a few months ago we were hosting a leadership training right here in New
leadership training right here in New
leadership training right here in New York at our organization citizen well we
York at our organization citizen well we
York at our organization citizen well we often begin our gatherings with the
often begin our gatherings with the
often begin our gatherings with the question why are you here why are you
question why are you here why are you
question why are you here why are you showing up and one of our leaders from
showing up and one of our leaders from
showing up and one of our leaders from Virginia Carlos a yoga practitioner
Virginia Carlos a yoga practitioner
Virginia Carlos a yoga practitioner neurologist and Cuban immigrant said the
neurologist and Cuban immigrant said the
neurologist and Cuban immigrant said the most telling thing he said I realize now
most telling thing he said I realize now
most telling thing he said I realize now that if I want to help change things
that if I want to help change things
that if I want to help change things unfortunately I’m gonna have to get
unfortunately I’m gonna have to get
unfortunately I’m gonna have to get involved
well my political wake-up call was
well my political wake-up call was similarly reluctant it happened on
similarly reluctant it happened on
similarly reluctant it happened on September 20th 2001 at the time we still
September 20th 2001 at the time we still
September 20th 2001 at the time we still believed over 10,000 to be missing one
believed over 10,000 to be missing one
believed over 10,000 to be missing one of whom was my stepdad lieutenant Joe
of whom was my stepdad lieutenant Joe
of whom was my stepdad lieutenant Joe levy he was one of the first firemen to
levy he was one of the first firemen to
levy he was one of the first firemen to respond to the burning buildings running
respond to the burning buildings running
respond to the burning buildings running in and up when so many were running out
in and up when so many were running out
in and up when so many were running out and so nine days later we piled into my
and so nine days later we piled into my
and so nine days later we piled into my living room family friends neighbors and
living room family friends neighbors and
living room family friends neighbors and we leaned into the TV as the president
we leaned into the TV as the president
we leaned into the TV as the president addressed the nation the room was stuffy
addressed the nation the room was stuffy
addressed the nation the room was stuffy with uncertainty and grief but we were
with uncertainty and grief but we were
with uncertainty and grief but we were yearning for answers how did this happen
yearning for answers how did this happen
yearning for answers how did this happen what will make this right but when the
what will make this right but when the
what will make this right but when the president boldly declared retaliation he
president boldly declared retaliation he
president boldly declared retaliation he said and I quote this will be a war like
said and I quote this will be a war like
said and I quote this will be a war like no other I recoiled we had already lost
no other I recoiled we had already lost
no other I recoiled we had already lost so much and I knew in a way that I
so much and I knew in a way that I
so much and I knew in a way that I hadn’t learned in any textbook that
hadn’t learned in any textbook that
hadn’t learned in any textbook that meeting violence with more violence
meeting violence with more violence
meeting violence with more violence wasn’t the answer I remembered having
wasn’t the answer I remembered having
wasn’t the answer I remembered having this unfamiliar feeling in my body it
this unfamiliar feeling in my body it
this unfamiliar feeling in my body it was alert an upright and while I didn’t
was alert an upright and while I didn’t
was alert an upright and while I didn’t understand it at the time I couldn’t
understand it at the time I couldn’t
understand it at the time I couldn’t deny it I was different I’d later
deny it I was different I’d later
deny it I was different I’d later discover that that
discover that that
discover that that that feeling was the felt sense of
that feeling was the felt sense of
that feeling was the felt sense of becoming activated but being political
becoming activated but being political
becoming activated but being political these days is neither
these days is neither
these days is neither pleasant-nor-painful addict or
pleasant-nor-painful addict or
pleasant-nor-painful addict or politicians and corrupt policies and
politicians and corrupt policies and
politicians and corrupt policies and while it’s easy to point the finger at
while it’s easy to point the finger at
while it’s easy to point the finger at institutional power for our failing
institutional power for our failing
institutional power for our failing democracy we rarely talk about the other
democracy we rarely talk about the other
democracy we rarely talk about the other also broken component of our political
also broken component of our political
also broken component of our political system citizenship the language of
system citizenship the language of
system citizenship the language of democracy has always included the
democracy has always included the
