the first time I came in contact with critical thinking I was 16 years old in
critical thinking I was 16 years old in
critical thinking I was 16 years old in Iran it was a year before the Iranian
Iran it was a year before the Iranian
Iran it was a year before the Iranian Revolution of 1979 in our house
Revolution of 1979 in our house
Revolution of 1979 in our house politics was a topic of the talk I also
politics was a topic of the talk I also
politics was a topic of the talk I also read a lot about the history of Iran the
read a lot about the history of Iran the
read a lot about the history of Iran the history of separation in Iran and also
history of separation in Iran and also
history of separation in Iran and also historical books about different
historical books about different
historical books about different revolutions in French Revolution Russian
revolutions in French Revolution Russian
revolutions in French Revolution Russian Revolution
Revolution
Revolution so revolution and the fever of
so revolution and the fever of
so revolution and the fever of revolution got me I became a
revolution got me I became a
revolution got me I became a revolutionary during the revolution the
revolutionary during the revolution the
revolutionary during the revolution the first half and one and a half years
first half and one and a half years
first half and one and a half years there was a temporary freedom in Iran
there was a temporary freedom in Iran
there was a temporary freedom in Iran just imagine people who have been living
just imagine people who have been living
just imagine people who have been living under suppression dictatorship for years
under suppression dictatorship for years
under suppression dictatorship for years 3035 years got the space to be free the
3035 years got the space to be free the
3035 years got the space to be free the boost of energy in the streets of Tehran
boost of energy in the streets of Tehran
boost of energy in the streets of Tehran when I was living was amazing they were
when I was living was amazing they were
when I was living was amazing they were discussing in the streets of Tehran all
discussing in the streets of Tehran all
discussing in the streets of Tehran all the books that were forbidden for years
the books that were forbidden for years
the books that were forbidden for years they came to the market and we the youth
they came to the market and we the youth
they came to the market and we the youth of that time they’re reading buying and
of that time they’re reading buying and
of that time they’re reading buying and reading these books it’s a lot of thirst
reading these books it’s a lot of thirst
reading these books it’s a lot of thirst as sometimes thought that I was eating
as sometimes thought that I was eating
as sometimes thought that I was eating the books I wasn’t just reading them it
the books I wasn’t just reading them it
the books I wasn’t just reading them it was amazing to be part of that kind of
was amazing to be part of that kind of
was amazing to be part of that kind of atmosphere Latin American poetry
atmosphere Latin American poetry
atmosphere Latin American poetry inspired me and the music of Victor Jara
inspired me and the music of Victor Jara
inspired me and the music of Victor Jara was he heard that on the streets
was he heard that on the streets
was he heard that on the streets everybody was reciting them I think that
everybody was reciting them I think that
everybody was reciting them I think that was the best period of my life to be
was the best period of my life to be
was the best period of my life to be part of something so energetic so
part of something so energetic so
part of something so energetic so beautiful so much ideals so many belief
beautiful so much ideals so many belief
beautiful so much ideals so many belief in change was amazing but then those day
in change was amazing but then those day
in change was amazing but then those day that’s we called spring of freedom some
that’s we called spring of freedom some
that’s we called spring of freedom some people even refer to it as paradise on
people even refer to it as paradise on
people even refer to it as paradise on earth change to hell when the people
earth change to hell when the people
earth change to hell when the people started actually people who were part of
started actually people who were part of
started actually people who were part of the volution started to stand against
the volution started to stand against
the volution started to stand against each other when the years of suppression
each other when the years of suppression
each other when the years of suppression came from that active person I became a
came from that active person I became a
came from that active person I became a depressive person they couldn’t do
depressive person they couldn’t do
depressive person they couldn’t do anything fear and despair replaced hope
anything fear and despair replaced hope
anything fear and despair replaced hope and believing in ideals ideals just died
and believing in ideals ideals just died
and believing in ideals ideals just died people were killing each other people
people were killing each other people
people were killing each other people were attacking each other many of my
were attacking each other many of my
were attacking each other many of my friends got arrested and more for me it
friends got arrested and more for me it
friends got arrested and more for me it was like the turn of Paradise to hell I
was like the turn of Paradise to hell I
was like the turn of Paradise to hell I was like losing life feeling that there
