I personally consider myself to be a very lucky person I come from a Syrian
very lucky person I come from a Syrian
very lucky person I come from a Syrian immigrant family who moved here about
immigrant family who moved here about
immigrant family who moved here about thirty years ago to pursue a life in the
thirty years ago to pursue a life in the
thirty years ago to pursue a life in the country of dreams my uncle was studying
country of dreams my uncle was studying
country of dreams my uncle was studying in the medical school of the University
in the medical school of the University
in the medical school of the University of Kentucky when my mom came here for a
of Kentucky when my mom came here for a
of Kentucky when my mom came here for a back check-up and then was surprised the
back check-up and then was surprised the
back check-up and then was surprised the best news yet my birth so about 40 days
best news yet my birth so about 40 days
best news yet my birth so about 40 days later my mom my dad and baby me we’re on
later my mom my dad and baby me we’re on
later my mom my dad and baby me we’re on a plane headed back towards Damascus
a plane headed back towards Damascus
a plane headed back towards Damascus Syria and ever since that day I remember
Syria and ever since that day I remember
Syria and ever since that day I remember spending every summer in Easley South
spending every summer in Easley South
spending every summer in Easley South Carolina and every winter in Damascus
Carolina and every winter in Damascus
Carolina and every winter in Damascus Syria about eleven years later my
Syria about eleven years later my
Syria about eleven years later my parents get the green card and soon
parents get the green card and soon
parents get the green card and soon after the citizenship was theirs in
after the citizenship was theirs in
after the citizenship was theirs in order to do so though they have to go
order to do so though they have to go
order to do so though they have to go through a very long process of spending
through a very long process of spending
through a very long process of spending about two and a half years in America so
about two and a half years in America so
about two and a half years in America so that I got to spend sixth grade as well
that I got to spend sixth grade as well
that I got to spend sixth grade as well as my junior and senior year of high
as my junior and senior year of high
as my junior and senior year of high school in here I got to learn all about
school in here I got to learn all about
school in here I got to learn all about the teenage life of American girls my
the teenage life of American girls my
the teenage life of American girls my objective in this talk is to not protect
objective in this talk is to not protect
objective in this talk is to not protect one political side over the other it is
one political side over the other it is
one political side over the other it is solely to open your eyes to the struggle
solely to open your eyes to the struggle
solely to open your eyes to the struggle of those inside of Syria what happened
of those inside of Syria what happened
of those inside of Syria what happened in Aleppo has been happening in every
in Aleppo has been happening in every
in Aleppo has been happening in every Syrian city for the past six years I was
Syrian city for the past six years I was
Syrian city for the past six years I was in ninth grade eating dinner with my
in ninth grade eating dinner with my
in ninth grade eating dinner with my family in Damascus when we were watching
family in Damascus when we were watching
family in Damascus when we were watching the news and we saw the very first signs
the news and we saw the very first signs
the news and we saw the very first signs and revolution in that out which is
and revolution in that out which is
and revolution in that out which is where everything started I remember
where everything started I remember
where everything started I remember being shocked confused mostly in denial
being shocked confused mostly in denial
being shocked confused mostly in denial because there was no way Syria was in
because there was no way Syria was in
because there was no way Syria was in danger there was no way I could be in
danger there was no way I could be in
danger there was no way I could be in danger right but unfortunately we all
danger right but unfortunately we all
danger right but unfortunately we all were and for about two and a half years
were and for about two and a half years
were and for about two and a half years prior at the time I have witnessed the
prior at the time I have witnessed the
prior at the time I have witnessed the fall and rise of many Arab countries the
fall and rise of many Arab countries the
fall and rise of many Arab countries the one that struck me the most was a scene
one that struck me the most was a scene
one that struck me the most was a scene from Egypt where a white van hit tens of
from Egypt where a white van hit tens of
from Egypt where a white van hit tens of protesters for simply being in its way I
protesters for simply being in its way I
protesters for simply being in its way I remember things didn’t really seem real
remember things didn’t really seem real
remember things didn’t really seem real and I was always wondering why we
and I was always wondering why we
and I was always wondering why we weren’t protecting the civilians what do
weren’t protecting the civilians what do
weren’t protecting the civilians what do they have to do with it
they have to do with it
they have to do with it I would ask my mom and my dad but the
I would ask my mom and my dad but the
