I’m gonna start with this image does this look familiar to anyone
hopefully not this was March 31st 2004
hopefully not this was March 31st 2004 in Fallujah Iraq when for American
in Fallujah Iraq when for American
in Fallujah Iraq when for American Blackwater guards were ambushed set on
Blackwater guards were ambushed set on
Blackwater guards were ambushed set on fire mutilated dragged through the
fire mutilated dragged through the
fire mutilated dragged through the streets and strung up on the bridge over
streets and strung up on the bridge over
streets and strung up on the bridge over the Euphrates River pretty horrible
the Euphrates River pretty horrible
the Euphrates River pretty horrible isn’t it
isn’t it
isn’t it this hit me especially hard because I
this hit me especially hard because I
this hit me especially hard because I just recently driven across that same
just recently driven across that same
just recently driven across that same bridge and also because one of the guys
bridge and also because one of the guys
bridge and also because one of the guys killed was my brother’s friend they had
killed was my brother’s friend they had
killed was my brother’s friend they had served in the Navy SEALs together I was
served in the Navy SEALs together I was
served in the Navy SEALs together I was the CIA a counterinsurgency analyst for
the CIA a counterinsurgency analyst for
the CIA a counterinsurgency analyst for Owen Bar province in western Iraq part
Owen Bar province in western Iraq part
Owen Bar province in western Iraq part of the dreaded Sunni triangle in a
of the dreaded Sunni triangle in a
of the dreaded Sunni triangle in a nutshell my job was to make sense of the
nutshell my job was to make sense of the
nutshell my job was to make sense of the other to figure out who was fighting us
other to figure out who was fighting us
other to figure out who was fighting us and why what were their tactics what was
and why what were their tactics what was
and why what were their tactics what was motivating them where were they getting
motivating them where were they getting
motivating them where were they getting their funding what was the leadership
their funding what was the leadership
their funding what was the leadership structure were they Saddam loyalists for
structure were they Saddam loyalists for
structure were they Saddam loyalists for the Islamic jihadists trying to paint a
the Islamic jihadists trying to paint a
the Islamic jihadists trying to paint a picture for our leaders of who who it
picture for our leaders of who who it
picture for our leaders of who who it was that committed acts like that on the
was that committed acts like that on the
was that committed acts like that on the bridge I worked closely with the
bridge I worked closely with the
bridge I worked closely with the military and Special Forces and I even
military and Special Forces and I even
military and Special Forces and I even had to interrogate insurgents in Abu
had to interrogate insurgents in Abu
had to interrogate insurgents in Abu Ghraib prison the closest I came to the
Ghraib prison the closest I came to the
Ghraib prison the closest I came to the frontlines was supporting the war in
frontlines was supporting the war in
frontlines was supporting the war in filip the major battle in Fallujah that
filip the major battle in Fallujah that
filip the major battle in Fallujah that was a response to the attack on that
was a response to the attack on that
was a response to the attack on that bridge I slept and worked in this tent
bridge I slept and worked in this tent
bridge I slept and worked in this tent with the other members of my team I was
with the other members of my team I was
with the other members of my team I was the only female CIA official and one of
the only female CIA official and one of
the only female CIA official and one of very few civilian women on the marine
very few civilian women on the marine
very few civilian women on the marine base just outside Fallujah let’s just
base just outside Fallujah let’s just
base just outside Fallujah let’s just say it was a good thing I grew up with
say it was a good thing I grew up with
say it was a good thing I grew up with brothers
it’s difficult to describe what that
it’s difficult to describe what that experience was like the incredible
experience was like the incredible
experience was like the incredible deafening noise and shock of the booms
deafening noise and shock of the booms
deafening noise and shock of the booms of mortars and rockets incoming and
of mortars and rockets incoming and
of mortars and rockets incoming and outgoing the sense of chaos and
outgoing the sense of chaos and
outgoing the sense of chaos and confusion the incredible fatigue
confusion the incredible fatigue
confusion the incredible fatigue constantly running out to the sandbags
constantly running out to the sandbags
constantly running out to the sandbags nearby for protection I felt this
nearby for protection I felt this
nearby for protection I felt this incredible sense of heavy responsibility
