I choose to be a patriot | Kena Kamau | TEDxYouth@BrookhouseSchool

why I choose to be a patriot when

why I choose to be a patriot when Benjamin Franklin left independence hall

Benjamin Franklin left independence hall

Benjamin Franklin left independence hall after the first drafting of the American

after the first drafting of the American

after the first drafting of the American Constitution a woman approached him and

Constitution a woman approached him and

Constitution a woman approached him and asked mr. Franklin what manner of

asked mr. Franklin what manner of

asked mr. Franklin what manner of government have you bequeathed us and he

government have you bequeathed us and he

government have you bequeathed us and he replied a republic man if you can keep

replied a republic man if you can keep

replied a republic man if you can keep it the responsibility of our nation is

it the responsibility of our nation is

it the responsibility of our nation is dependent on what we are willing to put

dependent on what we are willing to put

dependent on what we are willing to put forward the things we are willing to

forward the things we are willing to

forward the things we are willing to change and where we are willing to

change and where we are willing to

change and where we are willing to invest our time and energy patriotism is

invest our time and energy patriotism is

invest our time and energy patriotism is a personal attachment an affinity for

a personal attachment an affinity for

a personal attachment an affinity for one’s own country i define patriotism as

one’s own country i define patriotism as

one’s own country i define patriotism as a drive to make one’s country the best

a drive to make one’s country the best

a drive to make one’s country the best that it could possibly be my name is

that it could possibly be my name is

that it could possibly be my name is kena very close to Kenya I know so am i

kena very close to Kenya I know so am i

kena very close to Kenya I know so am i Kenna or am I Kenya i am a kenyan but in

Kenna or am I Kenya i am a kenyan but in

Kenna or am I Kenya i am a kenyan but in as much as that is true I know that

as much as that is true I know that

as much as that is true I know that Kenya is in me and the sum total of who

Kenya is in me and the sum total of who

Kenya is in me and the sum total of who I am is because I have lived and growing

I am is because I have lived and growing

I am is because I have lived and growing up in this wonderful nation we live in a

up in this wonderful nation we live in a

up in this wonderful nation we live in a world where global citizenship is on the

world where global citizenship is on the

world where global citizenship is on the rise and being international is such a

rise and being international is such a

rise and being international is such a benefit but I believe that in order to

benefit but I believe that in order to

benefit but I believe that in order to be international we must first

be international we must first

be international we must first understand what it means to be national

understand what it means to be national

understand what it means to be national every one of us here is an ambassador of

every one of us here is an ambassador of

every one of us here is an ambassador of where we come from to the world so what

where we come from to the world so what

where we come from to the world so what are you bringing to the table what am i

are you bringing to the table what am i

are you bringing to the table what am i bringing to the table can someone look

bringing to the table can someone look

bringing to the table can someone look at me and see my country could anyone

at me and see my country could anyone

at me and see my country could anyone ask me a question about my country and

ask me a question about my country and

ask me a question about my country and receive an appropriate answer see the

receive an appropriate answer see the

receive an appropriate answer see the evolution of the term patriotism has

evolution of the term patriotism has

evolution of the term patriotism has changed over the time and when we look

changed over the time and when we look

changed over the time and when we look back on the days of him said jomo

back on the days of him said jomo

back on the days of him said jomo kenyatta for him patriotism meant

kenyatta for him patriotism meant

kenyatta for him patriotism meant fueling the fight for independence

fueling the fight for independence

fueling the fight for independence whatever he took whether it was

whatever he took whether it was

whatever he took whether it was subterfuge a cold cell in capen goriya

subterfuge a cold cell in capen goriya

subterfuge a cold cell in capen goriya or the sacrifices and I mean personal

or the sacrifices and I mean personal

or the sacrifices and I mean personal sacrifices of leading an inference

sacrifices of leading an inference

sacrifices of leading an inference nation and maybe for David Rudisha

nation and maybe for David Rudisha

nation and maybe for David Rudisha patriotism means training relentlessly

patriotism means training relentlessly

patriotism means training relentlessly means fighting his flesh until he is

means fighting his flesh until he is

means fighting his flesh until he is able to put on his team Kenya tracksuit

able to put on his team Kenya tracksuit

able to put on his team Kenya tracksuit and ensure that every olympics

and ensure that every olympics

and ensure that every olympics all kenyans have something to smile

all kenyans have something to smile

all kenyans have something to smile about these are just a few of my heroes

about these are just a few of my heroes

about these are just a few of my heroes and I know that everyone in here could

and I know that everyone in here could

and I know that everyone in here could as easily substitute these names with

as easily substitute these names with

as easily substitute these names with some of their own heroes but my question

some of their own heroes but my question

some of their own heroes but my question still stands what are you doing to bring