I would ask my mom and my dad but the response was always that the bigger and
response was always that the bigger and
response was always that the bigger and more powerful sources and forces are the
more powerful sources and forces are the
more powerful sources and forces are the only ones that matter in Wars
only ones that matter in Wars
only ones that matter in Wars being 14 I don’t really know what that
being 14 I don’t really know what that
being 14 I don’t really know what that meant and now at 20 I am still confused
meant and now at 20 I am still confused
meant and now at 20 I am still confused as to why we do not pay attention to
as to why we do not pay attention to
as to why we do not pay attention to those who are struggling in Wars for
those who are struggling in Wars for
those who are struggling in Wars for example the UN posed many sanctions on
example the UN posed many sanctions on
example the UN posed many sanctions on the Syrian people
the Syrian people
the Syrian people see your regime in order but little did
see your regime in order but little did
see your regime in order but little did they know the Syrian people are the only
they know the Syrian people are the only
they know the Syrian people are the only ones who are being tortured and punished
ones who are being tortured and punished
ones who are being tortured and punished some of these sanctions include no trade
some of these sanctions include no trade
some of these sanctions include no trade is to happen between multiple countries
is to happen between multiple countries
is to happen between multiple countries in Syria and no airplanes may go in or
in Syria and no airplanes may go in or
in Syria and no airplanes may go in or out of Syria from multiple countries
out of Syria from multiple countries
out of Syria from multiple countries also if you truly think about these
also if you truly think about these
also if you truly think about these sanctions you’d realize that the only
sanctions you’d realize that the only
sanctions you’d realize that the only ones who are being punished are the
ones who are being punished are the
ones who are being punished are the Syrian people they’re the only ones who
Syrian people they’re the only ones who
Syrian people they’re the only ones who are trying to have the luxury of living
are trying to have the luxury of living
are trying to have the luxury of living outside of Syria or the luxury of even
outside of Syria or the luxury of even
outside of Syria or the luxury of even trying to go somewhere else and have the
trying to go somewhere else and have the
trying to go somewhere else and have the good life when everything started in
good life when everything started in
good life when everything started in Syria there the Revolution started as a
Syria there the Revolution started as a
Syria there the Revolution started as a renovation revolution and not as a way
renovation revolution and not as a way
renovation revolution and not as a way to get the Syrian regime out of power
to get the Syrian regime out of power
to get the Syrian regime out of power but unfortunately that also did not last
but unfortunately that also did not last
but unfortunately that also did not last long
long
long shake people unlike what the media may
shake people unlike what the media may
shake people unlike what the media may tell you Syrian people do not actually
tell you Syrian people do not actually
tell you Syrian people do not actually hate the regime as much as you may think
hate the regime as much as you may think
hate the regime as much as you may think um when everything started in 2011
um when everything started in 2011
um when everything started in 2011 everyone was a rebel
everyone was a rebel
everyone was a rebel everyone wanted changes the system and
everyone wanted changes the system and
everyone wanted changes the system and changes were being made up until a
changes were being made up until a
changes were being made up until a couple months later someone fired that
couple months later someone fired that
couple months later someone fired that first shot the ciara regime says it was
first shot the ciara regime says it was
first shot the ciara regime says it was the Free Syrian Army followers who were
the Free Syrian Army followers who were
the Free Syrian Army followers who were the main rebel base at the time and
the main rebel base at the time and
the main rebel base at the time and those people say it was a Syrian regime
those people say it was a Syrian regime
those people say it was a Syrian regime but there’s literally no way of finding
but there’s literally no way of finding
but there’s literally no way of finding out and within 24 hours of that shot
out and within 24 hours of that shot
out and within 24 hours of that shot being fired everything changed
being fired everything changed
being fired everything changed checkpoints were placed on each road by
checkpoints were placed on each road by
checkpoints were placed on each road by either side and whoever has to cross
either side and whoever has to cross
either side and whoever has to cross those roads have to go through the
those roads have to go through the
those roads have to go through the checkpoints no matter who they are last
checkpoints no matter who they are last
checkpoints no matter who they are last summer when my mom and I went back to
summer when my mom and I went back to
summer when my mom and I went back to Syria we encountered a split road and at
Syria we encountered a split road and at
Syria we encountered a split road and at the end of each road there was obviously
the end of each road there was obviously
the end of each road there was obviously a checkpoint one road was completely
