Chad+T’s+Final+AmEx+Speech+2017

Why I, you, and no American deserves an America to grow old in…. I lived a happy childhood. My parents, teachers, and family raised me in a way to appreciate everything. Say your thank yous. Yearn to give not receive. Never judge until you know what a person has gone through. Perhaps one of the biggest aspects of my human development is to appreciate the very earth you grow on. The world gives to you so you better give back. Supplementary to this idea, I grew up with pets. I love animals. I am that freak that will save a tiny spider in your house. If I see a stray dog, chances are I am lunging for a spare leash and a water bottle, ready to go save a lost soul. I think it is safe to say that these actions aren’t too absurd. Maybe the spider thing but god damn relax, they aren't that scary. But then I express my disapproval of animal consumption, and I get grilled with insults. “Humans were meant to eat meat” “God put us on this Earth to consume” “Shut up you hippie vegan” (i aint even vegan?!?!?!) “Well how are you supposed to get your protein?????” Etc… That's when I get confused. And when i say confused I mean, furious, astonished, and utterly embarrassed.It is a little difficult for me to make my case, because I do get a little worked up. There is something super unfair about this stigma though. It’s really ironic that I get grilled with names and insults when I talk about how awful animal consumption actually is. Somehow I am the bad guy by advocating for lives who don't have the ability to defend themselves. Somehow I am the intruding asshole who is trying to change and control people’s lives by expressing my disapproval for animal consumption. I think it's pretty unfair. We live in a world where people who disapprove meat eating are sacrilegious because “god” put animals on our planet to be eaten. I call bullshit. You are all laughing now but there's nothing funny about this. Im devastated everyday by the devilish acts of man. We are detrimental. We are the source of ALL problems on this planet. And it is truly embarrassing that mankind is this adverse due to the highly approved allusion that humans are somehow the superior species. We have all seen it pop up, unwelcomed on social-media, the internet, on the news. Pictures and videos demonstrating the cruel wrath of mankind and the terrified let alone helpless animal. And the second I see it, I fall into an abyss of existentialism, hating myself for not being able to help. Hating myself for living so selfishly and lavishly, berating myself for not being thankful enough and regretting any complaint I have ever muttered. And if this bundle of abasement isn’t enough, I walk the world feeling embarrassed to be the animal activist that I am, which is a horror in itself. I’m gonna stray away from a rant that most of you know I could prolong for years, and move on to a bigger picture. You are not special. Whether it's from improper development, being oblivious, or simply just being a horrible person, millions of people around the world somehow believe their existence, their purpose, their potential is somehow more important than others’. The America I want to grow old in isn’t littered with people who are willing to kill, exploit, and murder just so that their life is a little more easy. The America I live in celebrates life, not destroys it. The America I want to grow old in, better yet, the America I hope everyone gets to grow old in, recognizes pain and suffering, and does something to stop it. I yearn for a world where people aren’t afraid to love everyone. I want to live in a world where previous VUSD Superintendents don't call for excess flooding of the VHS quad just so the grass is nice and green for her going away speech. I want to live in a society where school custodians don’t put out recycle cans, just to mix it in with the trash behind the scenes. I don’t want to attend a school where teachers copiously overprint paper that ends up unused, (pages 458-469 of the interactive notebook (single-sided)). I am calling these people out, just to remind you that we are oblivious and negligent right here in Ventura. I know that his proclamation is all over the place, but bear with me, I am gonna try to get to my overall idea. I want people to make better decisions. We spent countless hours in history last year, and this year, analysing the effects of poor decisions made by selfish individuals. Before we decide to rip fetal pigs for their mothers, and poison countless minks, just so we can learn about a few muscles that won’t help us be contributing members of society, let’s just think for a second. Let me remind any of the viewers of this speech that the forms of life we exploit just to have perfume, plastics bags (thank goodness they were banned), fabric softener, and countless other household privileges that contain animals products, have feelings. They have emotions. They have relationships. Just because we don’t understand their language doesn’t mean we disregard their cries for help. I’m not trying to get all of you to pour money into PETA, the ASPCA, that make profit off of animal abuse. What I want is for America is for to live symbiotically with nature, because sooner than later, there won’t be an America to grow old in. We are highschool seniors in about _____ minutes. After that, we are adults. We run the world. I encourage you to walk out that door with a better mindset. This Earth is the only Earth we got. It has been through hell and back and it never ceases to provide for us. Walk out that door knowing that the fate of your future, my future, and all American futures requires a certain give and take. We have taken enough. Let's start giving America.