Your Turn

In speech and debate, we put the world around us on trial: politicians, militaries, industries, acts of violence, and abuses of human rights. Today, I'm turning that same prosecutor's desk around. The entire speech and debate community is on trial. 

In the two years I've competed as an extemporaneous speaker, and my six years as a competitor, judge, and coach in speech, I've noticed a troubling tendency among my comrades and fellow competitors in the speech and debate community. The people who speak the most actively and passionately about politics, human rights, and the world aren't broadly putting their money where their mouth is, and they're not doing anything to create the change they love to speak about to enhance their speeches and arguments.

At times like these, forensics participants must use their voices in and outside the round to advocate for change. We face an unprecedented uphill battle as young people in today's day and age, from protesting the restrictions on reproductive rights to addressing the ongoing genocide in Gaza to the inequities we face every day at schools and how we take a stand against them. Yet, in these discussions outside the round, debaters most often aren't at the table. The people with the most well-researched stance on every issue, who talk about it competitively every weekend, don't take their shot to make actual change in our schools, our communities, and, given the opportunity, in our governments. But it's not due to a lack of influence or due to a lack of connection. It's a fact that debaters often don't want to get involved. Imagine the impact we, as a community of politically informed young people, could have if we all stepped up and used the skills gained through years of analyzing statistics, articles, and results to drive real change. Our involvement could significantly alter the course of political and social discourse, and our collective action could catalyze the change we wish to see.

It's not like there aren't opportunities available; this election cycle created some of the most accessible political volunteering opportunities in human history. The barrier is available knowledge, not participation.

I can testify to this myself. Over the summer, the skills I've obtained through speech allowed me to, in a week, join the Progressive Victory PAC, propose a colossal project (MN District 5 Democratic primary for Rep. Ilhan Omar), and become Minnesota's state director. Furthermore, I attended the Catalyst for Systems Change's Youth Policy Forum at my state capitol because of a connection I made through a speech. All this I did at age sixteen because these types of organizations WANT new, energized young people to participate, and they want teenagers to help make a change.  The skills we all obtain in forensics translate perfectly to political activity. Forensic competitors are some of the brightest and most connected youth of our time, but we allow it to go to waste in many cases by not using our talents and connections to change the world. The skills we accrue, bill writing, argumentation, and public speaking, make us ideally suited to the environment of change-making; we sharp, young, energetic students are in high demand among them as through speech and debate, we can utilize our earned skills to build community, and enhance participation from the most motivated groups of high schoolers. There, we can make a difference.

It's not just in politics, either. The speech and debate sphere is in desperate need of reform from the blatant gender discrimination nationwide debaters face and inequities based on our location and, thus, funding. If you're reading this, you already know these issues thoroughly. It falls to you not only to know about them but to act against them; for many like me, Equality in Forensics is all we have. If you come from a privileged background, using your voice, getting involved, and encouraging others to do the same is especially important. No student should have their shot robbed from them simply because of uncontrollable barriers like gender and funding. We all do better when we all do better.

Given the last election's results, many of us have withdrawn from speech and debate events because we feel intertwined with politics. Many feel alienated from our political sphere and can't bring themselves to care anymore after the heartbreak we experienced in the early hours of November 6th. If that's you, I'm talking to you. The arc of history is long, but it only bends toward justice because of the people who took it upon themselves to bend it. We can't expect the world to change on its own, especially when we are the ones who will face the consequences in the future. The time to act is now. I'm inviting you today to take your place in history and use your talents to better the world in the face of the remarkable adversity we face. You can write policy briefs, organize debates on pressing issues, or even run for student government positions. These are just a few examples of ways to use your skills to make a difference. 

President Obama said in his 2009 address to students across America, "Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team." Follow through on Obama's words and use your talents.

Change the world.

If you want to make a difference but are unsure how or need someone to talk to or get advice from, please email me at cade.kuznia@gmail.com or message me on Discord at @cadearchonprime.

Cited

Obama, Barack. "Remarks by the President in a National Address to America's 

Schoolchildren." Whitehouse.gov, Whitehouse, September 28th, 2009