a checkpoint one road was completely
a checkpoint one road was completely plain and the other was filled with
plain and the other was filled with
plain and the other was filled with Syrian flags for some reason we were
Syrian flags for some reason we were
Syrian flags for some reason we were like let’s go through the plain one so
like let’s go through the plain one so
like let’s go through the plain one so as we were walking we realized it was
as we were walking we realized it was
as we were walking we realized it was the ISIS checkpoint and the terror we
the ISIS checkpoint and the terror we
the ISIS checkpoint and the terror we felt was unreal we ran back and went
felt was unreal we ran back and went
felt was unreal we ran back and went through the government one because
through the government one because
through the government one because believe it or not they are the ones who
believe it or not they are the ones who
believe it or not they are the ones who have protect been protecting us for the
have protect been protecting us for the
have protect been protecting us for the past six years what makes the Syrian
past six years what makes the Syrian
past six years what makes the Syrian conflict so unique is the little groups
conflict so unique is the little groups
conflict so unique is the little groups that are fighting against each other to
that are fighting against each other to
that are fighting against each other to see who’s gonna take power after their
see who’s gonna take power after their
see who’s gonna take power after their regime has fallen not one rebel base
regime has fallen not one rebel base
regime has fallen not one rebel base that is trying to get that point across
that is trying to get that point across
that is trying to get that point across and to do what they want and what they
and to do what they want and what they
and to do what they want and what they believe in because that rebel base
believe in because that rebel base
believe in because that rebel base was gone right after their that killing
was gone right after their that killing
was gone right after their that killing started no one was supposed to die it
started no one was supposed to die it
started no one was supposed to die it was never supposed to end this way
was never supposed to end this way
was never supposed to end this way fast forward to March 17th 2012 the
fast forward to March 17th 2012 the
fast forward to March 17th 2012 the second suicidal bomber decided to choose
second suicidal bomber decided to choose
second suicidal bomber decided to choose my neighborhood as his next target
my neighborhood as his next target
my neighborhood as his next target thankfully my family and I moved about a
thankfully my family and I moved about a
thankfully my family and I moved about a mile away a couple months earlier to a
mile away a couple months earlier to a
mile away a couple months earlier to a new house but the shock wasn’t in any
new house but the shock wasn’t in any
new house but the shock wasn’t in any wasn’t any less easier um with the help
wasn’t any less easier um with the help
wasn’t any less easier um with the help of two hundred kilograms of explosions
of two hundred kilograms of explosions
of two hundred kilograms of explosions powder explosions many chemicals and a
powder explosions many chemicals and a
powder explosions many chemicals and a tank of gasoline
tank of gasoline
tank of gasoline he was successfully able to burn down an
he was successfully able to burn down an
he was successfully able to burn down an apartment building and completely ruined
apartment building and completely ruined
apartment building and completely ruined the ones on that block including my
the ones on that block including my
the ones on that block including my house I remember that day as if it was
house I remember that day as if it was
house I remember that day as if it was yesterday it was Saturday morning at
yesterday it was Saturday morning at
yesterday it was Saturday morning at 7:30 in the morning when we heard when
7:30 in the morning when we heard when
7:30 in the morning when we heard when we felt a really huge shake accompanied
we felt a really huge shake accompanied
we felt a really huge shake accompanied with a very loud noise my mom
with a very loud noise my mom
with a very loud noise my mom immediately opened the kitchen window
immediately opened the kitchen window
immediately opened the kitchen window and she saw birds flying away out of
and she saw birds flying away out of
and she saw birds flying away out of terror in the sky starting to fill with
terror in the sky starting to fill with
terror in the sky starting to fill with white smoke soon after we hear gunshot
white smoke soon after we hear gunshot
white smoke soon after we hear gunshot and the white and this white smoke is
and the white and this white smoke is
and the white and this white smoke is turning black we don’t know what’s
turning black we don’t know what’s
turning black we don’t know what’s happening we tried to turn on the TV but
happening we tried to turn on the TV but
happening we tried to turn on the TV but the power was off we didn’t know what
the power was off we didn’t know what
the power was off we didn’t know what happened or where it had happened about
happened or where it had happened about
happened or where it had happened about 30 minutes later my dad calls and tells
30 minutes later my dad calls and tells
30 minutes later my dad calls and tells us that the house that we lived in and
us that the house that we lived in and
us that the house that we lived in and the house we grew up in is gone it’s
the house we grew up in is gone it’s