still stands what are you doing to bring

still stands what are you doing to bring pride to the nation you come from shall

pride to the nation you come from shall

pride to the nation you come from shall you be listed amongst these heroes what

you be listed amongst these heroes what

you be listed amongst these heroes what is your patriotic contribution our

is your patriotic contribution our

is your patriotic contribution our generation is desperate and desperate

generation is desperate and desperate

generation is desperate and desperate for an alternative narrative a different

for an alternative narrative a different

for an alternative narrative a different story a story that tells us that we can

story a story that tells us that we can

story a story that tells us that we can be Victor’s and not victims a story that

be Victor’s and not victims a story that

be Victor’s and not victims a story that tells us that there is a way that we

tells us that there is a way that we

tells us that there is a way that we could be successful and keep our

could be successful and keep our

could be successful and keep our integrity a story that does not tell us

integrity a story that does not tell us

integrity a story that does not tell us that we are beaten before we even begin

that we are beaten before we even begin

that we are beaten before we even begin I said sometimes they laugh at myself

I said sometimes they laugh at myself

I said sometimes they laugh at myself for the times I have believed in their

for the times I have believed in their

for the times I have believed in their lie the lie that our country is too far

lie the lie that our country is too far

lie the lie that our country is too far gone that our Republic is unsalvageable

gone that our Republic is unsalvageable

gone that our Republic is unsalvageable then my generation is spoiled and

then my generation is spoiled and

then my generation is spoiled and manipulative and so on there is for me

manipulative and so on there is for me

manipulative and so on there is for me and necessary conversation that seeks to

and necessary conversation that seeks to

and necessary conversation that seeks to undermine such messages so I asked

undermine such messages so I asked

undermine such messages so I asked myself what could I do to ensure that i

myself what could I do to ensure that i

myself what could I do to ensure that i am a valiant patriot who would so these

am a valiant patriot who would so these

am a valiant patriot who would so these seeds in generations from here on end

seeds in generations from here on end

seeds in generations from here on end what is the USA do to cultivate such

what is the USA do to cultivate such

what is the USA do to cultivate such model patriotism or what do Nigeria do

model patriotism or what do Nigeria do

model patriotism or what do Nigeria do to ensure the very same so allow me to

to ensure the very same so allow me to

to ensure the very same so allow me to break this down with the three simple

break this down with the three simple

break this down with the three simple steps which I believe will cultivate a

steps which I believe will cultivate a

steps which I believe will cultivate a patriotic spirit light love and

patriotic spirit light love and

patriotic spirit light love and leadership the light for me it all began

leadership the light for me it all began

leadership the light for me it all began with light in that seemingly

with light in that seemingly

with light in that seemingly inconsequential year three class where I

inconsequential year three class where I

inconsequential year three class where I first learned about Kenyon history and I

