[Music] well um first of all let me say that
well um first of all let me say that
well um first of all let me say that it’s a joy for me to be here to listen
it’s a joy for me to be here to listen
it’s a joy for me to be here to listen to great presenters and try to make that
to great presenters and try to make that
to great presenters and try to make that funny voice that we did all of us
funny voice that we did all of us
funny voice that we did all of us together so it’s a joy for me to be here
together so it’s a joy for me to be here
together so it’s a joy for me to be here but it’s also a joy for me that we have
but it’s also a joy for me that we have
but it’s also a joy for me that we have this event in a college to have it in a
this event in a college to have it in a
this event in a college to have it in a college this means that education for us
college this means that education for us
college this means that education for us is not only about information it’s not
is not only about information it’s not
is not only about information it’s not about collecting some of the
about collecting some of the
about collecting some of the informations that we can type it down
informations that we can type it down
informations that we can type it down but education in Greek language it means
but education in Greek language it means
but education in Greek language it means by idea which means to embrace yourself
by idea which means to embrace yourself
by idea which means to embrace yourself to embrace your view nature is to reform
to embrace your view nature is to reform
to embrace your view nature is to reform your life again and always to start in
your life again and always to start in
your life again and always to start in you so it’s a joy for me to be here and
you so it’s a joy for me to be here and
you so it’s a joy for me to be here and to present some of the things that I
to present some of the things that I
to present some of the things that I think it’s it has shaped a lot of of my
think it’s it has shaped a lot of of my
think it’s it has shaped a lot of of my life and my awareness here well my name
life and my awareness here well my name
life and my awareness here well my name is Amir I was born and raised in Egypt
is Amir I was born and raised in Egypt
is Amir I was born and raised in Egypt in Upper Egypt when we say Upper Egypt
in Upper Egypt when we say Upper Egypt
in Upper Egypt when we say Upper Egypt it means the south side of Cairo Cairo
it means the south side of Cairo Cairo
it means the south side of Cairo Cairo is a capital of egypt and i was born in
is a capital of egypt and i was born in
is a capital of egypt and i was born in a small christian minority being in a
a small christian minority being in a
a small christian minority being in a minority it shapes a lot understanding
minority it shapes a lot understanding
minority it shapes a lot understanding of who we are sometimes when we ask
of who we are sometimes when we ask
of who we are sometimes when we ask people here what do you know about the
people here what do you know about the
people here what do you know about the coptic coptic people and people seem
coptic coptic people and people seem
coptic coptic people and people seem don’t know anything well Coptic it
don’t know anything well Coptic it
don’t know anything well Coptic it traces back to the first century of
traces back to the first century of
traces back to the first century of Christianity and we as a Christian
Christianity and we as a Christian
Christianity and we as a Christian minority have been so much aware and
minority have been so much aware and
minority have been so much aware and depends sometimes proud of who we are
depends sometimes proud of who we are
depends sometimes proud of who we are but being a minority it is something
but being a minority it is something
but being a minority it is something that is really good for us and sometimes
that is really good for us and sometimes
that is really good for us and sometimes we are makes us also under a lot of a
we are makes us also under a lot of a
we are makes us also under a lot of a lot of the challenges of who we are and
lot of the challenges of who we are and
lot of the challenges of who we are and how to present ourselves especially when
how to present ourselves especially when
how to present ourselves especially when it comes to the election time
it comes to the election time
it comes to the election time it’s it gets harder because all the
it’s it gets harder because all the
it’s it gets harder because all the politicians comes to you and they want
politicians comes to you and they want
politicians comes to you and they want is to take your vote no matter what you
is to take your vote no matter what you
is to take your vote no matter what you believe or not and then that is really
believe or not and then that is really
believe or not and then that is really interesting graduation from the the
interesting graduation from the the
interesting graduation from the the school in Egypt I went to be a minister
school in Egypt I went to be a minister
school in Egypt I went to be a minister in upper egypt in one of the churches in
in upper egypt in one of the churches in
in upper egypt in one of the churches in the villages of Upper Egypt epting knew
the villages of Upper Egypt epting knew
the villages of Upper Egypt epting knew that term I learned that the demography
that term I learned that the demography