incredible sense of heavy responsibility
incredible sense of heavy responsibility to shed light on the confusion of war it
to shed light on the confusion of war it
to shed light on the confusion of war it took a very heavy physical and emotional
took a very heavy physical and emotional
took a very heavy physical and emotional toll and I couldn’t see an end in sight
toll and I couldn’t see an end in sight
toll and I couldn’t see an end in sight for every terrorist or insurgent we
for every terrorist or insurgent we
for every terrorist or insurgent we killed it seemed that there were a
killed it seemed that there were a
killed it seemed that there were a hundred more ready to take their place
hundred more ready to take their place
hundred more ready to take their place it felt like catching drops of water
it felt like catching drops of water
it felt like catching drops of water from a leaky faucet it was a fruitless
from a leaky faucet it was a fruitless
from a leaky faucet it was a fruitless hopeless effort about a month later I
hopeless effort about a month later I
hopeless effort about a month later I was staying in Ramadi the Special Forces
was staying in Ramadi the Special Forces
was staying in Ramadi the Special Forces at their base right here along the
at their base right here along the
at their base right here along the Euphrates River one evening I’d gone for
Euphrates River one evening I’d gone for
Euphrates River one evening I’d gone for a run and I went up to the roof to cool
a run and I went up to the roof to cool
a run and I went up to the roof to cool down I was standing up here right on
down I was standing up here right on
down I was standing up here right on this roof and the first thing I noticed
this roof and the first thing I noticed
this roof and the first thing I noticed was the complete and utter stillness it
was the complete and utter stillness it
was the complete and utter stillness it was so beautiful and peaceful and quiet
was so beautiful and peaceful and quiet
was so beautiful and peaceful and quiet such a contrast of what I had just
such a contrast of what I had just
such a contrast of what I had just experienced it was so calming I just
experienced it was so calming I just
experienced it was so calming I just wanted to lie back and float downstream
wanted to lie back and float downstream
wanted to lie back and float downstream in this peaceful River I realized if I
in this peaceful River I realized if I
in this peaceful River I realized if I were to do that I would end up a few
were to do that I would end up a few
were to do that I would end up a few miles downstream in Fallujah right
miles downstream in Fallujah right
miles downstream in Fallujah right underneath that bridge where the guards
underneath that bridge where the guards
underneath that bridge where the guards had hung right amidst the fighting
had hung right amidst the fighting
had hung right amidst the fighting between the Marines and Iraqis whoa what
between the Marines and Iraqis whoa what
between the Marines and Iraqis whoa what a contrast that those two things were
a contrast that those two things were
a contrast that those two things were happening in exactly the same space at
happening in exactly the same space at
happening in exactly the same space at the same time the beautiful flowing
the same time the beautiful flowing
the same time the beautiful flowing peace this life-giving force of the
peace this life-giving force of the
peace this life-giving force of the river amidst the death and destruction
river amidst the death and destruction
river amidst the death and destruction and bombs and chaos of war this
and bombs and chaos of war this
and bombs and chaos of war this that came to me out of the blue which
that came to me out of the blue which
that came to me out of the blue which will you choose which will you choose it
will you choose which will you choose it
will you choose which will you choose it was clear that I couldn’t focus on both
was clear that I couldn’t focus on both
was clear that I couldn’t focus on both at the same time I’ve been completely
at the same time I’ve been completely
at the same time I’ve been completely unaware of this peaceful beautiful river
unaware of this peaceful beautiful river
unaware of this peaceful beautiful river amidst the war zone and at that moment
amidst the war zone and at that moment
amidst the war zone and at that moment of peace and calm this fear and stress
of peace and calm this fear and stress
of peace and calm this fear and stress of the conflict were gone completely it
of the conflict were gone completely it
of the conflict were gone completely it was obvious to me at that moment which
was obvious to me at that moment which
was obvious to me at that moment which to choose life or death I choose the
to choose life or death I choose the
to choose life or death I choose the river I said to myself I want to decide
river I said to myself I want to decide
river I said to myself I want to decide with what was more powerful no matter
with what was more powerful no matter
