Youth Rally
Here are the seven speeches currently available from our Youth and Family Rally, held in August 2006 -
(A link to a better quality Google Video version is below each one)
Amanda:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=422447082451675124
Catherine:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2794539428499216503
Christian:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6559495852281571540
Jessica:
Kerri:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8096665468233646714
Tyler:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=322097323819760388
Velan:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8630877164675922230
Transcripts of eight rally speeches are below, with a few of the duplicates of the videos posted above:
Speech 1
I believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and in doing good to all men. I believe that by living a certain set of principles I can create the person that I want to become. I have traveled to surrounding communities since I was a small child.
I work every day with people of all walks of life. While I enjoy many of my associations with these people, there way of living is not for me. I have had every opportunity to see what their lifestyles have to offer and it isn’t what I want.
I have been exposed to both sides of the equation and have made an informed and educated decision. I am making choices to create the character I am pursuing. I like what I see in my home, I like what I see in my community. I claim the privilidege of worshipping almighty God according to the dictates of my conscience and allow all men the same priviledge, let them worship how, where or what they may. I do claim this priviledge. I require this right for me and I require this right for you.
I have permission to be exactly who I am. I have the right to feel what I feel and to believe in the vision that I see. It is OK to think what I think and to dream what I dream, to love everything that I love. I never ever have to deny my trueself or pretend to be something I am not.
I am worthy of love and respect. I am unafraid to use my mind. I strive for health and peace. I trust my heart. I take pride in the integrity of my spirit.
I believe in what is true to me. Trust yourself. Think for yourself. Act for yourself. Speak for yourself. Be yourself.
Theral, 22
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Speech 2
If you judge me, then you’ll have no time to love me. That is quote from Mother Teresa, which I feel is very true. I hope that one day I can be judged for who I am, not for the way my parents choose to live.
I go to school, I want to have friends, I play sports, I am just like any other teenager. But why am I treated differently just because of my parents?
If you judge me before you knew me, you would never know I am just like you.
For those of you who judge me as abused, as uneducated or somehow less than you because of my parents’ choices, your intolerance hurts us kids.
I’ve been made fun of, my religion has been made fun of, and I’ve been excluded because of your prejudice. If you don’t like to be judged, why is it so easy to judge me? Because I have more than two parents who love me, does that mean I should not be loved by you? Because I have more brothers and sisters, who respect me, does that mean I do not deserve your respect?
If nothing else comes about from today, it would be for the world to know I do not want to be judged because of my parents beliefs, because of my beliefs or because of how many parents I have.
I get a lot more support than most kids do but that’s only because I have a bigger family and there’s more people to support me. I think I get my homework done faster because I’ve got a lot of brothers and sisters who can help me with it.
If one person can’t help me with something, the other person probably can. And that makes me feel really good because I’ve always got somebody that can help me.
Sara, 10
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Speech 3
Hey everybody. I come from a polygamist family. I’ve enjoyed a great upbringing by smart, fun-loving parents. And, yes, I have several dozen siblings. I wouldn’t trade my family for anything. I feel I’ve been very blessed being part of a polygamist family, not disadvantaged. A big family has helped me to learn how to interact and maintain relationships with a diversity of personalities. Education as a priority at home and generally we get good grades. We are encouraged to go to college if we want to. I have many family members with successful careers; some have graduated from college and/or graduate school, while others have never attended but are smart, hardworking and resourceful. Several of my brothers and sisters have had their bosses tell them they are the best employees they’ve ever had.
We are not brainwashed, mistreated, neglected, malnourished, illiterate, defective or dysfunctional. We are useful, responsible, productive members of society. I have in my life come into contact with several mental health professionals and they all said I was fantastic. I put a lot of thought into and decided they are right.
But I have been classified as a perfectly healthy well-adjusted teenager.
My brothers and sisters are free-thinking and independent people. Some have chosen this lifestyle while others have branched out to a diversity of religions and are loved and accepted for whatever they choose to be.
My religious education has always been easygoing and enjoyable, never harsh or forceful. I wouldn’t refer to my family as average or typical but what I can say, and I say this on behalf of numerous children, teens and adolescents – it’s been a great one.
Jessica, 17
****
Speech 4
There are a lot of negative myths told to the public about my family’s lifestyle that are simply not true. I have never experienced any of these horror stories I have heard in the media. Nor do I know any one who has.
I was raised in the Salt Lake Valley by parents that gave me a wonderful childhood, teaching me strong, moral beliefs about freedom of choice and respect for others.
One of my strongest beliefs, given to me by my parents, was the belief that everyone should have the right to choose their mates and what lifestyle is right for them.
Along with that, is the belief that one must be educated to make wise decisions. Because of the help and support of my family, my father and all of my mothers, I was able to graduate from high school two years early and am currently attending college.
