep on the wheel I I did right but thankfully I

wheel I I did right but thankfully I

wheel I I did right but thankfully I managed to wake up just in time to stop

managed to wake up just in time to stop

managed to wake up just in time to stop myself from eating a huge

myself from eating a huge

myself from eating a huge four-wheel-drive know what scares me

four-wheel-drive know what scares me

four-wheel-drive know what scares me more than actually being the

more than actually being the

more than actually being the four-wheel-drive is when someone my age

four-wheel-drive is when someone my age

four-wheel-drive is when someone my age says that they couldn’t really be

says that they couldn’t really be

says that they couldn’t really be interested in politics around them now

interested in politics around them now

interested in politics around them now politics people have this idea that it’s

politics people have this idea that it’s

politics people have this idea that it’s confined to camera no no no no politics

confined to camera no no no no politics

confined to camera no no no no politics is everywhere

is everywhere

is everywhere it’s a sentient being it’s a thing it’s

it’s a sentient being it’s a thing it’s

it’s a sentient being it’s a thing it’s in the classroom it’s in the hole it’s

in the classroom it’s in the hole it’s

in the classroom it’s in the hole it’s all around you the only your mom wins

all around you the only your mom wins

all around you the only your mom wins are not your argument on the attack

are not your argument on the attack

are not your argument on the attack that’s wholly poverty was the monument

that’s wholly poverty was the monument

that’s wholly poverty was the monument the board decided the school board has

the board decided the school board has

the board decided the school board has decided to move a bubble from every area

decided to move a bubble from every area

decided to move a bubble from every area be the school politician now politics

be the school politician now politics

be the school politician now politics isn’t really most kids thing anything

isn’t really most kids thing anything

isn’t really most kids thing anything what do you think it’s yeah it’s

what do you think it’s yeah it’s

what do you think it’s yeah it’s probably not likely if you’ve never been

probably not likely if you’ve never been

probably not likely if you’ve never been into one you’re not gonna get into it

into one you’re not gonna get into it

into one you’re not gonna get into it and it’s just like how some kids are

and it’s just like how some kids are

and it’s just like how some kids are pendulum you know they’ll tell you the

pendulum you know they’ll tell you the

pendulum you know they’ll tell you the inside and out of the car back and forth

inside and out of the car back and forth

inside and out of the car back and forth but I hope Hawk turns on and I know car

but I hope Hawk turns on and I know car

but I hope Hawk turns on and I know car turns off if it doesn’t tell them

turns off if it doesn’t tell them

turns off if it doesn’t tell them there’s something wrong with it but

there’s something wrong with it but

there’s something wrong with it but these kids who are actually equal to

these kids who are actually equal to

these kids who are actually equal to unity I know may company it’s applied to

unity I know may company it’s applied to

unity I know may company it’s applied to the face but a female friend will tell

the face but a female friend will tell

the face but a female friend will tell me ins and outs of mood by nature but

me ins and outs of mood by nature but

me ins and outs of mood by nature but this – contrast of interest is really

this – contrast of interest is really

this – contrast of interest is really apparent in a stage one politics class

apparent in a stage one politics class

apparent in a stage one politics class there are kids that sit up in the front

there are kids that sit up in the front

there are kids that sit up in the front they get really hot and bonded over this

they get really hot and bonded over this

they get really hot and bonded over this and there are kids that sit in the back

and there are kids that sit in the back

and there are kids that sit in the back who we just yeah

who we just yeah

who we just yeah to fill in another glass but the truth

to fill in another glass but the truth

to fill in another glass but the truth is we as the young have got to maintain

is we as the young have got to maintain

is we as the young have got to maintain even a slight amount of interest in the

even a slight amount of interest in the

even a slight amount of interest in the politics around us politics is over

politics around us politics is over

politics around us politics is over complexified there’s all these gigantic

complexified there’s all these gigantic

complexified there’s all these gigantic terms added on top of it conservatism

terms added on top of it conservatism

terms added on top of it conservatism liberalism Elena all the war all this

liberalism Elena all the war all this

liberalism Elena all the war all this but the truth is it’s just

but the truth is it’s just

but the truth is it’s just decision-making

decision-making

decision-making politics is decision-making it’s what

politics is decision-making it’s what

politics is decision-making it’s what you want what I wanted and what the

you want what I wanted and what the

you want what I wanted and what the largest and loudest voice is getting

largest and loudest voice is getting

largest and loudest voice is getting what they want now

what they want now

what they want now I firmly believe the people of America

I firmly believe the people of America

I firmly believe the people of America fell asleep behind their will last year

fell asleep behind their will last year

fell asleep behind their will last year they smashed head-on into the fall we

they smashed head-on into the fall we

they smashed head-on into the fall we look like Wendy didn’t wake up in time

look like Wendy didn’t wake up in time

look like Wendy didn’t wake up in time some people call this the Trump

some people call this the Trump

some people call this the Trump administration no they are able to get

administration no they are able to get

administration no they are able to get out in protest all they want but the

out in protest all they want but the

out in protest all they want but the truth is they weren’t able to wake up

truth is they weren’t able to wake up

truth is they weren’t able to wake up when it mattered fifty percent of their

when it mattered fifty percent of their

when it mattered fifty percent of their population didn’t rock the boat

population didn’t rock the boat

population didn’t rock the boat and guess what which 50 percent did they

and guess what which 50 percent did they

and guess what which 50 percent did they they were unable to wake up when it

they were unable to wake up when it

they were unable to wake up when it mattered most

mattered most

mattered most so no matter how much they protest now

so no matter how much they protest now

so no matter how much they protest now Trump has many years of governance

Trump has many years of governance

Trump has many years of governance because people did not eat the alarm of

because people did not eat the alarm of

because people did not eat the alarm of democracy UK now they they smashed into

democracy UK now they they smashed into

democracy UK now they they smashed into the full the driver a gentle speed plane

the full the driver a gentle speed plane

the full the driver a gentle speed plane last year we call this friction l the

last year we call this friction l the

last year we call this friction l the old head their way there is will because

old head their way there is will because

old head their way there is will because they young didn’t turn up to vote as

they young didn’t turn up to vote as

they young didn’t turn up to vote as much it was clear that the young ones

much it was clear that the young ones

much it was clear that the young ones remaining you have the same

remaining you have the same

remaining you have the same opportunities their parents have to

opportunities their parents have to

opportunities their parents have to travel across Europe freely to work and

travel across Europe freely to work and

travel across Europe freely to work and to experience the same opportunities

to experience the same opportunities

to experience the same opportunities their parents had but because they

their parents had but because they

their parents had but because they didn’t turn up the old path day away and

didn’t turn up the old path day away and

didn’t turn up the old path day away and threw bricks it they smashed into that

threw bricks it they smashed into that

threw bricks it they smashed into that Maduro what we’ll try to get is politics

Maduro what we’ll try to get is politics

Maduro what we’ll try to get is politics is that deadly food or drive in front of