with what was more powerful no matter how many bombs go off no matter how much
how many bombs go off no matter how much
how many bombs go off no matter how much death and destruction it couldn’t flow
death and destruction it couldn’t flow
death and destruction it couldn’t flow it couldn’t affect the flow and
it couldn’t affect the flow and
it couldn’t affect the flow and trajectory and peace and life-giving
trajectory and peace and life-giving
trajectory and peace and life-giving forests of that River
forests of that River
forests of that River it was so obvious it was the more
it was so obvious it was the more
it was so obvious it was the more powerful thing and in choosing
powerful thing and in choosing
powerful thing and in choosing everything in my life changed in that
everything in my life changed in that
everything in my life changed in that moment I have since dedicated the rest
moment I have since dedicated the rest
moment I have since dedicated the rest of my life to shedding light and
of my life to shedding light and
of my life to shedding light and inspiration on the dark issues of the
inspiration on the dark issues of the
inspiration on the dark issues of the Middle East through the Euphrates
Middle East through the Euphrates
Middle East through the Euphrates Institute which I named after the
Institute which I named after the
Institute which I named after the Euphrates River back in Baghdad
Euphrates River back in Baghdad
Euphrates River back in Baghdad I made an immediate switch as well I
I made an immediate switch as well I
I made an immediate switch as well I vowed to stop catching drops of water
vowed to stop catching drops of water
vowed to stop catching drops of water from a leaky faucet and wanted to try to
from a leaky faucet and wanted to try to
from a leaky faucet and wanted to try to fix the fix the faucet I switched from
fix the fix the faucet I switched from
fix the fix the faucet I switched from counterinsurgency animal analysis to
counterinsurgency animal analysis to
counterinsurgency animal analysis to working directly with Iraqi political
working directly with Iraqi political
working directly with Iraqi political parties ahead of the country’s
parties ahead of the country’s
parties ahead of the country’s first-ever democratic elections this was
first-ever democratic elections this was
first-ever democratic elections this was a complete change for me for the first
a complete change for me for the first
a complete change for me for the first time I worked side by side with Iraqis
time I worked side by side with Iraqis
time I worked side by side with Iraqis instead of interrogating them for the
instead of interrogating them for the
instead of interrogating them for the first time I started to see them as
first time I started to see them as
first time I started to see them as human beings as people and listen to
human beings as people and listen to
human beings as people and listen to their stories and work together with
their stories and work together with
their stories and work together with them these were women who were running
them these were women who were running
them these were women who were running for that first Parliament part of 25%
for that first Parliament part of 25%
for that first Parliament part of 25% quota that was mandated for that first
quota that was mandated for that first
quota that was mandated for that first Parliament and incredible achievement
Parliament and incredible achievement
Parliament and incredible achievement these were members of parliament that
these were members of parliament that
these were members of parliament that reflects the incredible ethnic and
reflects the incredible ethnic and
reflects the incredible ethnic and tribal diversity of Iraq it was such a
tribal diversity of Iraq it was such a
tribal diversity of Iraq it was such a change and one of my wonderful and
change and one of my wonderful and
change and one of my wonderful and fondest memories is my main duty after
fondest memories is my main duty after
fondest memories is my main duty after the elections was to be the liaison with
the elections was to be the liaison with
the elections was to be the liaison with the office of the prime minister Ibrahim
the office of the prime minister Ibrahim
the office of the prime minister Ibrahim al-jaafari
al-jaafari
al-jaafari I really got to know him and his team
I really got to know him and his team
I really got to know him and his team fairly well and I think I must have
fairly well and I think I must have
fairly well and I think I must have reminded him of his three daughters
reminded him of his three daughters
reminded him of his three daughters because he loved to lecture me on my
because he loved to lecture me on my
because he loved to lecture me on my love life tell me I needed to get
love life tell me I needed to get
love life tell me I needed to get married and settle down and not have
married and settle down and not have
married and settle down and not have such high standards if truth be told
such high standards if truth be told