was like losing life feeling that there
was like losing life feeling that there was nothing else to live for in those
was nothing else to live for in those
was nothing else to live for in those years I was made and other being a
years I was made and other being a
years I was made and other being a Marxist I was a Marxist believer in a
Marxist I was a Marxist believer in a
Marxist I was a Marxist believer in a revolution that became an Islamic
revolution that became an Islamic
revolution that became an Islamic Revolution made me an other so at the
Revolution made me an other so at the
Revolution made me an other so at the age of 26 I had to leave Iran because of
age of 26 I had to leave Iran because of
age of 26 I had to leave Iran because of my political convictions I came to the
my political convictions I came to the
my political convictions I came to the Netherlands as an asylum seeker the end
Netherlands as an asylum seeker the end
Netherlands as an asylum seeker the end of 80s didn’t my study here at the
of 80s didn’t my study here at the
of 80s didn’t my study here at the University
University
University I met beautiful people people who were
I met beautiful people people who were
I met beautiful people people who were interested in me in my stories I became
interested in me in my stories I became
interested in me in my stories I became good friends with them they helped me to
good friends with them they helped me to
good friends with them they helped me to go through difficult years of adjustment
go through difficult years of adjustment
go through difficult years of adjustment and I was I am very happy to have have
and I was I am very happy to have have
and I was I am very happy to have have had that kind of friendships but also I
had that kind of friendships but also I
had that kind of friendships but also I felt being an other again I was seen as
felt being an other again I was seen as
felt being an other again I was seen as this woman coming from an Islamic
this woman coming from an Islamic
this woman coming from an Islamic society so I must have been on
society so I must have been on
society so I must have been on emancipated and suppressed by the men of
emancipated and suppressed by the men of
emancipated and suppressed by the men of my family
my family
my family I was a refugee
I was a refugee
I was a refugee so probably pitiful somebody who needs
so probably pitiful somebody who needs
so probably pitiful somebody who needs help and not much to offer to society a
help and not much to offer to society a
help and not much to offer to society a problem rather than part of the solution
problem rather than part of the solution
problem rather than part of the solution so I was feeling like okay this is not
so I was feeling like okay this is not
so I was feeling like okay this is not new to me I was ordered in Iran and it
new to me I was ordered in Iran and it
new to me I was ordered in Iran and it still was painful but it was something
still was painful but it was something
still was painful but it was something different about this time I didn’t I
different about this time I didn’t I
different about this time I didn’t I couldn’t find an enemy that ordered me
couldn’t find an enemy that ordered me
couldn’t find an enemy that ordered me there was no enemy the people who did
there was no enemy the people who did
there was no enemy the people who did that it came from the images they had
that it came from the images they had
that it came from the images they had for me no more people normal
for me no more people normal
for me no more people normal conversations they were like me so they
conversations they were like me so they
conversations they were like me so they were not no dictators intentionally
were not no dictators intentionally
were not no dictators intentionally excluding me so I was confused in the
excluding me so I was confused in the
excluding me so I was confused in the years I in Iran being others being made
years I in Iran being others being made
years I in Iran being others being made and other having enemies to fight
and other having enemies to fight
and other having enemies to fight against very crucial for me but also it
against very crucial for me but also it
against very crucial for me but also it was solely the power source of power was
was solely the power source of power was
was solely the power source of power was solid was clear source of solidarity was
solid was clear source of solidarity was
solid was clear source of solidarity was clear here it was confused people whom I
clear here it was confused people whom I
clear here it was confused people whom I had just normal conversation ordered me
had just normal conversation ordered me
had just normal conversation ordered me how can it be so after life passing and
how can it be so after life passing and
how can it be so after life passing and I became successful in this country did
I became successful in this country did
I became successful in this country did my degree and became a professor I
my degree and became a professor I
my degree and became a professor I forgot about those moments of being
forgot about those moments of being
forgot about those moments of being uttered in the Netherlands till I met
uttered in the Netherlands till I met
uttered in the Netherlands till I met Sarah and heard her story within the
Sarah and heard her story within the
Sarah and heard her story within the research I invited different
research I invited different
research I invited different stakeholders refugees who were searching
