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The Art of Good Political Discourse | Poon Singhatiraj | TEDxYouth@ISBangkok


[Applause]

[Applause] an English writer and political

an English writer and political

an English writer and political activists named Thomas Paine once said

activists named Thomas Paine once said

activists named Thomas Paine once said to argue with the person who has

to argue with the person who has

to argue with the person who has renounced the use of Reason is like

renounced the use of Reason is like

renounced the use of Reason is like administering medicine to the dead

administering medicine to the dead

administering medicine to the dead although he did die over 200 years ago

although he did die over 200 years ago

although he did die over 200 years ago his message has never been more eleven

his message has never been more eleven

his message has never been more eleven then today I remember that after the

then today I remember that after the

then today I remember that after the 2012 US election my fifth grade teacher

2012 US election my fifth grade teacher

2012 US election my fifth grade teacher in Florida Gladys to talk about what had

in Florida Gladys to talk about what had

in Florida Gladys to talk about what had happened the previous night coming from

happened the previous night coming from

happened the previous night coming from an area where there was a diverse amount

an area where there was a diverse amount

an area where there was a diverse amount of political opinions many of my

of political opinions many of my

of political opinions many of my classmates were understandably either

classmates were understandably either

classmates were understandably either very happy or very sad but we got

very happy or very sad but we got

very happy or very sad but we got through our differences and we had a

through our differences and we had a

through our differences and we had a fruitful political conversation or as

fruitful political conversation or as

fruitful political conversation or as fruitful of a conversation as a

fruitful of a conversation as a

fruitful of a conversation as a fifth-grade political talk could get but

fifth-grade political talk could get but

fifth-grade political talk could get but it was what my teachers said after that

it was what my teachers said after that

it was what my teachers said after that really stuck to me she went I like

really stuck to me she went I like

really stuck to me she went I like talking to kids of all politics because

talking to kids of all politics because

talking to kids of all politics because it’s the only group of people that don’t

it’s the only group of people that don’t

it’s the only group of people that don’t yell each other at the time I thought to

yell each other at the time I thought to

yell each other at the time I thought to myself

myself

myself she must be wrong I thought that as

she must be wrong I thought that as

she must be wrong I thought that as people grew up we will just learn to

people grew up we will just learn to

people grew up we will just learn to respect each other even more and that we

respect each other even more and that we

respect each other even more and that we will just live in this big utopia of

will just live in this big utopia of

will just live in this big utopia of rainbows and happiness I was 10 years

rainbows and happiness I was 10 years

rainbows and happiness I was 10 years old it’s so hard to argue that politics

old it’s so hard to argue that politics

old it’s so hard to argue that politics divide people to use the United States

divide people to use the United States

divide people to use the United States as an example over 40% of Americans

as an example over 40% of Americans

as an example over 40% of Americans regardless of whether there are

regardless of whether there are

regardless of whether there are Democrats or Republicans say that each

Democrats or Republicans say that each

Democrats or Republicans say that each other’s party is a major threat to the

other’s party is a major threat to the

other’s party is a major threat to the United States according to a poll dump

United States according to a poll dump

United States according to a poll dump ever UK by Pew Research think about it

ever UK by Pew Research think about it

ever UK by Pew Research think about it millions upon millions of Americans are

millions upon millions of Americans are

millions upon millions of Americans are divided solely on party affiliation

divided solely on party affiliation

divided solely on party affiliation alone the real question then is not if

alone the real question then is not if

alone the real question then is not if politics to my people but why if we ever

politics to my people but why if we ever

politics to my people but why if we ever want to mend this gap we have to look at