that term I learned that the demography and the nature and what happens in this
and the nature and what happens in this
and the nature and what happens in this village shapes a lot of people
village shapes a lot of people
village shapes a lot of people understanding of who they are people
understanding of who they are people
understanding of who they are people live around the mile and the line for
live around the mile and the line for
live around the mile and the line for them watering for for itself it is alive
them watering for for itself it is alive
them watering for for itself it is alive a source of life for them so that
a source of life for them so that
a source of life for them so that actually shaped a lot of my
actually shaped a lot of my
actually shaped a lot of my understanding as a minister and as a
understanding as a minister and as a
understanding as a minister and as a pastor Egypt and went to Kuwait and we
pastor Egypt and went to Kuwait and we
pastor Egypt and went to Kuwait and we serving in a congregation that has you
serving in a congregation that has you
serving in a congregation that has you know multi different nationalities and
know multi different nationalities and
know multi different nationalities and one of the concept that I always here
one of the concept that I always here
one of the concept that I always here once I left Egypt that Egypt is a third
once I left Egypt that Egypt is a third
once I left Egypt that Egypt is a third world country and I actually had this
world country and I actually had this
world country and I actually had this kind of confusion I don’t know why are
kind of confusion I don’t know why are
kind of confusion I don’t know why are these categories between first and
these categories between first and
these categories between first and second and third why do we have these
second and third why do we have these
second and third why do we have these categories but it raises back actually
categories but it raises back actually
categories but it raises back actually to nineteen seventeen when belfer came
to nineteen seventeen when belfer came
to nineteen seventeen when belfer came and they make the Covenant and saying no
and they make the Covenant and saying no
and they make the Covenant and saying no there are different between east and
there are different between east and
there are different between east and west there is different between oxidant
west there is different between oxidant
west there is different between oxidant and orient and that for for that time it
and orient and that for for that time it
and orient and that for for that time it was a sense of the western power on the
was a sense of the western power on the
was a sense of the western power on the people of the Orient there is a huge out
people of the Orient there is a huge out
people of the Orient there is a huge out study on that Edward side is one of the
study on that Edward side is one of the
study on that Edward side is one of the high figures include a university who is
high figures include a university who is
high figures include a university who is giving a lot on the concept of oriental
giving a lot on the concept of oriental
giving a lot on the concept of oriental ease Lina when i started my ministry in
ease Lina when i started my ministry in
ease Lina when i started my ministry in Quade’s its oil country that they have
Quade’s its oil country that they have
Quade’s its oil country that they have the oil is a high figure dinar which is
the oil is a high figure dinar which is
the oil is a high figure dinar which is maybe the currency of the Kuwait it
maybe the currency of the Kuwait it
maybe the currency of the Kuwait it makes you know you know huge influence
makes you know you know huge influence
makes you know you know huge influence on the society there for them we are the
on the society there for them we are the
on the society there for them we are the one who hire others and we are the one
one who hire others and we are the one
one who hire others and we are the one who are much better than others because
who are much better than others because
who are much better than others because we have the money and that was a really
we have the money and that was a really
we have the money and that was a really challenge for me at the minister who
challenge for me at the minister who
challenge for me at the minister who deals with most of my congregation
deals with most of my congregation
deals with most of my congregation people who are coming from different
people who are coming from different
people who are coming from different countries and all that they want it just
countries and all that they want it just
countries and all that they want it just work day by day and probably sending the
work day by day and probably sending the
work day by day and probably sending the money back to their own families it was
money back to their own families it was
money back to their own families it was really an interesting time to know how
really an interesting time to know how
really an interesting time to know how the economics I was a system shapes
the economics I was a system shapes
the economics I was a system shapes different kinds of the stereotypes and
different kinds of the stereotypes and
different kinds of the stereotypes and the kind of we are having more power
the kind of we are having more power
the kind of we are having more power than the others up then I went back to