stakeholders refugees who were searching
stakeholders refugees who were searching for a job HR managers in organizations
for a job HR managers in organizations
for a job HR managers in organizations who were working about diversity policy
who were working about diversity policy
who were working about diversity policy makers who have been working about the
makers who have been working about the
makers who have been working about the issues of migrants and refugees and
issues of migrants and refugees and
issues of migrants and refugees and members of NGOs who were working with
members of NGOs who were working with
members of NGOs who were working with refugees I brought them together to
refugees I brought them together to
refugees I brought them together to discuss about the possibilities to
discuss about the possibilities to
discuss about the possibilities to include refugees delayed
include refugees delayed
include refugees delayed blanket the first thing he asked of
blanket the first thing he asked of
blanket the first thing he asked of everybody was to share their stories the
everybody was to share their stories the
everybody was to share their stories the moments that in their life they felt the
moments that in their life they felt the
moments that in their life they felt the most powerful the strength when were
most powerful the strength when were
most powerful the strength when were those moments shared with us I remember
those moments shared with us I remember
those moments shared with us I remember vividly sowing sorrow entering the room
vividly sowing sorrow entering the room
vividly sowing sorrow entering the room and I thought who is this person she
and I thought who is this person she
and I thought who is this person she came in but as if she was present and
came in but as if she was present and
came in but as if she was present and absent at the same time she looked at me
absent at the same time she looked at me
absent at the same time she looked at me but it was as if there was this fog in
but it was as if there was this fog in
but it was as if there was this fog in front of her eyes that I couldn’t see
front of her eyes that I couldn’t see
front of her eyes that I couldn’t see her and she couldn’t reach me there was
her and she couldn’t reach me there was
her and she couldn’t reach me there was this distance I was amazed so when they
this distance I was amazed so when they
this distance I was amazed so when they asked everybody to tell their stories
asked everybody to tell their stories
asked everybody to tell their stories refugees in the group they remain silent
refugees in the group they remain silent
refugees in the group they remain silent they didn’t say anything the first day
they didn’t say anything the first day
they didn’t say anything the first day pass second day the same silence at one
pass second day the same silence at one
pass second day the same silence at one point then they asked why don’t you
point then they asked why don’t you
point then they asked why don’t you share your stories Sara said I don’t
share your stories Sara said I don’t
share your stories Sara said I don’t know if I have such a story to share I
told everybody please be patient and
told everybody please be patient and let’s just ask here and others to share
let’s just ask here and others to share
let’s just ask here and others to share their stories repeatedly and after some
their stories repeatedly and after some
their stories repeatedly and after some patience the story came Sara shared her
patience the story came Sara shared her
patience the story came Sara shared her story she said I was in Eritrea born
story she said I was in Eritrea born
story she said I was in Eritrea born there and have been part of armed
there and have been part of armed
there and have been part of armed struggle they’re fighting for human
struggle they’re fighting for human
struggle they’re fighting for human rights and human rights when I was a
rights and human rights when I was a
rights and human rights when I was a from a young age was an activist and
from a young age was an activist and
from a young age was an activist and because of that I lost many things
because of that I lost many things
because of that I lost many things because of that I had to come to the
because of that I had to come to the
because of that I had to come to the Netherlands as a refugee so people were
Netherlands as a refugee so people were
Netherlands as a refugee so people were shocked said ok you had such a powerful
shocked said ok you had such a powerful
shocked said ok you had such a powerful story what happens why did you say that
story what happens why did you say that
story what happens why did you say that you don’t have anything to share and she
you don’t have anything to share and she
you don’t have anything to share and she said I was actually amazed by it myself
said I was actually amazed by it myself
said I was actually amazed by it myself and realized when I taught about it
and realized when I taught about it
and realized when I taught about it that’s from the moment ten years ago
that’s from the moment ten years ago
that’s from the moment ten years ago when I came to Netherlands
when I came to Netherlands
when I came to Netherlands the only thing I heard was know your
the only thing I heard was know your
the only thing I heard was know your language is not good enough your papers
language is not good enough your papers
language is not good enough your papers are not good enough your cultural
are not good enough your cultural
