William+N’s+Final+AmEx+Speech+2017

Too much in this day and age We try to put people into a mental cage; Telling them how to believe And what to achieve.

Why is it that we think, We know what others should drink? Or maybe, we push our opinions Onto others as if they were minions.

But say you were said minion Without an opinion Simply taking advice Thinking it would suffice

But in reality There is no gravity To the advice that they give Be they don’t know how you live

They don’t know your experiences or thoughts You can think, you’re not a robot Why let someone else define who you are As if they were a tsar?

This is not to say that all advice or criticism are bad I mean, to be honest, sometimes you might me absolutely mad And a bit of outside knowledge or criticism Might help if you have a serious problem like alcoholism

But let us cast aside commentary that occasionally is constructive And move toward the topic that is more destructive What could it be? You must be thinking. Don’t worry, I will begin the process of linking.

There are a multitude of new questions And not the least of which: why do we give others occasional rude/insulting comments/suggestions? Yet would be rather triggered or offended If we were the ones for which the comments were intended

Currently, I am showing off my favorite band And, fun fact, will go see them live in August firsthand Now, the other day a comment was thrown Which was not in a playful or friendly tone

In which the said comment was “Metallica sucks” And I can assure you, the critic wasn’t a Grammy judge in a tux Now, I simply turned the other cheek and replied “Thank you” Yet easily could have returned the favor and given a criticism he would rue

And this can be said for everyone In fact, there is a net ton Of rude and insulting comments that can be made That would make you quite afraid

But, to answer the overarching question Without any digression The America I want to grow old in   Is one where we do not chagrin(sha-grin)

One where we do not give unwanted judgement on a person’s shirt And make them feel like dirt One where, within reason Do not concern ourselves with another’s habits as if it were treason

Because, why does it matter? Why do you feel the need to create a bunch of chatter? If a person does not do any harm What is the need or reason to go off like an alarm?

The age old saying of: “treat others how you want to be treated” Can never be more repeated Because, how would you feel if your favorite singer came under fire From an inconsiderate choir?

How would you react if your physical self was attacked With every blemish or feature ransacked? Or maybe, your most dear beliefs and passions Were given barbaric captions

Or maybe, your most beloved aspirations and dreams Torn by the seams With every comment being coarse And everyone lacking remorse

What I ask is that we don’t concern ourselves with other’s affairs As if we knew what was going on in their upstairs Because, honestly, how can we have the gall To give rude assessment when something can be said about us all