is that deadly food or drive in front of

is that deadly food or drive in front of you and for us silence we are forced to

you and for us silence we are forced to

you and for us silence we are forced to accept the mistakes of our fair parents

accept the mistakes of our fair parents

accept the mistakes of our fair parents and we lose a right to make

and we lose a right to make

and we lose a right to make mistakes when Trump was elected the old

mistakes when Trump was elected the old

mistakes when Trump was elected the old bat their way when Brett said happened

bat their way when Brett said happened

bat their way when Brett said happened the old half-day way when Australia

the old half-day way when Australia

the old half-day way when Australia refuses to recognize marriage between

refuses to recognize marriage between

refuses to recognize marriage between the man and the man of the old are

the man and the man of the old are

the man and the man of the old are having their way the movement the young

having their way the movement the young

having their way the movement the young don’t care can’t be bothered that simply

don’t care can’t be bothered that simply

don’t care can’t be bothered that simply can’t be stopped you are telling on

can’t be stopped you are telling on

can’t be stopped you are telling on behalf of all of us that the old can

behalf of all of us that the old can

behalf of all of us that the old can have their way and by even paying

have their way and by even paying

have their way and by even paying attention you give away your voice no

attention you give away your voice no

attention you give away your voice no boy

boy

boy there is someone willing to take your

there is someone willing to take your

there is someone willing to take your voice for you just like how you wouldn’t

voice for you just like how you wouldn’t

voice for you just like how you wouldn’t let your parents make your own clothes

let your parents make your own clothes

let your parents make your own clothes the choices these people make on your

the choices these people make on your

the choices these people make on your behalf I really like to be the choices

behalf I really like to be the choices

behalf I really like to be the choices you have made yourself divided you and

you have made yourself divided you and

you have made yourself divided you and me baby together you and me Bobby Bob

me baby together you and me Bobby Bob

me baby together you and me Bobby Bob many many great changes has been the

many many great changes has been the

many many great changes has been the youth or a younger or newly thinking

youth or a younger or newly thinking

youth or a younger or newly thinking person going

person going

person going pull more adapt there’s a better way we

pull more adapt there’s a better way we

pull more adapt there’s a better way we can do this a revolution is defined as a

can do this a revolution is defined as a

can do this a revolution is defined as a struggle between the old order and the

struggle between the old order and the

struggle between the old order and the new now I turned 18 a few weeks ago and

new now I turned 18 a few weeks ago and

new now I turned 18 a few weeks ago and I look to the left out to the ride at

I look to the left out to the ride at

I look to the left out to the ride at night and I think telling me you don’t

night and I think telling me you don’t

night and I think telling me you don’t belong to the new order there’s a better

belong to the new order there’s a better

belong to the new order there’s a better way and people a lot of things politics

way and people a lot of things politics

way and people a lot of things politics has decided everything almost everything

has decided everything almost everything

has decided everything almost everything from the place you’re born couldn’t it

from the place you’re born couldn’t it

from the place you’re born couldn’t it could have been a public hospital the

could have been a public hospital the

could have been a public hospital the very room we see today a public room in

very room we see today a public room in

very room we see today a public room in a public school it’s impeding now all

a public school it’s impeding now all

a public school it’s impeding now all this talk about political win

this talk about political win

this talk about political win essentially came a few weeks ago when a

essentially came a few weeks ago when a

essentially came a few weeks ago when a few kids came up to me and told me that

few kids came up to me and told me that

few kids came up to me and told me that there won’t be a they won’t be able to

there won’t be a they won’t be able to

there won’t be a they won’t be able to play to square in the hope

play to square in the hope

play to square in the hope this area yeah one of the kids had hit a

this area yeah one of the kids had hit a