such high standards if truth be told eventually I did I still have high
eventually I did I still have high
eventually I did I still have high standards by the way sorry husband I’ll
standards by the way sorry husband I’ll
standards by the way sorry husband I’ll never forget something he taught me
never forget something he taught me
never forget something he taught me about Islam he was a very devout Muslim
about Islam he was a very devout Muslim
about Islam he was a very devout Muslim scholar and an Islamic theologian and he
scholar and an Islamic theologian and he
scholar and an Islamic theologian and he said that in Islam a person is viewed
said that in Islam a person is viewed
said that in Islam a person is viewed like a house in a house you have the
like a house in a house you have the
like a house in a house you have the outer door to get into the house and
outer door to get into the house and
outer door to get into the house and inner door to get into the bedroom you
inner door to get into the bedroom you
inner door to get into the bedroom you don’t just march into someone’s bedroom
don’t just march into someone’s bedroom
don’t just march into someone’s bedroom you have to first go through the outer
you have to first go through the outer
you have to first go through the outer door and then through the inner door he
door and then through the inner door he
door and then through the inner door he said well in Islam the outer door is the
said well in Islam the outer door is the
said well in Islam the outer door is the heart and the inner door is the mind you
heart and the inner door is the mind you
heart and the inner door is the mind you have to first reach a person through the
have to first reach a person through the
have to first reach a person through the heart and only then can you appeal to
heart and only then can you appeal to
heart and only then can you appeal to their logic and reason it’s not
their logic and reason it’s not
their logic and reason it’s not wonderful I think that applies in every
wonderful I think that applies in every
wonderful I think that applies in every case
that is gonna model for me in my
that is gonna model for me in my personal and professional relationships
personal and professional relationships
personal and professional relationships at my going-away party after nearly 21
at my going-away party after nearly 21
at my going-away party after nearly 21 no after exactly 21 months in Iraq what
no after exactly 21 months in Iraq what
no after exactly 21 months in Iraq what started out as a 90-day tour and turned
started out as a 90-day tour and turned
started out as a 90-day tour and turned into 21 months it was a wonderful
into 21 months it was a wonderful
into 21 months it was a wonderful gathering of Iraqi friends and I was so
gathering of Iraqi friends and I was so
gathering of Iraqi friends and I was so touched when the prime minister’s
touched when the prime minister’s
touched when the prime minister’s spokesperson stood up and he said to the
spokesperson stood up and he said to the
spokesperson stood up and he said to the group janessa we feel you are Araki and
group janessa we feel you are Araki and
group janessa we feel you are Araki and it really felt like I’ve come full
it really felt like I’ve come full
it really felt like I’ve come full circle from seeing Iraqis as the enemy
circle from seeing Iraqis as the enemy
circle from seeing Iraqis as the enemy to being part of them to sing from
to being part of them to sing from
to being part of them to sing from others to brothers I’ve come a long way
others to brothers I’ve come a long way
others to brothers I’ve come a long way from Fallujah
I want to sit back a bit and tell you
I want to sit back a bit and tell you about why this transformation was so
about why this transformation was so
about why this transformation was so meaningful to me about why from other
meaningful to me about why from other
meaningful to me about why from other seeing people from others to brothers is
seeing people from others to brothers is
seeing people from others to brothers is so important I want you to meet my
so important I want you to meet my
so important I want you to meet my brother David David has special needs
brother David David has special needs
brother David David has special needs and mental disabilities he can’t talk he
and mental disabilities he can’t talk he
and mental disabilities he can’t talk he only knows a few words in sign language
only knows a few words in sign language
only knows a few words in sign language his behavior is really unpredictable you
his behavior is really unpredictable you
his behavior is really unpredictable you might call him in other some people are
might call him in other some people are
might call him in other some people are scared of him others make fun of him
scared of him others make fun of him
scared of him others make fun of him some have even been violent towards him
some have even been violent towards him
some have even been violent towards him but to me he’s amazing he has this