democracy has always included the essential role of citizens it declared
essential role of citizens it declared
essential role of citizens it declared our rights inherent and natural but it
our rights inherent and natural but it
our rights inherent and natural but it was intended that the American people
was intended that the American people
was intended that the American people animate and defend that declaration
animate and defend that declaration
animate and defend that declaration there is a responsibility implied in our
there is a responsibility implied in our
there is a responsibility implied in our founding documents that accompanied our
founding documents that accompanied our
founding documents that accompanied our privilege a social pact so to speak but
privilege a social pact so to speak but
privilege a social pact so to speak but after over two hundred years of
after over two hundred years of
after over two hundred years of impassioned civic duty the kind that
impassioned civic duty the kind that
impassioned civic duty the kind that people fought for the kind of people
people fought for the kind of people
people fought for the kind of people died for things have changed since the
died for things have changed since the
died for things have changed since the 1970s all indicators of civic life have
1970s all indicators of civic life have
1970s all indicators of civic life have declined the concept of citizenship when
declined the concept of citizenship when
declined the concept of citizenship when invoked these days is reduced to a
invoked these days is reduced to a
invoked these days is reduced to a political debate about immigration laws
political debate about immigration laws
political debate about immigration laws voter ID requirements and building a
voter ID requirements and building a
voter ID requirements and building a wall and we have a right to feel
wall and we have a right to feel
wall and we have a right to feel discouraged money and politics has
discouraged money and politics has
discouraged money and politics has enabled a marketplace of democracy that
enabled a marketplace of democracy that
enabled a marketplace of democracy that allows our votes to be bought and sold
allows our votes to be bought and sold
allows our votes to be bought and sold to the highest bidder is the system
to the highest bidder is the system
to the highest bidder is the system broken yes but not only are we voters
broken yes but not only are we voters
broken yes but not only are we voters treated like consumers we often act like
treated like consumers we often act like
treated like consumers we often act like them are what’s in it for me mentality
them are what’s in it for me mentality
them are what’s in it for me mentality conspires to keep us feeling powerless
conspires to keep us feeling powerless
conspires to keep us feeling powerless and it can look like a citizenship from
and it can look like a citizenship from
and it can look like a citizenship from the sidelines a culture of
the sidelines a culture of
the sidelines a culture of finger-pointing fair weather void fair
finger-pointing fair weather void fair
finger-pointing fair weather void fair weather voting and waiting around for
weather voting and waiting around for
weather voting and waiting around for someone else to take care of things but
someone else to take care of things but
someone else to take care of things but that’s not the whole story
that’s not the whole story
that’s not the whole story while civic engagement is down self-help
while civic engagement is down self-help
while civic engagement is down self-help is at an all time
is at an all time
is at an all time hi in the last 20 years the wellness
hi in the last 20 years the wellness
hi in the last 20 years the wellness industry has grown by 1,000% servicing a
industry has grown by 1,000% servicing a
industry has grown by 1,000% servicing a movement of self-care mindfulness and
movement of self-care mindfulness and
movement of self-care mindfulness and conscious consumption that impacts over
conscious consumption that impacts over
conscious consumption that impacts over 50 million people in the u.s. today many
50 million people in the u.s. today many
50 million people in the u.s. today many of us here have experienced the profound
of us here have experienced the profound
of us here have experienced the profound benefits of these practices and services
benefits of these practices and services
benefits of these practices and services and I am no exception
and I am no exception
and I am no exception I found yoga at the bottom after 9/11 it
I found yoga at the bottom after 9/11 it
I found yoga at the bottom after 9/11 it gave me the tools to fall apart and put
gave me the tools to fall apart and put
gave me the tools to fall apart and put myself back together again
myself back together again
myself back together again it gave me meaning in an unimaginable
it gave me meaning in an unimaginable
it gave me meaning in an unimaginable moment and it gave me a new lease on
moment and it gave me a new lease on
moment and it gave me a new lease on life one that was inspired by mantra
life one that was inspired by mantra
life one that was inspired by mantra fuelled by green juice and adorned in
fuelled by green juice and adorned in