the house we grew up in is gone it’s entity the terror we felt was unreal I
entity the terror we felt was unreal I
entity the terror we felt was unreal I had never seen my dad should it’s here
had never seen my dad should it’s here
had never seen my dad should it’s here before but seeing 30 years of his life
before but seeing 30 years of his life
before but seeing 30 years of his life where go to waste was not something he
where go to waste was not something he
where go to waste was not something he had prepared for bombing store our
had prepared for bombing store our
had prepared for bombing store our country apart it was the one thing we
country apart it was the one thing we
country apart it was the one thing we the people had wished that would never
the people had wished that would never
the people had wished that would never happen bombs when bombs happen you are
happen bombs when bombs happen you are
happen bombs when bombs happen you are never truly safe not even in the
never truly safe not even in the
never truly safe not even in the boundaries of your own home they can hit
boundaries of your own home they can hit
boundaries of your own home they can hit anyone anywhere at any time now a couple
anyone anywhere at any time now a couple
anyone anywhere at any time now a couple months after my house got blown up we
months after my house got blown up we
months after my house got blown up we decide my it was my parents time to come
decide my it was my parents time to come
decide my it was my parents time to come move permanently to the United States so
move permanently to the United States so
move permanently to the United States so they can get the citizenship so my
they can get the citizenship so my
they can get the citizenship so my junior of high school we packed
junior of high school we packed
junior of high school we packed everything we thought we may need and we
everything we thought we may need and we
everything we thought we may need and we headed out to America the country of
headed out to America the country of
headed out to America the country of dreams it was very hard to be excited
dreams it was very hard to be excited
dreams it was very hard to be excited when the only thing we felt was terror
when the only thing we felt was terror
when the only thing we felt was terror and fear how are we gonna be looked at
and fear how are we gonna be looked at
and fear how are we gonna be looked at are we the terrorists now
are we the terrorists now
are we the terrorists now and of course with my appearance of my
and of course with my appearance of my
and of course with my appearance of my slight accent I was indeed the face of
slight accent I was indeed the face of
slight accent I was indeed the face of terrorism and my fellow classmates eyes
terrorism and my fellow classmates eyes
terrorism and my fellow classmates eyes the transition wasn’t anyway easy but we
the transition wasn’t anyway easy but we
the transition wasn’t anyway easy but we made it work we smell through our days
made it work we smell through our days
made it work we smell through our days and we just went along and tried to make
and we just went along and tried to make
and we just went along and tried to make it work up until one day one of my
it work up until one day one of my
it work up until one day one of my fellow classmates said to me that
fellow classmates said to me that
fellow classmates said to me that they’re gonna push me off the stairs for
they’re gonna push me off the stairs for
they’re gonna push me off the stairs for not being an American citizen which was
not being an American citizen which was
not being an American citizen which was kind of funny because I was American
kind of funny because I was American
kind of funny because I was American born citizen I could literally be the
born citizen I could literally be the
born citizen I could literally be the president one day
president one day
president one day I’m not even Syrian I carried the
I’m not even Syrian I carried the
I’m not even Syrian I carried the Lebanese citizenship after my dad and
Lebanese citizenship after my dad and
Lebanese citizenship after my dad and I’m American for being born here I am
I’m American for being born here I am
I’m American for being born here I am Syrian by heart Syria is my home in the
Syrian by heart Syria is my home in the
Syrian by heart Syria is my home in the same way that America is now what right
same way that America is now what right
same way that America is now what right did that person have to speak to me like
did that person have to speak to me like
did that person have to speak to me like that but I put a smile on I acted like I
that but I put a smile on I acted like I
that but I put a smile on I acted like I didn’t hear them and I just moved along
didn’t hear them and I just moved along
didn’t hear them and I just moved along with my day my reaction to a lot of what
with my day my reaction to a lot of what
with my day my reaction to a lot of what happened was shocked I didn’t really
happened was shocked I didn’t really
happened was shocked I didn’t really understand or comprehend or even wrap my
understand or comprehend or even wrap my
understand or comprehend or even wrap my head around the fact that we are being
head around the fact that we are being
head around the fact that we are being tormented for something we have never
tormented for something we have never
tormented for something we have never even commented on now refugees are a big
even commented on now refugees are a big
even commented on now refugees are a big topic of the Syrian crisis right now and
topic of the Syrian crisis right now and