than the others up then I went back to
than the others up then I went back to Egypt and pulls the Arab Spring the Arab
Egypt and pulls the Arab Spring the Arab
Egypt and pulls the Arab Spring the Arab Spring you know brought everything
Spring you know brought everything
Spring you know brought everything changed everything upside down people
changed everything upside down people
changed everything upside down people went to the streets to pyro and all what
went to the streets to pyro and all what
went to the streets to pyro and all what they were hoping for it just to have
they were hoping for it just to have
they were hoping for it just to have freedom to be in that freedom to say
freedom to be in that freedom to say
freedom to be in that freedom to say that we are human beings that we have
that we are human beings that we have
that we are human beings that we have rights and we want to let people were
rights and we want to let people were
rights and we want to let people were fighting for that it turned it actually
fighting for that it turned it actually
fighting for that it turned it actually to be in the opposite direction but
to be in the opposite direction but
to be in the opposite direction but people were fighting for our human
people were fighting for our human
people were fighting for our human rights well during the Arab Spring I
rights well during the Arab Spring I
rights well during the Arab Spring I came to here as a global sculler to
came to here as a global sculler to
came to here as a global sculler to mccormick Theological Seminary in
mccormick Theological Seminary in
mccormick Theological Seminary in Chicago that there was a teacher strike
Chicago that there was a teacher strike
Chicago that there was a teacher strike he teachers strike in the city and
he teachers strike in the city and
he teachers strike in the city and Wisconsin in Chicago and I think in a
Wisconsin in Chicago and I think in a
Wisconsin in Chicago and I think in a number of states and it was and said oh
number of states and it was and said oh
number of states and it was and said oh my god what did happen did I leave it in
my god what did happen did I leave it in
my god what did happen did I leave it in the revolutions in Egypt and they come
the revolutions in Egypt and they come
the revolutions in Egypt and they come back to here to find it well these are
back to here to find it well these are
back to here to find it well these are two different strikes or two different
two different strikes or two different
two different strikes or two different revolutions but in any way there is
revolutions but in any way there is
revolutions but in any way there is white difference here in Egypt people
white difference here in Egypt people
white difference here in Egypt people were fighting for their own right is to
were fighting for their own right is to
were fighting for their own right is to gain their own rights sonoran sheikh
gain their own rights sonoran sheikh
gain their own rights sonoran sheikh adil
adil
adil were fighting to to to establish it to
were fighting to to to establish it to
were fighting to to to establish it to say that we already have the rights and
say that we already have the rights and
say that we already have the rights and we want to always stand back so that was
we want to always stand back so that was
we want to always stand back so that was really an interesting time for me to see
really an interesting time for me to see
really an interesting time for me to see the worldlet here and the people here is
the worldlet here and the people here is
the worldlet here and the people here is not really quite different from the
not really quite different from the
not really quite different from the people in other parts of the world and
people in other parts of the world and
people in other parts of the world and the categories of first and second and
the categories of first and second and
the categories of first and second and third world country is not really an
third world country is not really an
third world country is not really an existence well I started them finish my
existence well I started them finish my
existence well I started them finish my master degree went to New York obtained
master degree went to New York obtained
master degree went to New York obtained my second master degree and then I was
my second master degree and then I was
my second master degree and then I was called to be a minister of two churches
called to be a minister of two churches
called to be a minister of two churches here while in southridge and the other
here while in southridge and the other
here while in southridge and the other in Argentine and there were a number of
in Argentine and there were a number of
in Argentine and there were a number of the stereotype is that I was a
the stereotype is that I was a
the stereotype is that I was a challenging why for the first time one
challenging why for the first time one
challenging why for the first time one of them is to the concept of color
of them is to the concept of color
of them is to the concept of color itself people started to call me brown
itself people started to call me brown
itself people started to call me brown and that was interesting because I only
and that was interesting because I only
and that was interesting because I only healed it here I go to visit the doctor
healed it here I go to visit the doctor
healed it here I go to visit the doctor or to go to hospital or anywhere and