want to mend this gap we have to look at

want to mend this gap we have to look at the root cause of the problem and

the root cause of the problem and

the root cause of the problem and research by psychologist Jonathan gate

research by psychologist Jonathan gate

research by psychologist Jonathan gate and Jesse Grahm may begin to provide

and Jesse Grahm may begin to provide

and Jesse Grahm may begin to provide some insight into this issue their

some insight into this issue their

some insight into this issue their research indicate that people tend to

research indicate that people tend to

research indicate that people tend to endorse specific political policies

endorse specific political policies

endorse specific political policies based on the moral values that they

based on the moral values that they

based on the moral values that they already held wording I know but the

already held wording I know but the

already held wording I know but the example of sex education in the United

example of sex education in the United

example of sex education in the United States is a great example of this in the

States is a great example of this in the

States is a great example of this in the United States many Democrats advocate

United States many Democrats advocate

United States many Democrats advocate for a more comprehensive education

for a more comprehensive education

for a more comprehensive education program as they believe that it will

program as they believe that it will

program as they believe that it will reduce rates of teen pregnancy and stds

reduce rates of teen pregnancy and stds

reduce rates of teen pregnancy and stds missions emphasizing the more liberal

missions emphasizing the more liberal

missions emphasizing the more liberal values of avoiding harm or King for

values of avoiding harm or King for

values of avoiding harm or King for others on the other side many

others on the other side many

others on the other side many Republicans tend to endorse abstinence

Republicans tend to endorse abstinence

Republicans tend to endorse abstinence only policies as it emphasizes the more

only policies as it emphasizes the more

only policies as it emphasizes the more conservative value of maintaining purity

conservative value of maintaining purity

conservative value of maintaining purity this reveals that political division may

this reveals that political division may

this reveals that political division may not be a result of a difference in

not be a result of a difference in

not be a result of a difference in opinion on specific policies per se but

opinion on specific policies per se but

opinion on specific policies per se but rather a difference of opinion on moral

rather a difference of opinion on moral

rather a difference of opinion on moral values and this just might be why

values and this just might be why

values and this just might be why politics is so divisive you never

politics is so divisive you never

politics is so divisive you never actually see people fighting over

actually see people fighting over

actually see people fighting over whether Coke or Pepsi is better as

whether Coke or Pepsi is better as

whether Coke or Pepsi is better as although copious obviously better

although copious obviously better

although copious obviously better there’s just no moral conflicts that

there’s just no moral conflicts that

there’s just no moral conflicts that play into this in the slightest I mean

play into this in the slightest I mean

play into this in the slightest I mean if you’re really into soda that could be

if you’re really into soda that could be

if you’re really into soda that could be but that’s just a little weird now that

but that’s just a little weird now that

but that’s just a little weird now that we’ve established a main road root cause

we’ve established a main road root cause

we’ve established a main road root cause of the problem it’s easier to discuss

of the problem it’s easier to discuss

of the problem it’s easier to discuss solutions and for me it could be broken

solutions and for me it could be broken

solutions and for me it could be broken down into three steps understand respect

down into three steps understand respect

down into three steps understand respect and appeal number one understand their

and appeal number one understand their

and appeal number one understand their moral values once you’ve begun to engage

moral values once you’ve begun to engage

moral values once you’ve begun to engage in discussion really narrow out why they

in discussion really narrow out why they

in discussion really narrow out why they believe the things that they do could it

believe the things that they do could it

believe the things that they do could it be because of family up earnings

be because of family up earnings

be because of family up earnings religion their environment if you only

religion their environment if you only

religion their environment if you only try to present your side without trying

try to present your side without trying

try to present your side without trying to understand theirs it is unlikely that

to understand theirs it is unlikely that

to understand theirs it is unlikely that they will listen to anything you might

they will listen to anything you might

they will listen to anything you might have to say if you sincerely show that

have to say if you sincerely show that

have to say if you sincerely show that you are attempting to understand their

you are attempting to understand their

you are attempting to understand their perspective no matter how much you

perspective no matter how much you

perspective no matter how much you disagree if you do that then you will be

disagree if you do that then you will be

disagree if you do that then you will be more this leads on to my next step which