topic of the Syrian crisis right now and I’m not gonna go in detail about what I
I’m not gonna go in detail about what I
I’m not gonna go in detail about what I think or the politics of it I’m just
think or the politics of it I’m just
think or the politics of it I’m just gonna tell you a couple of stories and
gonna tell you a couple of stories and
gonna tell you a couple of stories and leave it open to you for you to decide
leave it open to you for you to decide
leave it open to you for you to decide what you think you should do and how you
what you think you should do and how you
what you think you should do and how you think you should view them from now on
think you should view them from now on
think you should view them from now on um refugees are obviously people who are
um refugees are obviously people who are
um refugees are obviously people who are displaced from their own homes usually
displaced from their own homes usually
displaced from their own homes usually due to war um there are two kinds of
due to war um there are two kinds of
due to war um there are two kinds of refugees though there are the people who
refugees though there are the people who
refugees though there are the people who stay inside and the people that leave um
stay inside and the people that leave um
stay inside and the people that leave um my dad took in a refugee and inside a
my dad took in a refugee and inside a
my dad took in a refugee and inside a refugee his personal secretary Jo Jo was
refugee his personal secretary Jo Jo was
refugee his personal secretary Jo Jo was displaced from her home after Isis went
displaced from her home after Isis went
displaced from her home after Isis went in and took over her neighborhood out of
in and took over her neighborhood out of
in and took over her neighborhood out of nowhere she was she was she became
nowhere she was she was she became
nowhere she was she was she became homeless immediately with her family for
homeless immediately with her family for
homeless immediately with her family for not having the same values as Isis for
not having the same values as Isis for
not having the same values as Isis for not dressing the way they wanted her to
not dressing the way they wanted her to
not dressing the way they wanted her to which is to cover the one’s body from
which is to cover the one’s body from
which is to cover the one’s body from head to toe she did not approve of that
head to toe she did not approve of that
head to toe she did not approve of that and she had to deny herself and she had
and she had to deny herself and she had
and she had to deny herself and she had to disguise and hide her identity just
to disguise and hide her identity just
to disguise and hide her identity just to go back home and say
to go back home and say
to go back home and say pick up some stuff that she needed to
pick up some stuff that she needed to
pick up some stuff that she needed to survive Jill now lives in my dad’s
survive Jill now lives in my dad’s
survive Jill now lives in my dad’s Factory in the office because she has no
Factory in the office because she has no
Factory in the office because she has no other place to go
other place to go
other place to go you see Jill’s problem is that she she
you see Jill’s problem is that she she
you see Jill’s problem is that she she she shares the same religious beliefs
she shares the same religious beliefs
she shares the same religious beliefs with Bashar al-assad which is the Syrian
with Bashar al-assad which is the Syrian
with Bashar al-assad which is the Syrian president for that she pays every day
president for that she pays every day
president for that she pays every day she pays with her dignity with her life
she pays with her dignity with her life
she pays with her dignity with her life with her family with everything that she
with her family with everything that she
with her family with everything that she owns and she’s the perfect example of
owns and she’s the perfect example of
owns and she’s the perfect example of the Forgotten Syrian refugee she has
the Forgotten Syrian refugee she has
the Forgotten Syrian refugee she has nothing to do with politics she’s never
nothing to do with politics she’s never
nothing to do with politics she’s never even commented on politics she doesn’t
even commented on politics she doesn’t
even commented on politics she doesn’t care what happens in politics she was
care what happens in politics she was
care what happens in politics she was trying to live her life and keep her
trying to live her life and keep her
trying to live her life and keep her privacy when she was violated in every
privacy when she was violated in every
privacy when she was violated in every single way she was she she lost who she
single way she was she she lost who she
single way she was she she lost who she really was
really was
really was because of politics there are thousands
because of politics there are thousands
because of politics there are thousands like Jo who are now just trying to get
like Jo who are now just trying to get
like Jo who are now just trying to get somewhere trying to find a home but they
somewhere trying to find a home but they
somewhere trying to find a home but they can because of their even because either
can because of their even because either
can because of their even because either of their religious beliefs or political
of their religious beliefs or political
of their religious beliefs or political beliefs but no matter what those may be
beliefs but no matter what those may be
beliefs but no matter what those may be there is no reason for us to treat a
there is no reason for us to treat a
there is no reason for us to treat a human being in such a manner