or to go to hospital or anywhere and
or to go to hospital or anywhere and when I asked ok which box should I check
when I asked ok which box should I check
when I asked ok which box should I check for myself I don’t find Middle Eastern
for myself I don’t find Middle Eastern
for myself I don’t find Middle Eastern at all but they say Middle Eastern art
at all but they say Middle Eastern art
at all but they say Middle Eastern art categorize it as Caucasian and when I go
categorize it as Caucasian and when I go
categorize it as Caucasian and when I go to street people called me brown so the
to street people called me brown so the
to street people called me brown so the color has created people a timed of
color has created people a timed of
color has created people a timed of confused identity of Who am I and how
confused identity of Who am I and how
confused identity of Who am I and how people look at me but also there is
people look at me but also there is
people look at me but also there is another challenge religion also
another challenge religion also
another challenge religion also sometimes creates this kind of confusion
sometimes creates this kind of confusion
sometimes creates this kind of confusion identity and sometimes it makes our
identity and sometimes it makes our
identity and sometimes it makes our identity is stolen as well in Chicago I
identity is stolen as well in Chicago I
identity is stolen as well in Chicago I am I just got the training to be a
am I just got the training to be a
am I just got the training to be a chaplain in one of the hospitals on the
chaplain in one of the hospitals on the
chaplain in one of the hospitals on the north side of Chicago and I introduced
north side of Chicago and I introduced
north side of Chicago and I introduced myself to one of the patients there and
myself to one of the patients there and
myself to one of the patients there and he said to me what is your name i said
he said to me what is your name i said
he said to me what is your name i said my name is Emil and he said well you
my name is Emil and he said well you
my name is Emil and he said well you name sounds more
name sounds more
name sounds more from here where are you coming from well
from here where are you coming from well
from here where are you coming from well I said well I am Egyptian I was born and
I said well I am Egyptian I was born and
I said well I am Egyptian I was born and raised in eagan and he said you wanna
raised in eagan and he said you wanna
raised in eagan and he said you wanna Charlie said yes he said ok aah are you
Charlie said yes he said ok aah are you
Charlie said yes he said ok aah are you Muslim I said well I have a lot of
Muslim I said well I have a lot of
Muslim I said well I have a lot of Muslim friends i love them i was born
Muslim friends i love them i was born
Muslim friends i love them i was born and raised in a country that the
and raised in a country that the
and raised in a country that the majority are muslims and i have no
majority are muslims and i have no
majority are muslims and i have no problem with that I but I am Christian
problem with that I but I am Christian
problem with that I but I am Christian and he said no no no you are not you are
and he said no no no you are not you are
and he said no no no you are not you are not Christian probably you are Christian
not Christian probably you are Christian
not Christian probably you are Christian by religion but my culture you are
by religion but my culture you are
by religion but my culture you are something different and I just looked at
something different and I just looked at
something different and I just looked at him and was very puzzle then you know
him and was very puzzle then you know
him and was very puzzle then you know confused about what what he said but the
confused about what what he said but the
confused about what what he said but the voice of culture for him was more than
voice of culture for him was more than
voice of culture for him was more than was higher than my own voice he didn’t
was higher than my own voice he didn’t
was higher than my own voice he didn’t give us a chance didn’t give me a chance
give us a chance didn’t give me a chance
give us a chance didn’t give me a chance to present myself in the way that I want
to present myself in the way that I want
to present myself in the way that I want so religion some time is when it’s
so religion some time is when it’s
so religion some time is when it’s combined with the voice of culture
combined with the voice of culture
combined with the voice of culture sometimes also does not give a chance
sometimes also does not give a chance
sometimes also does not give a chance for people to say who we are and that
for people to say who we are and that
for people to say who we are and that was a challenge sir the challenge that I
was a challenge sir the challenge that I
was a challenge sir the challenge that I want to share with all of you today is
want to share with all of you today is
want to share with all of you today is the example of the President Obama while
the example of the President Obama while
the example of the President Obama while President Obama when I watch him on TV
President Obama when I watch him on TV
President Obama when I watch him on TV or on my phone or on my laptop I see you
or on my phone or on my laptop I see you
or on my phone or on my laptop I see you know a wonderful public figure who