but to me he’s amazing he has this
but to me he’s amazing he has this incredible sense of innocence and purity
incredible sense of innocence and purity
incredible sense of innocence and purity and childlike wonder and enthusiasm
and childlike wonder and enthusiasm
and childlike wonder and enthusiasm he’ll stare at tire tracks for as long
he’ll stare at tire tracks for as long
he’ll stare at tire tracks for as long as you let him he jumps into swimming
as you let him he jumps into swimming
as you let him he jumps into swimming pools and turtles and squeals and
pools and turtles and squeals and
pools and turtles and squeals and delight he holds my hand and kisses me
delight he holds my hand and kisses me
delight he holds my hand and kisses me on the cheek and stares at me with the
on the cheek and stares at me with the
on the cheek and stares at me with the most intense pure love where people see
most intense pure love where people see
most intense pure love where people see another I literally see my brother I got
another I literally see my brother I got
another I literally see my brother I got my first taste of other nests at a very
my first taste of other nests at a very
my first taste of other nests at a very young age when I was 12 years old my
young age when I was 12 years old my
young age when I was 12 years old my parents sent me to France for a year to
parents sent me to France for a year to
parents sent me to France for a year to live with a French family and apparently
live with a French family and apparently
live with a French family and apparently that’s a really good age to learn a
that’s a really good age to learn a
that’s a really good age to learn a language but at that point I didn’t know
language but at that point I didn’t know
language but at that point I didn’t know the family and I didn’t speak a word of
the family and I didn’t speak a word of
the family and I didn’t speak a word of French and I can remember for so long at
French and I can remember for so long at
French and I can remember for so long at each dinner table conversation as the
each dinner table conversation as the
each dinner table conversation as the family chatted and laughed amongst
family chatted and laughed amongst
family chatted and laughed amongst themselves I felt in my own world I was
themselves I felt in my own world I was
themselves I felt in my own world I was completely silenced I was completely
completely silenced I was completely
completely silenced I was completely alone cut off in a world apart suddenly
alone cut off in a world apart suddenly
alone cut off in a world apart suddenly I was the other let me again and it felt
I was the other let me again and it felt
I was the other let me again and it felt really horrible I can imagine that each
really horrible I can imagine that each
really horrible I can imagine that each of us in this room has had experiences
of us in this room has had experiences
of us in this room has had experiences where we have been the other and what
where we have been the other and what
where we have been the other and what that felt like
that felt like
that felt like and maybe each of us can think about
and maybe each of us can think about
and maybe each of us can think about groups that we see as the other is it
groups that we see as the other is it
groups that we see as the other is it other races other nationalities
other races other nationalities
other races other nationalities is it Muslims is it Republicans or
is it Muslims is it Republicans or
is it Muslims is it Republicans or Democrats that’s a hot topic these days
Democrats that’s a hot topic these days
Democrats that’s a hot topic these days I want to take this idea of other Ness
I want to take this idea of other Ness
I want to take this idea of other Ness to the extreme
to the extreme
to the extreme just recently a couple weeks ago I
just recently a couple weeks ago I
just recently a couple weeks ago I returned from our most recent euphrates
returned from our most recent euphrates
returned from our most recent euphrates trip to the Middle East and we had the
trip to the Middle East and we had the
trip to the Middle East and we had the occasion to meet with this incredible
occasion to meet with this incredible
occasion to meet with this incredible Jewish peace builder in Jerusalem for a
Jewish peace builder in Jerusalem for a
Jewish peace builder in Jerusalem for a Sabbath dinner Shabbat dinner she told
Sabbath dinner Shabbat dinner she told
Sabbath dinner Shabbat dinner she told us that part of her practice for peace
us that part of her practice for peace
us that part of her practice for peace this idea of overcoming a sense of the
this idea of overcoming a sense of the
this idea of overcoming a sense of the other for her was that she takes
other for her was that she takes
other for her was that she takes pictures of terrorists and meditates on
pictures of terrorists and meditates on
pictures of terrorists and meditates on them until she can find deep within
them until she can find deep within