human being in such a manner
human being in such a manner we can’t just they’re just a human soul
we can’t just they’re just a human soul
we can’t just they’re just a human soul just like you and me who just happen to
just like you and me who just happen to
just like you and me who just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time
unfortunately Jill is not the only one
unfortunately Jill is not the only one and war is a lot more complicated what
and war is a lot more complicated what
and war is a lot more complicated what the movies may show you war is fighting
the movies may show you war is fighting
the movies may show you war is fighting through every day even though you know
through every day even though you know
through every day even though you know you may die at the end of the day war is
you may die at the end of the day war is
you may die at the end of the day war is seeing in school and hearing a bomb go
seeing in school and hearing a bomb go
seeing in school and hearing a bomb go off outside but still seeing in school
off outside but still seeing in school
off outside but still seeing in school and learning the lesson students are
and learning the lesson students are
and learning the lesson students are actually encouraged not to go to school
actually encouraged not to go to school
actually encouraged not to go to school in many areas so they don’t die because
in many areas so they don’t die because
in many areas so they don’t die because unfortunately schools tend to be a
unfortunately schools tend to be a
unfortunately schools tend to be a fragile bomb target for those who want
fragile bomb target for those who want
fragile bomb target for those who want to destroy everything to understand
to destroy everything to understand
to destroy everything to understand actually what happens we have to realize
actually what happens we have to realize
actually what happens we have to realize that war is sitting through and fighting
that war is sitting through and fighting
that war is sitting through and fighting and that even when you hear something
and that even when you hear something
and that even when you hear something from an Arab or from the news please
from an Arab or from the news please
from an Arab or from the news please don’t take it seriously unless they were
don’t take it seriously unless they were
don’t take it seriously unless they were in war and they had lived it as their
in war and they had lived it as their
in war and they had lived it as their home for a while because it’s different
home for a while because it’s different
home for a while because it’s different to go to Syria as a tourist and to go
to go to Syria as a tourist and to go
to go to Syria as a tourist and to go back
back
back home to go as a tourist you’re going
home to go as a tourist you’re going
home to go as a tourist you’re going you’re going the safest areas the most
you’re going the safest areas the most
you’re going the safest areas the most protected areas also if something
protected areas also if something
protected areas also if something happens you can just leave but if you’re
happens you can just leave but if you’re
happens you can just leave but if you’re going home
going home
going home like I’m going home I’m going back home
like I’m going home I’m going back home
like I’m going home I’m going back home to my loving family and my cozy bed and
to my loving family and my cozy bed and
to my loving family and my cozy bed and if something was to happen I am gonna
if something was to happen I am gonna
if something was to happen I am gonna stay I’m gonna fight through it I’m
stay I’m gonna fight through it I’m
stay I’m gonna fight through it I’m gonna send the bath up for hours because
gonna send the bath up for hours because
gonna send the bath up for hours because that’s the safest place for me at the
that’s the safest place for me at the
that’s the safest place for me at the time I’m gonna sit there for hours
time I’m gonna sit there for hours
time I’m gonna sit there for hours waiting until the fighting dies down
waiting until the fighting dies down
waiting until the fighting dies down because if I leave I’m denying Who I am
because if I leave I’m denying Who I am
because if I leave I’m denying Who I am I am refusing to accept my identity and
I am refusing to accept my identity and
I am refusing to accept my identity and my Syrian background and there are
my Syrian background and there are
my Syrian background and there are thousands of people who feel the exact
thousands of people who feel the exact
thousands of people who feel the exact same way right now at this moment in
same way right now at this moment in
same way right now at this moment in Syria my dad also helped another inside
Syria my dad also helped another inside
Syria my dad also helped another inside refugee his name was Jim um he was just
refugee his name was Jim um he was just
refugee his name was Jim um he was just like Jill he stays in our factory right
like Jill he stays in our factory right
like Jill he stays in our factory right now as a night watchman except his
now as a night watchman except his
now as a night watchman except his story’s very different and I’m very
story’s very different and I’m very
story’s very different and I’m very sorry but this is a very graphic story
sorry but this is a very graphic story
sorry but this is a very graphic story um Jim lived lives with his family about
um Jim lived lives with his family about
um Jim lived lives with his family about two and a half hours away from Damascus
two and a half hours away from Damascus
two and a half hours away from Damascus in the suburbs I mean he commutes