fuelled by green juice and adorned in mala beads I was the living embodiment
mala beads I was the living embodiment
mala beads I was the living embodiment of the yoga cliche but while wellness
of the yoga cliche but while wellness
of the yoga cliche but while wellness soars
soars
soars so does inequality inequality has been a
so does inequality inequality has been a
so does inequality inequality has been a staple of the so-called American Dream
staple of the so-called American Dream
staple of the so-called American Dream for as long as we’ve had one a recent
for as long as we’ve had one a recent
for as long as we’ve had one a recent study found the u.s. to be both the
study found the u.s. to be both the
study found the u.s. to be both the wealthiest and the and the most unequal
wealthiest and the and the most unequal
wealthiest and the and the most unequal country amongst developed nations
country amongst developed nations
country amongst developed nations whether we’re looking at child poverty
whether we’re looking at child poverty
whether we’re looking at child poverty rates or the school-to-prison pipeline
rates or the school-to-prison pipeline
rates or the school-to-prison pipeline or the diabetes epidemic we the big we
or the diabetes epidemic we the big we
or the diabetes epidemic we the big we with a capital W are not well by any
with a capital W are not well by any
with a capital W are not well by any indication and it can be tempting to
indication and it can be tempting to
indication and it can be tempting to want to find ourselves in the latest
want to find ourselves in the latest
want to find ourselves in the latest personal practice and healthy lifestyle
personal practice and healthy lifestyle
personal practice and healthy lifestyle in happiness apps and exotic supplements
in happiness apps and exotic supplements
in happiness apps and exotic supplements but we only become more lost and
but we only become more lost and
but we only become more lost and isolated our ambitious pursuit of
isolated our ambitious pursuit of
isolated our ambitious pursuit of self-care isn’t making us better when
self-care isn’t making us better when
self-care isn’t making us better when we’re leaving so many behind the truth
we’re leaving so many behind the truth
we’re leaving so many behind the truth is well being for some is well being for
is well being for some is well being for
is well being for some is well being for none and what we’re left with is what we
none and what we’re left with is what we
none and what we’re left with is what we call the well-being gap the unequal
call the well-being gap the unequal
call the well-being gap the unequal conditions that determine who gets to be
conditions that determine who gets to be
conditions that determine who gets to be well in this country and who doesn’t I
well in this country and who doesn’t I
well in this country and who doesn’t I was on the right side of that equation
was on the right side of that equation
was on the right side of that equation after 9/11 but not everyone was
after 9/11 but not everyone was
after 9/11 but not everyone was have you ever met someone in your life
have you ever met someone in your life
have you ever met someone in your life and had this feeling that you were
and had this feeling that you were
and had this feeling that you were supposed to know them well that’s how it
supposed to know them well that’s how it
supposed to know them well that’s how it was when I met Valerie Kerr in early
was when I met Valerie Kerr in early
was when I met Valerie Kerr in early 2016 but it wasn’t until I heard Valerie
2016 but it wasn’t until I heard Valerie
2016 but it wasn’t until I heard Valerie story that I knew that mine was about to
story that I knew that mine was about to
story that I knew that mine was about to change on September 15th 2001 just four
change on September 15th 2001 just four
change on September 15th 2001 just four days after 9/11
days after 9/11
days after 9/11 Valerie’s Uncle Bobby R Saudi was killed
Valerie’s Uncle Bobby R Saudi was killed
Valerie’s Uncle Bobby R Saudi was killed in a hate crime at the gas station that
in a hate crime at the gas station that
in a hate crime at the gas station that he owned in Phoenix he had been planting
he owned in Phoenix he had been planting
he owned in Phoenix he had been planting flowers out front to honor those that
flowers out front to honor those that
flowers out front to honor those that had been lost just days earlier he wore
had been lost just days earlier he wore
had been lost just days earlier he wore a beard and a turban in accordance with
a beard and a turban in accordance with
a beard and a turban in accordance with his Sikh faith and was shot five times
his Sikh faith and was shot five times
his Sikh faith and was shot five times by a white man who claimed to act in the
by a white man who claimed to act in the
by a white man who claimed to act in the name of patriotism
name of patriotism
name of patriotism I thought 9/11 was the worst of it the
I thought 9/11 was the worst of it the
I thought 9/11 was the worst of it the most unimaginable and devastating loss
most unimaginable and devastating loss
most unimaginable and devastating loss but it was just the beginning for Bobby
but it was just the beginning for Bobby