them until she can find deep within herself a sense of empathy and
herself a sense of empathy and
herself a sense of empathy and compassion and even love for them for
compassion and even love for them for
compassion and even love for them for terrace our group was stunned and I
terrace our group was stunned and I
terrace our group was stunned and I asked her how do you do that I can’t
asked her how do you do that I can’t
asked her how do you do that I can’t imagine anything more difficult she said
imagine anything more difficult she said
imagine anything more difficult she said you just understand what’s driving their
you just understand what’s driving their
you just understand what’s driving their actions even those country even those
actions even those country even those
actions even those country even those mass shooters in your country the ones
mass shooters in your country the ones
mass shooters in your country the ones who kill innocent children are isolated
who kill innocent children are isolated
who kill innocent children are isolated and depressed these people create
and depressed these people create
and depressed these people create suffering because they are suffering
that was a model unlike any had ever
that was a model unlike any had ever heard another amazing example was afraid
heard another amazing example was afraid
heard another amazing example was afraid these Institute’s visionary of the year
these Institute’s visionary of the year
these Institute’s visionary of the year last year a young Iraqi pianist by the
last year a young Iraqi pianist by the
last year a young Iraqi pianist by the name of Zuhal Sultan
name of Zuhal Sultan
name of Zuhal Sultan Zuhal at the age of 17 started the
Zuhal at the age of 17 started the
Zuhal at the age of 17 started the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq where
National Youth Orchestra of Iraq where
National Youth Orchestra of Iraq where she brought together young people from
she brought together young people from
she brought together young people from all over the country in the middle of
all over the country in the middle of
all over the country in the middle of the war Sunni Shia Kurdish Christian to
the war Sunni Shia Kurdish Christian to
the war Sunni Shia Kurdish Christian to play together and bridge divides through
play together and bridge divides through
play together and bridge divides through music these students describes the
music these students describes the
music these students describes the orchestra as their lifeline as their way
orchestra as their lifeline as their way
orchestra as their lifeline as their way to be human as their way to connect in a
to be human as their way to connect in a
to be human as their way to connect in a time of sectarian conflict and divisions
time of sectarian conflict and divisions
time of sectarian conflict and divisions I call Zuhal the anti-isis whereas Isis
I call Zuhal the anti-isis whereas Isis
I call Zuhal the anti-isis whereas Isis is recruiting young people from all over
is recruiting young people from all over
is recruiting young people from all over the world
the world
the world to divide
to divide
to divide to terrorize to destroy to enslave other
to terrorize to destroy to enslave other
to terrorize to destroy to enslave other people Zuhal is literally recruiting
people Zuhal is literally recruiting
people Zuhal is literally recruiting people from all over the country to come
people from all over the country to come
people from all over the country to come together be united empower these young
together be united empower these young
together be united empower these young people and be a symbol of hope and
people and be a symbol of hope and
people and be a symbol of hope and inspiration for their country and for
inspiration for their country and for
inspiration for their country and for all over the world they’ve performed to
all over the world they’ve performed to
all over the world they’ve performed to sold-out audiences throughout Europe and
sold-out audiences throughout Europe and
sold-out audiences throughout Europe and the Middle East
the Middle East
the Middle East it’s an incredible example of what just
it’s an incredible example of what just
it’s an incredible example of what just one person can do these examples can
one person can do these examples can
one person can do these examples can happen really in our everyday life and
happen really in our everyday life and
happen really in our everyday life and experience our local euphrates Institute
experience our local euphrates Institute
experience our local euphrates Institute chapter we have chapters all over the
chapter we have chapters all over the
chapter we have chapters all over the world our local chapter right here in
world our local chapter right here in
world our local chapter right here in Northern California organized a visit to
Northern California organized a visit to
Northern California organized a visit to the local mosque to learn more about
the local mosque to learn more about
the local mosque to learn more about Islam and to meet some Muslims in our