know a wonderful public figure who
know a wonderful public figure who speaks very well he knows how to present
speaks very well he knows how to present
speaks very well he knows how to present himself you know very intellectual
himself you know very intellectual
himself you know very intellectual person started very well having
person started very well having
person started very well having wonderful family and that is great but I
wonderful family and that is great but I
wonderful family and that is great but I don’t want this society to look at me to
don’t want this society to look at me to
don’t want this society to look at me to be only succeed only if I am Obama
be only succeed only if I am Obama
be only succeed only if I am Obama because they’re not and I would not I
because they’re not and I would not I
because they’re not and I would not I love the president but I am NOT him so
love the president but I am NOT him so
love the president but I am NOT him so here is a society of want is to make the
here is a society of want is to make the
here is a society of want is to make the people of color is only the example of
people of color is only the example of
people of color is only the example of Obama now we love that example but we
Obama now we love that example but we
Obama now we love that example but we are
are
are each one of us has our own artful points
each one of us has our own artful points
each one of us has our own artful points and each one of us have our own gift is
and each one of us have our own gift is
and each one of us have our own gift is that we can present to each other so
that we can present to each other so
that we can present to each other so that was also another thing that I
that was also another thing that I
that was also another thing that I wanted to share with you well I am a
wanted to share with you well I am a
wanted to share with you well I am a church minister i work for the
church minister i work for the
church minister i work for the congregation my main work is to how to
congregation my main work is to how to
congregation my main work is to how to bring people together and how for them
bring people together and how for them
bring people together and how for them to experience their own spirituality and
to experience their own spirituality and
to experience their own spirituality and reach out to others and speak to them
reach out to others and speak to them
reach out to others and speak to them and engage more people and how to
and engage more people and how to
and engage more people and how to embrace the concept of justice and peace
embrace the concept of justice and peace
embrace the concept of justice and peace from the religion point of view and I
from the religion point of view and I
from the religion point of view and I believe in the power of the congregation
believe in the power of the congregation
believe in the power of the congregation I believe in the power of communities a
I believe in the power of communities a
I believe in the power of communities a school like clear a college like here we
school like clear a college like here we
school like clear a college like here we don’t need education as information we
don’t need education as information we
don’t need education as information we can write it down but we need the spirit
can write it down but we need the spirit
can write it down but we need the spirit of Education we need something that will
of Education we need something that will
of Education we need something that will bring us together and lock to the future
bring us together and lock to the future
bring us together and lock to the future well I’m a Christian and middle eastern
well I’m a Christian and middle eastern
well I’m a Christian and middle eastern but when I heard about registering
but when I heard about registering
but when I heard about registering Muslims because they only Muslims i
Muslims because they only Muslims i
Muslims because they only Muslims i would say i would love to be the first
would say i would love to be the first
would say i would love to be the first one who would be registered because it’s
one who would be registered because it’s
one who would be registered because it’s not a matter of religion all religions
not a matter of religion all religions
not a matter of religion all religions are prophetic we have a wonderful
are prophetic we have a wonderful
are prophetic we have a wonderful traditions that can speak out we have
traditions that can speak out we have
traditions that can speak out we have Edward side from the Middle Eastern
Edward side from the Middle Eastern
Edward side from the Middle Eastern background we have jane’s Aldwyn from
background we have jane’s Aldwyn from
background we have jane’s Aldwyn from the african-american we have Joshua
the african-american we have Joshua
the african-american we have Joshua Heschel from the Jewish community
Heschel from the Jewish community
Heschel from the Jewish community wonderful voices but what we can do
wonderful voices but what we can do
wonderful voices but what we can do communities the sense that we can walk
communities the sense that we can walk
communities the sense that we can walk the sense that we are community that can
the sense that we are community that can
the sense that we are community that can help each other and this is what I want
help each other and this is what I want
help each other and this is what I want to present thank you
”
Be First to Comment