more this leads on to my next step which

more this leads on to my next step which is to respect them as a person respect

is to respect them as a person respect

is to respect them as a person respect plays into the actual debate itself you

plays into the actual debate itself you

plays into the actual debate itself you might consider attacking them with

might consider attacking them with

might consider attacking them with personal unrelated remarks but this

personal unrelated remarks but this

personal unrelated remarks but this achieves absolutely nothing try to

achieves absolutely nothing try to

achieves absolutely nothing try to acknowledge that the other person is

acknowledge that the other person is

acknowledge that the other person is also a living human with

also a living human with

also a living human with thoughts and feelings crazy right but

thoughts and feelings crazy right but

thoughts and feelings crazy right but how do I get someone to listen to me

how do I get someone to listen to me

how do I get someone to listen to me actually and be persuaded by me you

actually and be persuaded by me you

actually and be persuaded by me you might ask well appeal to their morals

might ask well appeal to their morals

might ask well appeal to their morals this ties the last two steps together

this ties the last two steps together

this ties the last two steps together you’ve established that you understand

you’ve established that you understand

you’ve established that you understand them as a person and you’ve established

them as a person and you’ve established

them as a person and you’ve established that you respect their opinions and

that you respect their opinions and

that you respect their opinions and beliefs so it’s easier to appeal to what

beliefs so it’s easier to appeal to what

beliefs so it’s easier to appeal to what they already believe in for example you

they already believe in for example you

they already believe in for example you might know a Democrat who is opposed to

might know a Democrat who is opposed to

might know a Democrat who is opposed to increase military spending you will be

increase military spending you will be

increase military spending you will be more persuasive if you connect that with

more persuasive if you connect that with

more persuasive if you connect that with if you connect that with their more

if you connect that with their more

if you connect that with their more liberal values of maintaining avoiding

liberal values of maintaining avoiding

liberal values of maintaining avoiding harm and caring for others by saying

harm and caring for others by saying

harm and caring for others by saying that an increase in the military budget

that an increase in the military budget

that an increase in the military budget will protect and aid those in other

will protect and aid those in other

will protect and aid those in other countries that are vulnerable to

countries that are vulnerable to

countries that are vulnerable to violence on the other hand on the other

violence on the other hand on the other

violence on the other hand on the other hand you might also know a Republican

hand you might also know a Republican

hand you might also know a Republican who is opposed to increased taxes

who is opposed to increased taxes

who is opposed to increased taxes connect with their more conservative

connect with their more conservative

connect with their more conservative value of Picher patriotism a more

value of Picher patriotism a more

value of Picher patriotism a more conservative value by suggesting that

conservative value by suggesting that

conservative value by suggesting that it’s their duty to help fellow citizens

it’s their duty to help fellow citizens

it’s their duty to help fellow citizens through social programs that are funded

through social programs that are funded

through social programs that are funded by their taxes now these are only two

by their taxes now these are only two

by their taxes now these are only two examples but I find that this works in

examples but I find that this works in

examples but I find that this works in most cases today I’m not trying to say

most cases today I’m not trying to say

most cases today I’m not trying to say that these steps will get rid of

that these steps will get rid of

that these steps will get rid of political order by sickness completely

political order by sickness completely

political order by sickness completely it won’t but even if it events one

it won’t but even if it events one

it won’t but even if it events one shouting match at the dinner table or

shouting match at the dinner table or

shouting match at the dinner table or angry comment left on the Facebook post

angry comment left on the Facebook post

angry comment left on the Facebook post I’d be happy a sharing of opinions

I’d be happy a sharing of opinions

I’d be happy a sharing of opinions informs people and widens their mindset

informs people and widens their mindset

informs people and widens their mindset on how their fellow citizens view the

on how their fellow citizens view the

on how their fellow citizens view the world so when it comes to politics

world so when it comes to politics

world so when it comes to politics understand and respect each other

understand and respect each other

understand and respect each other because it’s the least we can do so

because it’s the least we can do so

because it’s the least we can do so going back to our friend Thomas Paine

going back to our friend Thomas Paine

going back to our friend Thomas Paine when he compared arguing with an

when he compared arguing with an

when he compared arguing with an unreasonable person to giving dead

unreasonable person to giving dead

unreasonable person to giving dead people medicine could be right but maybe

people medicine could be right but maybe

people medicine could be right but maybe just maybe it’s time to bring the dead

just maybe it’s time to bring the dead

just maybe it’s time to bring the dead back to life thank you

back to life thank you

back to life thank you [Applause]

”

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