but it was just the beginning for Bobby R and so many Sikh and Muslim Americans
R and so many Sikh and Muslim Americans
R and so many Sikh and Muslim Americans in the shadow of 9/11 we have given into
in the shadow of 9/11 we have given into
in the shadow of 9/11 we have given into a culture of retaliation that has
a culture of retaliation that has
a culture of retaliation that has enabled policies of discrimination
enabled policies of discrimination
enabled policies of discrimination surveillance incarceration and even
surveillance incarceration and even
surveillance incarceration and even death we have witnessed even allowed our
death we have witnessed even allowed our
death we have witnessed even allowed our fellow American citizens to be harassed
fellow American citizens to be harassed
fellow American citizens to be harassed based on the color of their skin or
based on the color of their skin or
based on the color of their skin or their religion and as if losing 2996
their religion and as if losing 2996
their religion and as if losing 2996 civilians
civilians
civilians on 9/11 wasn’t enough it is estimated
on 9/11 wasn’t enough it is estimated
on 9/11 wasn’t enough it is estimated that over 1.3 million people around the
that over 1.3 million people around the
that over 1.3 million people around the world have been killed in the war on
world have been killed in the war on
world have been killed in the war on terror some might say that is the cost
terror some might say that is the cost
terror some might say that is the cost of our freedom but I wonder if that is
of our freedom but I wonder if that is
of our freedom but I wonder if that is the price of our fear every year on that
the price of our fear every year on that
the price of our fear every year on that day we gather together and we vow to
day we gather together and we vow to
day we gather together and we vow to never forget but are we really
never forget but are we really
never forget but are we really remembering when we don’t
remembering when we don’t
remembering when we don’t tell the whole story the one that
tell the whole story the one that
tell the whole story the one that includes the suffering of so many who
includes the suffering of so many who
includes the suffering of so many who have been persecuted since that day and
have been persecuted since that day and
have been persecuted since that day and am I really honoring the memory of the
am I really honoring the memory of the
am I really honoring the memory of the man who raised me who demonstrated a
man who raised me who demonstrated a
man who raised me who demonstrated a love for his neighbors every day of his
love for his neighbors every day of his
love for his neighbors every day of his life he didn’t discriminate between who
life he didn’t discriminate between who
life he didn’t discriminate between who gets to be saved and who doesn’t he ran
gets to be saved and who doesn’t he ran
gets to be saved and who doesn’t he ran into that tower for all of us and so
into that tower for all of us and so
into that tower for all of us and so Valery and I we shared our stories two
Valery and I we shared our stories two
Valery and I we shared our stories two heartbreaking versions of the same event
heartbreaking versions of the same event
heartbreaking versions of the same event and eventually our stories became one
and eventually our stories became one
and eventually our stories became one woven together in such a way that they
woven together in such a way that they
woven together in such a way that they could no longer be separate and 15 years
could no longer be separate and 15 years
could no longer be separate and 15 years after 9/11 we came together at Ground
after 9/11 we came together at Ground
after 9/11 we came together at Ground Zero the place where it all began but
Zero the place where it all began but
Zero the place where it all began but this time we brought the memory of
this time we brought the memory of
this time we brought the memory of Balbir Saudi and the Beloved Community
Balbir Saudi and the Beloved Community
Balbir Saudi and the Beloved Community that has been taken from us since 9/11
that has been taken from us since 9/11
that has been taken from us since 9/11 and four days later we flew across the
and four days later we flew across the
and four days later we flew across the country to the gas station that has
country to the gas station that has
country to the gas station that has become known as the second ground er0
become known as the second ground er0
become known as the second ground er0 and we brought the story of Lieutenant
and we brought the story of Lieutenant
and we brought the story of Lieutenant Joe levy in all of the first responders
Joe levy in all of the first responders
Joe levy in all of the first responders who gave their life on 9/11 we stood in
who gave their life on 9/11 we stood in
who gave their life on 9/11 we stood in solidarity side-by-side hand-in-hand
solidarity side-by-side hand-in-hand
solidarity side-by-side hand-in-hand hearts on the line two unlikely allies
hearts on the line two unlikely allies
hearts on the line two unlikely allies embodying a revolutionary kind of love
embodying a revolutionary kind of love
embodying a revolutionary kind of love that transcended race religion and
that transcended race religion and
