Jeff+L’s+Final+AmEx+2013+Speech

=Title of Speech=

Quiet Down America

=Text of Speech=

Ever since kindergarten, we have been taught to be friends with everyone we meet or face ridicule by our peers. However I say that there is nothing wrong with wanting to be alone, with wanting to be taciturn, with wanting to be reserved. The overlooked beauties of silence and solitariness are neglected wonders that are unparalleled. I believe America should take a step backwards, slow down, and break the societal taboo that to not be outgoing is to be an outcast. I’m not advocating anyone to be a recluse, nor am I advocating to be a mute, but the aforementioned traits should not be connoted in such a negative manner any longer.

Honestly, what’s wrong with being quiet? I find many positive facets associated with being quiet. I for one cannot stand being in a conversation where one or multiple parties ramble on about a subject neither of them care for. Face it, you’ve all been in that situation where you ask someone a question just keep a conversation going and they eventually end up talking about how funny it would be if squirrels took over the world and you don’t care in the slightest. All of this is to avoid the dreaded “awkward silence”. You know, where neither of you have anything to say and an air of incredible uncomfortableness is present. That should not exist. The fact that there is this obligation to keep a conversation going at any given time is quite simply, ridiculous. I cannot comprehend how this brief pause can make people feel so uncomfortable. Silence is truly a beautiful thing. Think back to yourselves: haven’t the most memorable moments in your lives been in silence? Whether that be with a significant other, or with just your best friend, you know you are close with them when you can enjoy silence together. Not only that, but the other perk I see with being quiet is that it gives you time to think about what you want to say. Yes I suppose that being spontaneous can be a good trait on occasion, but I believe the majority of the time, it is much better to think over what you’re about to say before you say it. I can only imagine how much better I could be, we all could be, if we just thought a little more before we spoke. Whether to prevent yourself from hurting someone, or to prevent yourself from sounding like a moronic jackass, think before you speak, people!

In addition to being quiet, wanting to be alone should not be synonymous with being a “loner” or some other kind of anti-social freak. Being alone allows you to be truly free; free from the oppressing opinions of others, free from societal expectations, and free from the extraneous prattle of the external world. Being by yourself can give you time to think, and lift the weights from your shoulders of all the stress in your everyday life, you can forget about everyone else and do whatever it is that makes you happy. There’s a reason your best ideas come to you in the shower. We all know people spend about 5 minutes bathing, and the remainder of the time thinking about life. You’re completely alone and it seems as if you have all the time in the world to just ponder and philosophize. It’s also great to just be away from it all. The epitome of this belief, Thoreau even says, “I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.” And he is correct, it is great to have that space. Several years ago, I visited the redwoods. I didn’t value it much at the time, but in hindsight, it was spectacular; you could see every star in the night sky, astray from the invading city lights. That’s what really got me interested in space and what’s beyond our planet Earth. I find it pretty amazing what we discover about ourselves outside of the bubble of city life. Solitude has really been depreciated in today’s time, especially now that social networking has to know everything one is doing at any given time. One scrolls down twitter only to read “going to the bathroom”. Solitariness has become nonexistent. In the America I wish to grow old in, I hope that as we move forward as a people, we do not forget that we need to appreciate the past and that socially connecting faster, longer, and more vehemently is not the answer. Allot some time for yourself, and embrace silence and solitariness because they are healthy for you and that does not make you a freak. Thank you.

=Cite Your Sources=

Henry David Thoreau - "Walden"