first learned about Kenyon history and I

first learned about Kenyon history and I learnt about a land that meant so much

learnt about a land that meant so much

learnt about a land that meant so much to me yet a land that my eyes had never

to me yet a land that my eyes had never

to me yet a land that my eyes had never truly been opened to it’s safe to say

truly been opened to it’s safe to say

truly been opened to it’s safe to say there are countries beauties often

there are countries beauties often

there are countries beauties often shrouded in the negativity that were

shrouded in the negativity that were

shrouded in the negativity that were exposed to yet at the very epicenter

exposed to yet at the very epicenter

exposed to yet at the very epicenter there are untold stories an unlatched

there are untold stories an unlatched

there are untold stories an unlatched beauty and I golden uniqueness

beauty and I golden uniqueness

beauty and I golden uniqueness but we ought to protect did you know

but we ought to protect did you know

but we ought to protect did you know that Kenya is the only country in the

that Kenya is the only country in the

that Kenya is the only country in the world that has a national park in its

world that has a national park in its

world that has a national park in its capital city or did you know that Kenya

capital city or did you know that Kenya

capital city or did you know that Kenya is the only place in the world where

is the only place in the world where

is the only place in the world where there is an area recorded to have no

there is an area recorded to have no

there is an area recorded to have no gravity yet this is news to some rough

gravity yet this is news to some rough

gravity yet this is news to some rough here once we know and understand where

here once we know and understand where

here once we know and understand where we come from we will believe that we are

we come from we will believe that we are

we come from we will believe that we are good enough big enough and we have

good enough big enough and we have

good enough big enough and we have enough to be great no one would ever be

enough to be great no one would ever be

enough to be great no one would ever be able to tell us to strip us of our pride

able to tell us to strip us of our pride

able to tell us to strip us of our pride or to exploit our land and that’s the

or to exploit our land and that’s the

or to exploit our land and that’s the Kenya that I want to be a part of so

Kenya that I want to be a part of so

Kenya that I want to be a part of so together with a friend of mine we came

together with a friend of mine we came

together with a friend of mine we came up with in sicca a program that seeks to

up with in sicca a program that seeks to

up with in sicca a program that seeks to shrink our country down to bring us

shrink our country down to bring us

shrink our country down to bring us together to go out in search of the

together to go out in search of the

together to go out in search of the light that I have talked about and to

light that I have talked about and to

light that I have talked about and to create an experience where my peers and

create an experience where my peers and

create an experience where my peers and our generation as a whole could go out

our generation as a whole could go out

our generation as a whole could go out to visit different communities a

to visit different communities a

to visit different communities a definite different ethnic groups and

definite different ethnic groups and

definite different ethnic groups and gain a hands-on appreciation for our

gain a hands-on appreciation for our

gain a hands-on appreciation for our culture’s maybe then I thought we’d be

culture’s maybe then I thought we’d be

culture’s maybe then I thought we’d be able to take it personally if there were

able to take it personally if there were

able to take it personally if there were to be say a humanitarian issue in our

to be say a humanitarian issue in our

to be say a humanitarian issue in our country because we remember the times we

country because we remember the times we

country because we remember the times we visited the place the people we left the

visited the place the people we left the

visited the place the people we left the families we saw our people our families

families we saw our people our families

families we saw our people our families our Kenya the love the set the second

our Kenya the love the set the second

our Kenya the love the set the second step they say love is a conscious

step they say love is a conscious

step they say love is a conscious process but I disagree i think it’s

process but I disagree i think it’s

process but I disagree i think it’s rather unconscious we as humans

rather unconscious we as humans

rather unconscious we as humans inadvertently love the things we

inadvertently love the things we

inadvertently love the things we treasure so when we do treasure our

treasure so when we do treasure our

treasure so when we do treasure our nation which i learn to love it however

nation which i learn to love it however

nation which i learn to love it however after shining the light we must learn to

after shining the light we must learn to

after shining the light we must learn to stop complaining the Republic has been

stop complaining the Republic has been

stop complaining the Republic has been placed in our hands and shifting the

placed in our hands and shifting the

placed in our hands and shifting the blame is not a symbol of responsibility

blame is not a symbol of responsibility

blame is not a symbol of responsibility but cowardice lot of strength but

but cowardice lot of strength but

but cowardice lot of strength but weakness we should encourage an active

weakness we should encourage an active

weakness we should encourage an active love for our country this love is not

love for our country this love is not

love for our country this love is not based on the idea that all things are

based on the idea that all things are

based on the idea that all things are perfect no it is based on the notion

perfect no it is based on the notion

perfect no it is based on the notion that

that

that whatever I face today though I may not

whatever I face today though I may not

whatever I face today though I may not love it is necessary for me to get to

love it is necessary for me to get to

love it is necessary for me to get to the next step thus I embrace it trust me

the next step thus I embrace it trust me

the next step thus I embrace it trust me I know that trying to convince you to be