that transcended race religion and politics and while it was our suffering
politics and while it was our suffering
politics and while it was our suffering that United us it was our relationship
that United us it was our relationship
that United us it was our relationship that transformed us I believe that this
that transformed us I believe that this
that transformed us I believe that this is who we are becoming and it is calling
is who we are becoming and it is calling
is who we are becoming and it is calling us up to go beyond personal
us up to go beyond personal
us up to go beyond personal responsibility and self-interest into
responsibility and self-interest into
responsibility and self-interest into the messy complex and intersectional
the messy complex and intersectional
the messy complex and intersectional reality of who we really are in America
reality of who we really are in America
reality of who we really are in America and how we came to be here it means
and how we came to be here it means
and how we came to be here it means recognizing that many of us non natives
recognizing that many of us non natives
recognizing that many of us non natives of this country have benefited from the
of this country have benefited from the
of this country have benefited from the legacy of colonialism racism and
legacy of colonialism racism and
legacy of colonialism racism and free-market economics we can’t truly
free-market economics we can’t truly
free-market economics we can’t truly know healing and reconciliation within
know healing and reconciliation within
know healing and reconciliation within ourselves until we face the wounds that
ourselves until we face the wounds that
ourselves until we face the wounds that we have inherited that we are a part of
we have inherited that we are a part of
we have inherited that we are a part of and it’s hard and uncomfortable and
and it’s hard and uncomfortable and
and it’s hard and uncomfortable and inconvenient but it is necessary dr.
inconvenient but it is necessary dr.
inconvenient but it is necessary dr. Martin Luther King jr. spoke of this
Martin Luther King jr. spoke of this
Martin Luther King jr. spoke of this when he said the ultimate measure of a
when he said the ultimate measure of a
when he said the ultimate measure of a man isn’t where he stands in times of
man isn’t where he stands in times of
man isn’t where he stands in times of comfort and convenience
comfort and convenience
comfort and convenience it’s where he stands in times of
it’s where he stands in times of
it’s where he stands in times of challenge and controversy what may seem
challenge and controversy what may seem
challenge and controversy what may seem in this country like a moment of crisis
in this country like a moment of crisis
in this country like a moment of crisis and division is also a moment of healing
and division is also a moment of healing
and division is also a moment of healing and solidarity together we are learning
and solidarity together we are learning
and solidarity together we are learning that it’s not just about claiming our
that it’s not just about claiming our
that it’s not just about claiming our rights to freedom and self-realization
rights to freedom and self-realization
rights to freedom and self-realization it’s about fully embodying our
it’s about fully embodying our
it’s about fully embodying our responsibility to one another and the
responsibility to one another and the
responsibility to one another and the knowing that we are a part of something
knowing that we are a part of something
knowing that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves even Maslov
bigger than ourselves even Maslov
bigger than ourselves even Maslov discovered this eventually placing
discovered this eventually placing
discovered this eventually placing transcendence and our commitment to the
transcendence and our commitment to the
transcendence and our commitment to the greater good at the top of his pyramid
greater good at the top of his pyramid
greater good at the top of his pyramid of needs above selfhood
what if we thought of politics as a
what if we thought of politics as a system through which we take care of one
system through which we take care of one
system through which we take care of one another and the whole of society then
another and the whole of society then
another and the whole of society then citizenship would be the practice of how
citizenship would be the practice of how
citizenship would be the practice of how we take care of one another
we take care of one another
we take care of one another Peter block defines citizen as one who
Peter block defines citizen as one who
Peter block defines citizen as one who is accountable for and committed to the
is accountable for and committed to the
is accountable for and committed to the well-being of the whole we need a
well-being of the whole we need a
well-being of the whole we need a citizenship of solidarity one that
citizenship of solidarity one that
citizenship of solidarity one that centers love justice and the idea that
centers love justice and the idea that
centers love justice and the idea that no one is well unless everyone as well
no one is well unless everyone as well
no one is well unless everyone as well and it’s not solidarity for the sake of