I am on the President’s Honor Roll and will be receiving my associate’s degree in business next summer. I hope to one day be an attorney to fight for the civil rights of others.
I have never felt my opportunities or choices were limited by the lifestyle I was raised in but rather by the prejuidices of others toward my family. Who should be able to choose what lifestyle is right for you, the government or you?
I believe every individual should have the right to choose for himself. God bless America, the land of the free.
Katherine, 16
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Speech 5
I am really happy to be able to participate in this rally. I see myself as an independent fundamentalist Mormon and I believe everyone should be free to live his or her own religion. I do not know right now if I want to live polygamy in the future, but I do want to have that as an option. My parents encourage me to make my own decision.
The polygamist families I have met are very good people and I think it is cruel for someone to try and break up such happy families. The anti-polygamists trying to break up these families do not think of the families’ best interests, but only of what they want. And that hurts people.
Though I haven’t told anybody of the things I believe in, there are some people who know in my neighborhood. Sadly, those people tease me over and over and yell at me, ‘At least my parents aren’t polygamists.’
Here’s some advice: Don’t let that kind of stuff get to you like it did to me. I was smart enough to just ignore them.
Other than one B in my math class, I am a straight A student who wants to go to law school. My dream is to become a Supreme Court justice like Christine Durham.
I want to be able to defend people who fight for their rights like polygamists do. These people should be treated better and get more respect.
Sylvie, 13
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Speech 6
I have lived in a polygamist culture for most of my life. I have made the choice to someday live this Principle and I don’t expect you to understand the reasons for this choice. But I do expect you to defend my right to make that choice.
This is a choice so many people have made in the past. And because they have made this choice, they have been alienated. They have persecuted and prosecuted but their resolve remained. Mankind has always persecuted what they don’t understand. Sadly, that has been a natural reaction to anything that challenges the status quo.
But because you are ignorant of something is no reason to want to destroy it. Understanding and reason are two of our greatest tools as human beings. In the heart of every American is written the immortal second sentence of the Declaration of Independence. This promise has been a source of hope and promise for a better life for immigrants from all over the world. But because of our beliefs, we’ve been denied this promise.
Because of their beliefs, many of our people have been incarcerated and had many of their basic human rights stripped from them — mainly life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I did not come here today to ask for your permission to live my beliefs. I shouldn’t have to. I came here to defend a principle I hold so dearly. As Thomas Paine once wrote, ‘The time of the sunshine patriot and the summer soldier is over. These are the times that try men’s souls.’
Tyler, 19
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Speech 7
I am the 14th child in a large family and I have several moms. My mothers are talented people, working at a variety of careers. Among them I can find the advice that I need. All my mothers love me and work hard to create a family environment that will help us to grow and be happy, productive people.
Throughout my teenage years, I felt the same as any other teenager. My mother drove me crazy. However, in my family I was able to find understanding and support through another mother, a younger one, who connected more with my generation. I could talk openly with her about my problems. She knew the situation because she was in the family and was able to give me the help I needed. Throughout my [troubles] my own mother was able to relax because she was confident the mother I was turning to shared the same value system she did and would help and encourage me to make good choices.
My family loves me and will support me in my process of becoming what I want to be. Today, I am 18 and on the brink of adulthood. I have many avenues available to me. I love school. Last year, I was a junior and the classes I took were world history, trigonometry, physics, graphic design, speech and choir. Now, I want to go to college. Whatever career I pursue or choice I make, the choice will be mine.
I will, however, have a lot of experience from my parents to help me make the choice that is right for me.
Here, children my age are encouraged to learn the history of our world. Next spring, I will be traveling the Mediterrean with my senior class and our high school history teacher. We will tour the land while learning the architectural past and garden structures and the story of the people who inhabit those lands.
As I think about the opportunities and support I have had all of my life, I feel bad for those that have no parents, no home, and no love. Those are the three things that I will always be able to claim. I am grateful to my family for the life I live and hope that I can do the same for my children.
Mary, 18
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Speech 8
If you judge me, then you’ll have no time to love me. That is quote from Mother Teresa, which I feel is very true. I hope that one day I can be judged for who I am, not for the way my parents choose to live.
I go to school, I want to have friends, I play sports, I am just like any other teenager. But why am I treated differently just because of my parents?
If you judge me before you knew me, you would never know I am just like you.
For those of you who judge me as abused, as uneducated or somehow less than you because of my parents’ choices, your intolerance hurts us kids.
I’ve been made fun of, my religion has been made fun of, and I’ve been excluded because of your prejudice. If you don’t like to be judged, why is it so easy to judge me? Because I have more than two parents who love me, does that mean I should not be loved by you? Because I have more brothers and sisters, who respect me, does that mean I do not deserve your respect?
If nothing else comes about from today, it would be for the world to know I do not want to be judged because of my parents beliefs, because of my beliefs or because of how many parents I have.
- Amanda, 14