are not good enough your cultural competence does not fit our
competence does not fit our
competence does not fit our organization’s is not good enough and I
organization’s is not good enough and I
organization’s is not good enough and I realized that a repetition of nose
realized that a repetition of nose
realized that a repetition of nose actually made me to lose my
actually made me to lose my
actually made me to lose my self-confidence but today I also
self-confidence but today I also
self-confidence but today I also realized that a petition of those noise
realized that a petition of those noise
realized that a petition of those noise nose made me to forget my story and now
nose made me to forget my story and now
nose made me to forget my story and now here I was able to rediscover it and
here I was able to rediscover it and
here I was able to rediscover it and when she said that I literally saw that
when she said that I literally saw that
when she said that I literally saw that the light in her eyes came back as if
the light in her eyes came back as if
the light in her eyes came back as if there was a boost of life went into her
there was a boost of life went into her
there was a boost of life went into her body rediscovery of her story made her
body rediscovery of her story made her
body rediscovery of her story made her to live again and that was an amazing
to live again and that was an amazing
to live again and that was an amazing amazing experience that was this
amazing experience that was this
amazing experience that was this policymaker who was busy with migration
policymaker who was busy with migration
policymaker who was busy with migration issues for years she shared with the
issues for years she shared with the
issues for years she shared with the group that she has been in in her work
group that she has been in in her work
group that she has been in in her work mainly focusing on the deficits and the
mainly focusing on the deficits and the
mainly focusing on the deficits and the lags of migrants and refugees so much
lags of migrants and refugees so much
lags of migrants and refugees so much that they were fixating on that wanting
that they were fixating on that wanting
that they were fixating on that wanting to help them to make them equal to make
to help them to make them equal to make
to help them to make them equal to make the life better but fixation on lack
the life better but fixation on lack
the life better but fixation on lack actually was so much that she almost
actually was so much that she almost
actually was so much that she almost forgot that these people also have
forgot that these people also have
forgot that these people also have qualities they have something to offer
qualities they have something to offer
qualities they have something to offer to this society so what happens was that
to this society so what happens was that
to this society so what happens was that truth sharing those stories people
truth sharing those stories people
truth sharing those stories people became aware of these images that we
became aware of these images that we
became aware of these images that we have from each other that images we take
have from each other that images we take
have from each other that images we take for granted and by doing so without
for granted and by doing so without
for granted and by doing so without realizing the best intentions we make
realizing the best intentions we make
realizing the best intentions we make the other the other and in doing so
the other the other and in doing so
the other the other and in doing so maybe interrupt
maybe interrupt
maybe interrupt shishun of that they actually make the
shishun of that they actually make the
shishun of that they actually make the other completely passive but something
other completely passive but something
other completely passive but something else also became very clear that people
else also became very clear that people
else also became very clear that people do that with the best intentions so the
do that with the best intentions so the
do that with the best intentions so the enemy is not a dictator there’s not
enemy is not a dictator there’s not
enemy is not a dictator there’s not there anymore actually the the power is
there anymore actually the the power is
there anymore actually the the power is not in the positions of suppression the
not in the positions of suppression the
not in the positions of suppression the power is in all those images that we
power is in all those images that we
power is in all those images that we have of another and all those images
have of another and all those images
have of another and all those images that become so normalized in our daily
that become so normalized in our daily
that become so normalized in our daily life that we don’t think about it we
life that we don’t think about it we
life that we don’t think about it we don’t take questioning we take that for
don’t take questioning we take that for
don’t take questioning we take that for granted so if we want to think about
granted so if we want to think about
granted so if we want to think about change we need to think about how to
change we need to think about how to
change we need to think about how to unsettle this powerful these powerful
unsettle this powerful these powerful
unsettle this powerful these powerful images chain of images that influences
images chain of images that influences
images chain of images that influences our selves but mainly others contribute
our selves but mainly others contribute