in the suburbs I mean he commutes
in the suburbs I mean he commutes between Damascus and his town because he
between Damascus and his town because he
between Damascus and his town because he works as a night watchman in her in with
works as a night watchman in her in with
works as a night watchman in her in with my dad during one of those nights though
my dad during one of those nights though
my dad during one of those nights though Isis when it’s his town and took over he
Isis when it’s his town and took over he
Isis when it’s his town and took over he was not allowed to see his family for
was not allowed to see his family for
was not allowed to see his family for quite a for quite a few months it was a
quite a for quite a few months it was a
quite a for quite a few months it was a very long complicated process to get
very long complicated process to get
very long complicated process to get them out and the only way that they can
them out and the only way that they can
them out and the only way that they can talk to each other was through was
talk to each other was through was
talk to each other was through was through the phone during one of those
through the phone during one of those
through the phone during one of those phone calls his wife told him apologize
phone calls his wife told him apologize
phone calls his wife told him apologize again his wife told him that they are
again his wife told him that they are
again his wife told him that they are taking the parents of the people that do
taking the parents of the people that do
taking the parents of the people that do not agree with Isis um and they are
not agree with Isis um and they are
not agree with Isis um and they are stripping them naked putting them in a
stripping them naked putting them in a
stripping them naked putting them in a big bowl filled with water and they’re
big bowl filled with water and they’re
big bowl filled with water and they’re also stripping the kids naked their kids
also stripping the kids naked their kids
also stripping the kids naked their kids um and lighting them on fire the parents
um and lighting them on fire the parents
um and lighting them on fire the parents are literally boiled in their kids
are literally boiled in their kids
are literally boiled in their kids flames that’s the true Syrian crisis
flames that’s the true Syrian crisis
flames that’s the true Syrian crisis it’s not the politics it’s not the sides
it’s not the politics it’s not the sides
it’s not the politics it’s not the sides that are fighting in it it’s the people
that are fighting in it it’s the people
that are fighting in it it’s the people who are trying just to survive every day
who are trying just to survive every day
who are trying just to survive every day and that’s what we need to realize and
and that’s what we need to realize and
and that’s what we need to realize and this problem is not only in Syria this
this problem is not only in Syria this
this problem is not only in Syria this problem has been happening forever since
problem has been happening forever since
problem has been happening forever since humans were alive on this earth
humans were alive on this earth
humans were alive on this earth human catastrophes are always overlooked
human catastrophes are always overlooked
human catastrophes are always overlooked we have formed this idea that civilians
we have formed this idea that civilians
we have formed this idea that civilians and veterans don’t matter as much as
and veterans don’t matter as much as
and veterans don’t matter as much as they should because even in the old
they should because even in the old
they should because even in the old times when you have two armies fighting
times when you have two armies fighting
times when you have two armies fighting as long as the leader is still alive
as long as the leader is still alive
as long as the leader is still alive that army wins even though they’re all
that army wins even though they’re all
that army wins even though they’re all dead but the leader is alive oppression
dead but the leader is alive oppression
dead but the leader is alive oppression and murder have been disguised in
and murder have been disguised in
and murder have been disguised in different names so they can be
different names so they can be
different names so they can be brainwashed into our mind to think that
brainwashed into our mind to think that
brainwashed into our mind to think that they’re okay when we are trying to fight
they’re okay when we are trying to fight
they’re okay when we are trying to fight our human instinct to say no we need to
our human instinct to say no we need to
our human instinct to say no we need to get out of the bubble of politics and
get out of the bubble of politics and
get out of the bubble of politics and start to realize the beauty in which we
start to realize the beauty in which we
start to realize the beauty in which we live in so we can start learning how to
live in so we can start learning how to
live in so we can start learning how to love each other again and how to live
love each other again and how to live
love each other again and how to live again because just like my cousin said
again because just like my cousin said
again because just like my cousin said in Syria we’re not well we’re alive
in Syria we’re not well we’re alive
in Syria we’re not well we’re alive despite the war that doesn’t end but we
despite the war that doesn’t end but we
despite the war that doesn’t end but we never know when we may end thank you
never know when we may end thank you
never know when we may end thank you [Applause]
”
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