Islam and to meet some Muslims in our
Islam and to meet some Muslims in our area it was an amazing experience the
area it was an amazing experience the
area it was an amazing experience the mosque ours works exceedingly friendly
mosque ours works exceedingly friendly
mosque ours works exceedingly friendly they welcomed us they thanked us again
they welcomed us they thanked us again
they welcomed us they thanked us again and again for coming no one has come
and again for coming no one has come
and again for coming no one has come from the community to visit us in this
from the community to visit us in this
from the community to visit us in this way all of the men had accents and
way all of the men had accents and
way all of the men had accents and seemed to be foreign-born we listened to
seemed to be foreign-born we listened to
seemed to be foreign-born we listened to the sermon we met the attendees we
the sermon we met the attendees we
the sermon we met the attendees we prayed together side by side I’m
prayed together side by side I’m
prayed together side by side I’m standing with a Muslim woman I’ve never
standing with a Muslim woman I’ve never
standing with a Muslim woman I’ve never met before or spoken to it was a very
met before or spoken to it was a very
met before or spoken to it was a very powerful unifying experience the Imam
powerful unifying experience the Imam
powerful unifying experience the Imam appealed to our basic humanity he said
appealed to our basic humanity he said
appealed to our basic humanity he said don’t we all breathe the same air don’t
don’t we all breathe the same air don’t
don’t we all breathe the same air don’t we all shed tears when we’re grieving
we all shed tears when we’re grieving
we all shed tears when we’re grieving bleed when we’re hurt we must remember
bleed when we’re hurt we must remember
bleed when we’re hurt we must remember that the only way we differ is in our
that the only way we differ is in our
that the only way we differ is in our religion we’re all human beings first as
religion we’re all human beings first as
religion we’re all human beings first as we left one of our chapter members came
we left one of our chapter members came
we left one of our chapter members came up to me and said I can see how this
up to me and said I can see how this
up to me and said I can see how this kind of simple encounter can change the
kind of simple encounter can change the
kind of simple encounter can change the world
world
world this for me put a human face on Islam
this for me put a human face on Islam
this for me put a human face on Islam and then as we chatted we thought well
and then as we chatted we thought well
and then as we chatted we thought well it’s also doing that for these Moscow
it’s also doing that for these Moscow
it’s also doing that for these Moscow errs this is putting a human face for
errs this is putting a human face for
errs this is putting a human face for them on their community
them on their community
them on their community and wouldn’t you be less likely to
and wouldn’t you be less likely to
and wouldn’t you be less likely to attack your community if you feel a part
attack your community if you feel a part
attack your community if you feel a part of it wouldn’t you be less likely to buy
of it wouldn’t you be less likely to buy
of it wouldn’t you be less likely to buy into all of this extremist rhetoric out
into all of this extremist rhetoric out
into all of this extremist rhetoric out there if you can tune it out because you
there if you can tune it out because you
there if you can tune it out because you know who your community members are you
know who your community members are you
know who your community members are you feel like you belong you feel
feel like you belong you feel
feel like you belong you feel of your community you don’t feel like
of your community you don’t feel like
of your community you don’t feel like the other I invite you to reflect on who
the other I invite you to reflect on who
the other I invite you to reflect on who the other is to you who is that other
the other is to you who is that other
the other is to you who is that other and to maybe just maybe open just a
and to maybe just maybe open just a
and to maybe just maybe open just a crack to having an encounter with that
crack to having an encounter with that
crack to having an encounter with that other to learning something new about
other to learning something new about
other to learning something new about your other to having a fresh experience
your other to having a fresh experience
your other to having a fresh experience with your other to opening up to a river
with your other to opening up to a river
with your other to opening up to a river of possibility running right through the
of possibility running right through the
of possibility running right through the middle of your concept of the other
middle of your concept of the other
middle of your concept of the other maybe it was there all along and you
maybe it was there all along and you