this area yeah one of the kids had hit a teacher with a ball and the other had

teacher with a ball and the other had

teacher with a ball and the other had smashed the window details Wow

smashed the window details Wow

smashed the window details Wow the truth is they were they were being

the truth is they were they were being

the truth is they were they were being banned from playing there now I was told

banned from playing there now I was told

banned from playing there now I was told in private that this matter should be

in private that this matter should be

in private that this matter should be dropped and it’s done Borden truth is

dropped and it’s done Borden truth is

dropped and it’s done Borden truth is one of the kids didn’t want to stay

one of the kids didn’t want to stay

one of the kids didn’t want to stay silent and he was awake he was awake on

silent and he was awake he was awake on

silent and he was awake he was awake on the wheel and he and he made it a

the wheel and he and he made it a

the wheel and he and he made it a petition to keep playing where they were

petition to keep playing where they were

petition to keep playing where they were playing and then we made a post and I

playing and then we made a post and I

playing and then we made a post and I shared it using the the SRC Facebook

shared it using the the SRC Facebook

shared it using the the SRC Facebook page now no one paid any attention to me

page now no one paid any attention to me

page now no one paid any attention to me of this as usual so we thought we’re

of this as usual so we thought we’re

of this as usual so we thought we’re just busy in the wind

just busy in the wind

just busy in the wind a local organization shared our post me

a local organization shared our post me

a local organization shared our post me and minutes later a few hours later the

and minutes later a few hours later the

and minutes later a few hours later the ABC contacted search one of our kids who

ABC contacted search one of our kids who

ABC contacted search one of our kids who posted and have you been on the radio

posted and have you been on the radio

posted and have you been on the radio station to plead our case the principal

station to plead our case the principal

station to plead our case the principal the old one blessing he paid you know

the old one blessing he paid you know

the old one blessing he paid you know just cuz we wouldn’t spend quiet what we

just cuz we wouldn’t spend quiet what we

just cuz we wouldn’t spend quiet what we asked for was in hindsight probably

asked for was in hindsight probably

asked for was in hindsight probably unreasonable but he came you know and

unreasonable but he came you know and

unreasonable but he came you know and the kids still are playing to his square

the kids still are playing to his square

the kids still are playing to his square where they’ve always played just because

where they’ve always played just because

where they’ve always played just because one kid just couldn’t keep quiet about

one kid just couldn’t keep quiet about

one kid just couldn’t keep quiet about it the school board the school the

it the school board the school the

it the school board the school the principal it’s all we fear it’s all we

principal it’s all we fear it’s all we

principal it’s all we fear it’s all we revere these large organizations and

revere these large organizations and

revere these large organizations and structures why would they listen to a

structures why would they listen to a

structures why would they listen to a couple of kids and to see just slightly

couple of kids and to see just slightly

couple of kids and to see just slightly on that equation bent into a wheel

on that equation bent into a wheel

on that equation bent into a wheel because we wouldn’t stay away it all

because we wouldn’t stay away it all

because we wouldn’t stay away it all leads me to that African saying if

leads me to that African saying if

leads me to that African saying if you’re too small to make a difference

you’re too small to make a difference

you’re too small to make a difference you have not spent a night with a

you have not spent a night with a

you have not spent a night with a mosquito make a post get angry get out

mosquito make a post get angry get out

mosquito make a post get angry get out there join a party help make a party

there join a party help make a party

there join a party help make a party just stay away in the politics around

just stay away in the politics around

just stay away in the politics around you you don’t have to be involved in

you you don’t have to be involved in

you you don’t have to be involved in politics all-white politics just don’t

politics all-white politics just don’t

politics all-white politics just don’t stay

stay

stay in the politics around

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

”

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