our selves but mainly others contribute to other ins of the people exclusion in
to other ins of the people exclusion in
to other ins of the people exclusion in society sharing stories as this story of
society sharing stories as this story of
society sharing stories as this story of Sarah shows is a very powerful
Sarah shows is a very powerful
Sarah shows is a very powerful instrument to do that but sharing
instrument to do that but sharing
instrument to do that but sharing stories from points of difference from
stories from points of difference from
stories from points of difference from people who are actually disconnected
people who are actually disconnected
people who are actually disconnected becomes even more powerful because this
becomes even more powerful because this
becomes even more powerful because this creates mirroring effects the story of
creates mirroring effects the story of
creates mirroring effects the story of the other becomes a mirror for you to
the other becomes a mirror for you to
the other becomes a mirror for you to realize that the routines that you are
realize that the routines that you are
realize that the routines that you are part of and you take for granted they
part of and you take for granted they
part of and you take for granted they are your routines but still very
are your routines but still very
are your routines but still very powerful sometimes we need routines to
powerful sometimes we need routines to
powerful sometimes we need routines to function but sometimes routines blinds
function but sometimes routines blinds
function but sometimes routines blinds us and the mirror is assist is necessary
us and the mirror is assist is necessary
us and the mirror is assist is necessary to again be aware of those blind spots
to again be aware of those blind spots
to again be aware of those blind spots but for these sharing stories from
but for these sharing stories from
but for these sharing stories from points of difference to be impactful or
points of difference to be impactful or
points of difference to be impactful or connected there are some conditions
connected there are some conditions
connected there are some conditions necessary the two conditions in this
necessary the two conditions in this
necessary the two conditions in this case that were essential we’re taking
case that were essential we’re taking
case that were essential we’re taking time and space
time and space
time and space so by delay act of delay and patience we
so by delay act of delay and patience we
so by delay act of delay and patience we can create space to see and listen to
can create space to see and listen to
can create space to see and listen to the other create space and time to see
the other create space and time to see
the other create space and time to see the other from the position of the other
the other from the position of the other
the other from the position of the other from the perspective of the other but
from the perspective of the other but
from the perspective of the other but that’s not enough
that’s not enough
that’s not enough you know when Sarah shared her story the
you know when Sarah shared her story the
you know when Sarah shared her story the fact that to share it with us was
fact that to share it with us was
fact that to share it with us was because she felt safe that space needs
because she felt safe that space needs
because she felt safe that space needs to be safe and the safety of their space
to be safe and the safety of their space
to be safe and the safety of their space happens when we temporarily are able to
happens when we temporarily are able to
happens when we temporarily are able to suspend our own judgments to make the
suspend our own judgments to make the
suspend our own judgments to make the space empty of judgment not all the time
space empty of judgment not all the time
space empty of judgment not all the time temporarily so that we can hear what the
temporarily so that we can hear what the
temporarily so that we can hear what the other story is about we can feel it and
other story is about we can feel it and
other story is about we can feel it and these are the conditions to create
these are the conditions to create
these are the conditions to create spaces for shared stories that can
spaces for shared stories that can
spaces for shared stories that can unsettle the taken-for-granted
unsettle the taken-for-granted
unsettle the taken-for-granted assumptions we have of ourselves and
assumptions we have of ourselves and
assumptions we have of ourselves and others mainly of others and these are
others mainly of others and these are
others mainly of others and these are the connections that enrich our lives
the connections that enrich our lives
the connections that enrich our lives but also can bring about change of lives
but also can bring about change of lives
but also can bring about change of lives of many people like Sarah that are
of many people like Sarah that are
of many people like Sarah that are already lost their self-confidence and
already lost their self-confidence and
already lost their self-confidence and this is the core of my talk what is the
this is the core of my talk what is the
this is the core of my talk what is the changed condition of critical thinking
changed condition of critical thinking
changed condition of critical thinking when the power is not the visible power
when the power is not the visible power
when the power is not the visible power of position of dictators will fight
of position of dictators will fight
of position of dictators will fight against but power is in the process of