maybe it was there all along and you didn’t notice it just like for me and
didn’t notice it just like for me and
didn’t notice it just like for me and the Euphrates River flowing in the
the Euphrates River flowing in the
the Euphrates River flowing in the middle of the warzone there is
middle of the warzone there is
middle of the warzone there is incredible power when just a few of us
incredible power when just a few of us
incredible power when just a few of us do this studies show it doesn’t take two
do this studies show it doesn’t take two
do this studies show it doesn’t take two thirds of people to create social change
thirds of people to create social change
thirds of people to create social change it doesn’t even take half of us it just
it doesn’t even take half of us it just
it doesn’t even take half of us it just takes a small percentage of us to create
takes a small percentage of us to create
takes a small percentage of us to create massive social change studies out of
massive social change studies out of
massive social change studies out of Stanford University social scientist
Stanford University social scientist
Stanford University social scientist named dr. Everett Roger started studying
named dr. Everett Roger started studying
named dr. Everett Roger started studying in the 1960s how social change happened
in the 1960s how social change happened
in the 1960s how social change happened and he observed everything from the
and he observed everything from the
and he observed everything from the adoption of the fax machine to hybrid
adoption of the fax machine to hybrid
adoption of the fax machine to hybrid corn in Iowa to nuclear disarmament what
corn in Iowa to nuclear disarmament what
corn in Iowa to nuclear disarmament what he found is that at the beginning it’s
he found is that at the beginning it’s
he found is that at the beginning it’s about 2% of the population he called
about 2% of the population he called
about 2% of the population he called innovators were the first to adopt a new
innovators were the first to adopt a new
innovators were the first to adopt a new idea or mindset you know the first who
idea or mindset you know the first who
idea or mindset you know the first who buy the iPhone or the new gadget they’re
buy the iPhone or the new gadget they’re
buy the iPhone or the new gadget they’re the innovators once 5% of the population
the innovators once 5% of the population
the innovators once 5% of the population accepts a new idea those are called the
accepts a new idea those are called the
accepts a new idea those are called the early adopters once 5% it’s considered
early adopters once 5% it’s considered
early adopters once 5% it’s considered embedded so the new idea the new mindset
embedded so the new idea the new mindset
embedded so the new idea the new mindset is the seeds are planted in society then
is the seeds are planted in society then
is the seeds are planted in society then somewhere between 5 and 20 percent it of
somewhere between 5 and 20 percent it of
somewhere between 5 and 20 percent it of adoption it hits the tipping point after
adoption it hits the tipping point after
adoption it hits the tipping point after which point the change is unstoppable it
which point the change is unstoppable it
which point the change is unstoppable it reaches the entire rest of the
reaches the entire rest of the
reaches the entire rest of the population the entire rest of the curve
population the entire rest of the curve
population the entire rest of the curve so all it takes is between 5 and 20
so all it takes is between 5 and 20
so all it takes is between 5 and 20 percent to hit that tipping point for
percent to hit that tipping point for
percent to hit that tipping point for massive social change this gets me so
massive social change this gets me so
massive social change this gets me so what if you and I could be part of
what if you and I could be part of
what if you and I could be part of reaching that tipping point for change
reaching that tipping point for change
reaching that tipping point for change to creating a world not of others but
to creating a world not of others but
to creating a world not of others but brothers imagine that that is possible
brothers imagine that that is possible
brothers imagine that that is possible with just a few of us adopting a change
with just a few of us adopting a change
with just a few of us adopting a change adopting a new idea or mindset I want to
adopting a new idea or mindset I want to
adopting a new idea or mindset I want to leave you with the same question that
leave you with the same question that
leave you with the same question that came to me that changed my life by the
came to me that changed my life by the
came to me that changed my life by the Euphrates River and that is which will
Euphrates River and that is which will
Euphrates River and that is which will you choose thank you
you choose thank you
you choose thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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