and it’s not solidarity for the sake of
and it’s not solidarity for the sake of other it’s solidarity for the sake of
other it’s solidarity for the sake of
other it’s solidarity for the sake of all of us and it’s already happening we
all of us and it’s already happening we
all of us and it’s already happening we see it reflected in the black lives
see it reflected in the black lives
see it reflected in the black lives matter movement that understands that
matter movement that understands that
matter movement that understands that our liberation is bound and the fight
our liberation is bound and the fight
our liberation is bound and the fight for 15 Campaign which is uniting around
for 15 Campaign which is uniting around
for 15 Campaign which is uniting around a vision of economic justice where
a vision of economic justice where
a vision of economic justice where everyone gets to thrive and the dreamers
everyone gets to thrive and the dreamers
everyone gets to thrive and the dreamers who believe that we get to belong as
who believe that we get to belong as
who believe that we get to belong as citizens of America simply because we
citizens of America simply because we
citizens of America simply because we are and there is enough to go around
are and there is enough to go around
are and there is enough to go around well-being is only possible with the
well-being is only possible with the
well-being is only possible with the full participation and realization of
full participation and realization of
full participation and realization of all of its parts
all of its parts
all of its parts and to do that we need to dismantle the
and to do that we need to dismantle the
and to do that we need to dismantle the beliefs and the systems that are holding
beliefs and the systems that are holding
beliefs and the systems that are holding us back and build a new inclusive
us back and build a new inclusive
us back and build a new inclusive ecology that transforms our society from
ecology that transforms our society from
ecology that transforms our society from the inside out and here’s what it’s
the inside out and here’s what it’s
the inside out and here’s what it’s gonna take
gonna take
gonna take we need to show up We the People are the
we need to show up We the People are the
we need to show up We the People are the heart of this ecology and what we
heart of this ecology and what we
heart of this ecology and what we believe about ourselves and one another
believe about ourselves and one another
believe about ourselves and one another matters together we can reclaim our
matters together we can reclaim our
matters together we can reclaim our power as citizens and build a capacity
power as citizens and build a capacity
power as citizens and build a capacity to be both the creators and the stewards
to be both the creators and the stewards
to be both the creators and the stewards of our communities from there we need to
of our communities from there we need to
of our communities from there we need to rebuild the structures that support and
rebuild the structures that support and
rebuild the structures that support and sustain our people a body politic that
sustain our people a body politic that
sustain our people a body politic that originates in churches and living rooms
originates in churches and living rooms
originates in churches and living rooms in yoga studios and community centers
in yoga studios and community centers
in yoga studios and community centers where these places become the starting
where these places become the starting
where these places become the starting point for change and unite around the
point for change and unite around the
point for change and unite around the country to become a movement of
country to become a movement of
country to become a movement of collective care and we need courageous
collective care and we need courageous
collective care and we need courageous action in how we come together to
action in how we come together to
action in how we come together to disrupt
disrupt
disrupt systems of injustice and protect all
systems of injustice and protect all
systems of injustice and protect all life on Earth
life on Earth
life on Earth it looks like peaceful protests
it looks like peaceful protests
it looks like peaceful protests organized boycotts collective advocacy
organized boycotts collective advocacy
organized boycotts collective advocacy and it looks like voting voting matters
and it looks like voting voting matters
and it looks like voting voting matters who we vote for matters and how we vote
who we vote for matters and how we vote
who we vote for matters and how we vote matters voting is not the decision you
matters voting is not the decision you
matters voting is not the decision you make for your personal well-being or for
make for your personal well-being or for
make for your personal well-being or for your bank account even voting is
your bank account even voting is
your bank account even voting is collective care it’s how we aggregate
collective care it’s how we aggregate
collective care it’s how we aggregate our power and voice our vision for the
our power and voice our vision for the
our power and voice our vision for the country that we all deserve this is the
country that we all deserve this is the
