Apart from discussing our responses to "What is a Festival" and "What does a Festival of Words conjure up", we also thought about and created responses to, the theme Free Speech! Some made poems, some performed, others had heated debates about what free speech means and should mean. Here are a few thoughts:Free Speech > minority groups, anything you say, being posh, Mandela, labels, poems, gangster, civil rights, slang, songs, languages, Barrack Obama, expressing opinions, without prejudice, controversial issues, relationships, the right to listen, human rights, different ways of communicating, animal rights, protests, petitions, racism, homophobia, child abuse, negative words, rights for disabled, swear words, homeless people, change the system, war, things will never change, make a stand, believe in yourself and what you are talking about, free speech should be easy and is a right, opinions, confidence, improvise, only one side of an argument, come from the heart!
Music > clears your mind, allows you to express the truth and tell stories
Some poems by young people:
We don't know who to believe,
Who will even listen to us?
We wonder when the system is going to change,
But we know it won't without a large majority on our side.
We want the stereotypical view of us to change,
so teenagers can speak their views.
We don't need a book to be judged by it's cover
People who can make a difference stand back,
And nothing is done.
And we wonder will we be the same.
Free Speech is a form of expression
It's your own way of making an impression.
Free Speech makes you feel proud,
Stand on a stage and speak out loud.
Free Speech doesn't cost a penny
So say what you want and be heard by many.
Free Speech allows you to spread your word,
So come to this festival and make your opinions heard.