I know that trying to convince you to be

I know that trying to convince you to be a patriot at a time like this is quite

a patriot at a time like this is quite

a patriot at a time like this is quite an uphill task and I understand if not

an uphill task and I understand if not

an uphill task and I understand if not partially share your skepticism so let’s

partially share your skepticism so let’s

partially share your skepticism so let’s try it like this the once was an oyster

try it like this the once was an oyster

try it like this the once was an oyster whose story I tell who found that some

whose story I tell who found that some

whose story I tell who found that some sand had gotten into his shell it was

sand had gotten into his shell it was

sand had gotten into his shell it was only a green but he gave him such pain

only a green but he gave him such pain

only a green but he gave him such pain for oysters have feelings although they

for oysters have feelings although they

for oysters have feelings although they are so plain now did he buried on the

are so plain now did he buried on the

are so plain now did he buried on the harsh workings of faith that are brought

harsh workings of faith that are brought

harsh workings of faith that are brought into such a deplorable state did he

into such a deplorable state did he

into such a deplorable state did he curse at the government in cry for

curse at the government in cry for

curse at the government in cry for election or claim that the sea should

election or claim that the sea should

election or claim that the sea should have given him protection no he said to

have given him protection no he said to

have given him protection no he said to himself since I cannot remove it I shall

himself since I cannot remove it I shall

himself since I cannot remove it I shall try to improve it now the years have

try to improve it now the years have

try to improve it now the years have rolled around the years always do and he

rolled around the years always do and he

rolled around the years always do and he came to his ultimate destiny Stu and a

came to his ultimate destiny Stu and a

came to his ultimate destiny Stu and a small grain of sand that had bothered

small grain of sand that had bothered

small grain of sand that had bothered him so was a beautiful pearl all richly

him so was a beautiful pearl all richly

him so was a beautiful pearl all richly aglow now the tale has a moral for isn’t

aglow now the tale has a moral for isn’t

aglow now the tale has a moral for isn’t it grand when an oyster can do with but

it grand when an oyster can do with but

it grand when an oyster can do with but a morsel of sad and what couldn’t we do

a morsel of sad and what couldn’t we do

a morsel of sad and what couldn’t we do would only begin with some of the things

would only begin with some of the things

would only begin with some of the things they get under our skin now in a more

they get under our skin now in a more

they get under our skin now in a more practical level I believe that any

practical level I believe that any

practical level I believe that any change we want to see in the world

change we want to see in the world

change we want to see in the world happens in the span of time between

happens in the span of time between

happens in the span of time between which virtue I instilled in a child and

which virtue I instilled in a child and

which virtue I instilled in a child and the very same virtuous dislodged into

the very same virtuous dislodged into

the very same virtuous dislodged into society leadership someone once told me

society leadership someone once told me

society leadership someone once told me that leadership ought not to be selfish

that leadership ought not to be selfish

that leadership ought not to be selfish naive opportunistic of visionless it

naive opportunistic of visionless it

naive opportunistic of visionless it ought to be full of grandeur fidelity

ought to be full of grandeur fidelity

ought to be full of grandeur fidelity tenacity and gallantry such virtues we

tenacity and gallantry such virtues we

tenacity and gallantry such virtues we hold from our very beginnings I can tell

hold from our very beginnings I can tell

hold from our very beginnings I can tell you that for my parents I learned that a

you that for my parents I learned that a

you that for my parents I learned that a leader is not a superhero they are doers

leader is not a superhero they are doers

leader is not a superhero they are doers and dreamers there are everyday people

and dreamers there are everyday people

and dreamers there are everyday people who choose to rise above so today I

who choose to rise above so today I

who choose to rise above so today I choose to be a patriot I choose to take

choose to be a patriot I choose to take

choose to be a patriot I choose to take my life and to shine it under the flow

my life and to shine it under the flow

my life and to shine it under the flow upwards of my republic to uncover what I

upwards of my republic to uncover what I

upwards of my republic to uncover what I truly stand upon I choose to love my

truly stand upon I choose to love my

truly stand upon I choose to love my country fearlessly in its entirety the

country fearlessly in its entirety the

country fearlessly in its entirety the good the bad and the ugly then I vow to

good the bad and the ugly then I vow to

good the bad and the ugly then I vow to lead with integrity and passion because

lead with integrity and passion because

lead with integrity and passion because the courage the fight the victory it’s

the courage the fight the victory it’s

the courage the fight the victory it’s in the dream and I dare you to dream

in the dream and I dare you to dream

in the dream and I dare you to dream with me thank

with me thank

with me thank [Applause]