country that we all deserve this is the practice of citizenship and it is a
practice of citizenship and it is a
practice of citizenship and it is a constant choice every moment every day
constant choice every moment every day
constant choice every moment every day not just every four years to show up as
not just every four years to show up as
not just every four years to show up as our best selves to
our best selves to
our best selves to fight for one another and to co-create
fight for one another and to co-create
fight for one another and to co-create the systems that enable human potential
the systems that enable human potential
the systems that enable human potential and well-being for everyone because
and well-being for everyone because
and well-being for everyone because everyone deserves to be well I remember
everyone deserves to be well I remember
everyone deserves to be well I remember in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 just
in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 just
in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 just before the dust had settled before we
before the dust had settled before we
before the dust had settled before we got afraid there was this opening and in
got afraid there was this opening and in
got afraid there was this opening and in that space there was no safety no
that space there was no safety no
that space there was no safety no certainty no handbook for how we should
certainty no handbook for how we should
certainty no handbook for how we should respond in moments like this there was
respond in moments like this there was
respond in moments like this there was just us all of us stunned
just us all of us stunned
just us all of us stunned heartbroken and awake and we did the
heartbroken and awake and we did the
heartbroken and awake and we did the only thing we knew to do we turned
only thing we knew to do we turned
only thing we knew to do we turned towards one another we gave blood we
towards one another we gave blood we
towards one another we gave blood we baked casseroles we planted flowers we
baked casseroles we planted flowers we
baked casseroles we planted flowers we showed up Rebecca Solnit spoke of the
showed up Rebecca Solnit spoke of the
showed up Rebecca Solnit spoke of the profound power of these moments she said
profound power of these moments she said
profound power of these moments she said an emergency is separation from the
an emergency is separation from the
an emergency is separation from the familiar a sudden emergence into a new
familiar a sudden emergence into a new
familiar a sudden emergence into a new atmosphere one that often demands that
atmosphere one that often demands that
atmosphere one that often demands that we ourselves rise to the occasion
we ourselves rise to the occasion
we ourselves rise to the occasion we need a citizenship that is rising to
we need a citizenship that is rising to
we need a citizenship that is rising to the occasion and it’s not the kind of
the occasion and it’s not the kind of
the occasion and it’s not the kind of patriotism that puts our love for our
patriotism that puts our love for our
patriotism that puts our love for our country above our love for one another
country above our love for one another
country above our love for one another it’s the citizenship of humanity when I
it’s the citizenship of humanity when I
it’s the citizenship of humanity when I think back to the question we asked
think back to the question we asked
think back to the question we asked Carlos why are you here I think the
Carlos why are you here I think the
Carlos why are you here I think the answer for all of us is each other we
answer for all of us is each other we
answer for all of us is each other we are here for each other period and our
are here for each other period and our
are here for each other period and our responsibility to one another isn’t just
responsibility to one another isn’t just
responsibility to one another isn’t just a social pact
a social pact
a social pact it’s a spiritual pact we need to trust
it’s a spiritual pact we need to trust
it’s a spiritual pact we need to trust ourselves and open up to being even more
ourselves and open up to being even more
ourselves and open up to being even more radical radical in the way that reverend
radical radical in the way that reverend
radical radical in the way that reverend angel Keota williams talks about it
angel Keota williams talks about it
angel Keota williams talks about it far-reaching
far-reaching
far-reaching Thoreau we need to go beyond the
Thoreau we need to go beyond the
Thoreau we need to go beyond the familiar and get radical now in our
familiar and get radical now in our
familiar and get radical now in our practice in our relationships in our
practice in our relationships in our
practice in our relationships in our actions and in our votes because how we
actions and in our votes because how we
actions and in our votes because how we show up in this moment is going to
show up in this moment is going to
show up in this moment is going to define who we are as a community and as
define who we are as a community and as
define who we are as a community and as a country thank you
a country thank you
a country thank you [Applause]
”
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