against but power is in the process of
against but power is in the process of daily interactions when we take our own
daily interactions when we take our own
daily interactions when we take our own assumptions for granted and exclude
assumptions for granted and exclude
assumptions for granted and exclude others without realizing that we are
others without realizing that we are
others without realizing that we are doing that so one may ask ok story like
doing that so one may ask ok story like
doing that so one may ask ok story like SARS
SARS
SARS how can such a story change a system
how can such a story change a system
how can such a story change a system revolution change the system how can we
revolution change the system how can we
revolution change the system how can we change a system structures macro
change a system structures macro
change a system structures macro structures how can we change them I
structures how can we change them I
structures how can we change them I would say the only way to go about
would say the only way to go about
would say the only way to go about change and think about change in this
change and think about change in this
change and think about change in this time and the power is in the
time and the power is in the
time and the power is in the normalization practices the only way to
normalization practices the only way to
normalization practices the only way to go about it is to invest in
go about it is to invest in
go about it is to invest in interpersonal relationships and make
interpersonal relationships and make
interpersonal relationships and make them more thoughtful those thoughtful
them more thoughtful those thoughtful
them more thoughtful those thoughtful relationships
relationships
relationships creates waves of influence can travel
creates waves of influence can travel
creates waves of influence can travel all around the world and inspire others
all around the world and inspire others
all around the world and inspire others to do the same thing this example of
to do the same thing this example of
to do the same thing this example of Sarah can you imagine how impactful that
Sarah can you imagine how impactful that
Sarah can you imagine how impactful that can be and has been for many people who
can be and has been for many people who
can be and has been for many people who were part of that space most of these
were part of that space most of these
were part of that space most of these people shared the way that they took
people shared the way that they took
people shared the way that they took that story with them to their
that story with them to their
that story with them to their organizations to their ministries they
organizations to their ministries they
organizations to their ministries they were working to the municipalities they
were working to the municipalities they
were working to the municipalities they were part of that story has been
were part of that story has been
were part of that story has been repeated by many and that is the kind of
repeated by many and that is the kind of
repeated by many and that is the kind of impact and change that stories can bring
impact and change that stories can bring
impact and change that stories can bring and the repetition of these small small
and the repetition of these small small
and the repetition of these small small stories small-scale stories can be
stories small-scale stories can be
stories small-scale stories can be essential in thinking big so we do not
essential in thinking big so we do not
essential in thinking big so we do not start with a revolution that the power
start with a revolution that the power
start with a revolution that the power is so subtle and invisible we do not
is so subtle and invisible we do not
is so subtle and invisible we do not start the revolution we started
start the revolution we started
start the revolution we started investing in each other and giving the
investing in each other and giving the
investing in each other and giving the relationship and the conversations we
relationship and the conversations we
relationship and the conversations we have more color and multiplicity and
have more color and multiplicity and
have more color and multiplicity and maybe if the waves they become go
maybe if the waves they become go
maybe if the waves they become go through the waves of influence then we
through the waves of influence then we
through the waves of influence then we can have some kind of revolution by just
can have some kind of revolution by just
can have some kind of revolution by just deconstructing the blind spots in our
deconstructing the blind spots in our
deconstructing the blind spots in our art in our own thoughts and by doing so
art in our own thoughts and by doing so
art in our own thoughts and by doing so make a change that could be the kind of
make a change that could be the kind of
make a change that could be the kind of change we can imagine when we think of
change we can imagine when we think of
change we can imagine when we think of critical thinking at a time that power
critical thinking at a time that power
critical thinking at a time that power doesn’t work in the old-fashioned way
doesn’t work in the old-fashioned way
doesn’t work in the old-fashioned way but through our own taken for granted
but through our own taken for granted
but through our own taken for granted normalized practices thank you very much
normalized practices thank you very much
normalized practices thank you very much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment