fear is the path to the dark side fear leads to anger anger leads to hate hate
leads to anger anger leads to hate hate
leads to anger anger leads to hate hate leads to suffering so the clip we just
leads to suffering so the clip we just
leads to suffering so the clip we just watched is from Star Wars Episode one
watched is from Star Wars Episode one
watched is from Star Wars Episode one The Phantom Menace how many people have
The Phantom Menace how many people have
The Phantom Menace how many people have seen that quite a few I figured most of
seen that quite a few I figured most of
seen that quite a few I figured most of us know the story of this prolific
us know the story of this prolific
us know the story of this prolific series very well it’s a quest of
series very well it’s a quest of
series very well it’s a quest of champions braving what seems at times
champions braving what seems at times
champions braving what seems at times like impossible odds
like impossible odds
like impossible odds a tale of clashes between good and evil
a tale of clashes between good and evil
a tale of clashes between good and evil and a story about the things that unite
and a story about the things that unite
and a story about the things that unite people in divisive divisive times in the
people in divisive divisive times in the
people in divisive divisive times in the fictional Star Wars universe the force
fictional Star Wars universe the force
fictional Star Wars universe the force an energy field made up of all living
an energy field made up of all living
an energy field made up of all living things gives power to two sets of
things gives power to two sets of
things gives power to two sets of leaders the Jedi and the Sith Yoda and
leaders the Jedi and the Sith Yoda and
leaders the Jedi and the Sith Yoda and all all the other Jedi leaders like him
all all the other Jedi leaders like him
all all the other Jedi leaders like him rule the light side of the force they
rule the light side of the force they
rule the light side of the force they believe this is what binds everything
believe this is what binds everything
believe this is what binds everything and everyone together it is a power they
and everyone together it is a power they
and everyone together it is a power they use to gather knowledge to keep the
use to gather knowledge to keep the
use to gather knowledge to keep the peace and to uphold truth and these
peace and to uphold truth and these
peace and to uphold truth and these three things the Jedi believe is a
three things the Jedi believe is a
three things the Jedi believe is a responsibility to be treated with great
responsibility to be treated with great
responsibility to be treated with great respect
respect
respect then there’s the Sith they are a group
then there’s the Sith they are a group
then there’s the Sith they are a group of former Jedi seduced by power and
of former Jedi seduced by power and
of former Jedi seduced by power and leaders of the dark side of the force
leaders of the dark side of the force
leaders of the dark side of the force unlike the Jedi who work to pool their
unlike the Jedi who work to pool their
unlike the Jedi who work to pool their resources for good the Sith have learned
resources for good the Sith have learned
resources for good the Sith have learned to tap into the force in order to use it
to tap into the force in order to use it
to tap into the force in order to use it for evil they do so by channeling things
for evil they do so by channeling things
for evil they do so by channeling things like fear and anger and using that as a
like fear and anger and using that as a
like fear and anger and using that as a supernatural ability to bend the Force
supernatural ability to bend the Force
supernatural ability to bend the Force to their will and just like it does for
to their will and just like it does for
to their will and just like it does for the characters tormented by the Sith in
the characters tormented by the Sith in
the characters tormented by the Sith in Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars I believe fear based leadership torments
I believe fear based leadership torments
I believe fear based leadership torments all of us
all of us
all of us I actually think it might be one of the
I actually think it might be one of the
I actually think it might be one of the greatest challenges we’re facing today
greatest challenges we’re facing today
greatest challenges we’re facing today in thinking about Yoda’s quote a little
in thinking about Yoda’s quote a little
in thinking about Yoda’s quote a little bit more fear as a pathway to the dark
bit more fear as a pathway to the dark
bit more fear as a pathway to the dark side a corridor to anger hate suffering
side a corridor to anger hate suffering
side a corridor to anger hate suffering I realized that it was the perfect
I realized that it was the perfect
I realized that it was the perfect jumping-off point to explore this topic
jumping-off point to explore this topic
jumping-off point to explore this topic a little further even if you’ve never
a little further even if you’ve never
a little further even if you’ve never seen a single Star Wars Episode these
seen a single Star Wars Episode these
seen a single Star Wars Episode these themes should resonate with you they’re
themes should resonate with you they’re
themes should resonate with you they’re some of the same ideas so prevalent in
some of the same ideas so prevalent in
some of the same ideas so prevalent in our society we all know someone who has
our society we all know someone who has
our society we all know someone who has been manipulated by fear
been manipulated by fear
been manipulated by fear let’s take mom and dad for example how
let’s take mom and dad for example how
let’s take mom and dad for example how many parents do we have in the room a
many parents do we have in the room a
many parents do we have in the room a few parents have you ever given your
few parents have you ever given your
few parents have you ever given your child a directive or an instruction and
child a directive or an instruction and
child a directive or an instruction and suggested if they didn’t do something
suggested if they didn’t do something
suggested if they didn’t do something that there would be consequences maybe
that there would be consequences maybe
that there would be consequences maybe you wanted to protect your child from a
you wanted to protect your child from a
you wanted to protect your child from a perceived threat or teach them right
perceived threat or teach them right
perceived threat or teach them right from wrong and there’s nothing wrong
from wrong and there’s nothing wrong
from wrong and there’s nothing wrong with that still somewhere deep inside
with that still somewhere deep inside
with that still somewhere deep inside you knew that the fear of losing
you knew that the fear of losing
you knew that the fear of losing something and allowance TV time would
something and allowance TV time would
something and allowance TV time would sway them into doing what it is you want
sway them into doing what it is you want
sway them into doing what it is you want it now hold on I don’t want to give
it now hold on I don’t want to give
it now hold on I don’t want to give anyone the impression that this kind of
anyone the impression that this kind of
anyone the impression that this kind of fear-based leadership is a bad thing
fear-based leadership is a bad thing
fear-based leadership is a bad thing it’s actually the kind of thing that
it’s actually the kind of thing that
it’s actually the kind of thing that keeps many of us on track but what
keeps many of us on track but what
keeps many of us on track but what happens when fear leads the way with bad
happens when fear leads the way with bad
happens when fear leads the way with bad intent towards the end of the 19th
intent towards the end of the 19th
intent towards the end of the 19th century and following the abolishment of
century and following the abolishment of
century and following the abolishment of slavery the perceived rise in the status
slavery the perceived rise in the status
slavery the perceived rise in the status of black Americans due to their skilled
of black Americans due to their skilled
of black Americans due to their skilled labor ability and newfound freedoms
labor ability and newfound freedoms
labor ability and newfound freedoms prompted many white Southerners in
prompted many white Southerners in
prompted many white Southerners in particular who previously profited from
particular who previously profited from
particular who previously profited from the system of slavery to grow
the system of slavery to grow
the system of slavery to grow increasingly worried that desegregating
increasingly worried that desegregating
increasingly worried that desegregating society holds a tremendous threat to
society holds a tremendous threat to
society holds a tremendous threat to their political and economic security so
their political and economic security so
their political and economic security so in response the southern Democratic
in response the southern Democratic
in response the southern Democratic Party developed an entire campaign
Party developed an entire campaign
Party developed an entire campaign around these concerns what they did was
around these concerns what they did was
around these concerns what they did was to explore exploit
to explore exploit
to explore exploit fear of some white Americans by leading
fear of some white Americans by leading
fear of some white Americans by leading a charge to develop what was called Jim
a charge to develop what was called Jim
a charge to develop what was called Jim Crow laws this was a kind of permissible
Crow laws this was a kind of permissible
Crow laws this was a kind of permissible institutionalized racism the purpose of
institutionalized racism the purpose of
institutionalized racism the purpose of these statues was explicitly to restrict
these statues was explicitly to restrict
these statues was explicitly to restrict the civil rights and liberties of black
the civil rights and liberties of black
the civil rights and liberties of black Americans
Americans
Americans beginning in the 1890s and for
beginning in the 1890s and for
beginning in the 1890s and for three-quarters of a century thereafter
three-quarters of a century thereafter
three-quarters of a century thereafter these disenfranchisement rules in our
these disenfranchisement rules in our
these disenfranchisement rules in our country ruled over almost every aspect
country ruled over almost every aspect
country ruled over almost every aspect of everyday life and they represented a
of everyday life and they represented a
of everyday life and they represented a type of racial apartheid led by
type of racial apartheid led by
type of racial apartheid led by supremacists during the post
supremacists during the post
supremacists during the post Reconstruction era by 1914 nearly every
Reconstruction era by 1914 nearly every
Reconstruction era by 1914 nearly every southern state had adopted these laws
southern state had adopted these laws
southern state had adopted these laws these laws effectively created one black
these laws effectively created one black
these laws effectively created one black and one weight white society you may
and one weight white society you may
and one weight white society you may have heard of it as separate but equal
have heard of it as separate but equal
have heard of it as separate but equal before and this stage or segregation of
before and this stage or segregation of
before and this stage or segregation of blacks from whites in the United States
blacks from whites in the United States
blacks from whites in the United States would not be ruled unconstitutional
would not be ruled unconstitutional
would not be ruled unconstitutional until 1964 with the Civil Rights Act of
until 1964 with the Civil Rights Act of
until 1964 with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and that basically said okay from
1964 and that basically said okay from
1964 and that basically said okay from here on out the unfair treatment on the
here on out the unfair treatment on the
here on out the unfair treatment on the basis of race color religion sex or
basis of race color religion sex or
basis of race color religion sex or national origin is no longer allowed but
national origin is no longer allowed but
national origin is no longer allowed but still this long enduring presence of Jim
still this long enduring presence of Jim
still this long enduring presence of Jim Crow in our country it manifested itself
Crow in our country it manifested itself
Crow in our country it manifested itself into something else today I think it’s
into something else today I think it’s
into something else today I think it’s represented in a new de facto inequality
represented in a new de facto inequality
represented in a new de facto inequality it’s evident in so many of our systems
it’s evident in so many of our systems
it’s evident in so many of our systems and institutions and it impacts
and institutions and it impacts
and institutions and it impacts different groups of people a recent Pew
different groups of people a recent Pew
different groups of people a recent Pew study found that 88% of African
study found that 88% of African
study found that 88% of African Americans in this country believe that
Americans in this country believe that
Americans in this country believe that they’ve yet to achieve equal rights
they’ve yet to achieve equal rights
they’ve yet to achieve equal rights nearly half of those believed they ever
nearly half of those believed they ever
nearly half of those believed they ever would while the spirit of Jim Crow is no
would while the spirit of Jim Crow is no
would while the spirit of Jim Crow is no longer riding around in white sheets or
longer riding around in white sheets or
longer riding around in white sheets or burning on a front lawn it’s now evident
burning on a front lawn it’s now evident
burning on a front lawn it’s now evident in every double standard alive and well
in every double standard alive and well
in every double standard alive and well at every social and political juncture
at every social and political juncture
at every social and political juncture and lying beneath every cold body
and lying beneath every cold body
and lying beneath every cold body outlined in white chalk behind a police
outlined in white chalk behind a police
outlined in white chalk behind a police line that they can’t cross in 1933 in
line that they can’t cross in 1933 in
line that they can’t cross in 1933 in another example of how dangerous it can
another example of how dangerous it can
another example of how dangerous it can be to allow fear to lead the appointment
be to allow fear to lead the appointment
be to allow fear to lead the appointment of an anti-semitic leader as the
of an anti-semitic leader as the
of an anti-semitic leader as the Chancellor of Jeremy Germany
Chancellor of Jeremy Germany
Chancellor of Jeremy Germany prompted the creation of the Nazi state
prompted the creation of the Nazi state
prompted the creation of the Nazi state and birth a dictator the primary purpose
and birth a dictator the primary purpose
and birth a dictator the primary purpose of the Nazi regime was to strip all
of the Nazi regime was to strip all
of the Nazi regime was to strip all basic human rights from Jewish people
basic human rights from Jewish people
basic human rights from Jewish people concentration camps were established and
concentration camps were established and
concentration camps were established and in addition the Chancellor ordered for
in addition the Chancellor ordered for
in addition the Chancellor ordered for the imprisonment execution and overall
the imprisonment execution and overall
the imprisonment execution and overall abolishment of homosexuals Jehovah’s
abolishment of homosexuals Jehovah’s
abolishment of homosexuals Jehovah’s Witnesses and anyone else deemed to be
Witnesses and anyone else deemed to be
Witnesses and anyone else deemed to be dangerous
dangerous
dangerous that Chancellor’s name as I’m sure you
that Chancellor’s name as I’m sure you
that Chancellor’s name as I’m sure you already know was Adolf Hitler Hitler
already know was Adolf Hitler Hitler
already know was Adolf Hitler Hitler believed that he could employ a series
believed that he could employ a series
believed that he could employ a series of tools one of them being fear to
of tools one of them being fear to
of tools one of them being fear to literally eradicate the Jews and protect
literally eradicate the Jews and protect
literally eradicate the Jews and protect racial purity for the Germans this
racial purity for the Germans this
racial purity for the Germans this tactic was most evident in his rhetoric
tactic was most evident in his rhetoric
tactic was most evident in his rhetoric and used in Nazi propaganda a man named
and used in Nazi propaganda a man named
and used in Nazi propaganda a man named Joseph Goebbels was Hitler’s chief
Joseph Goebbels was Hitler’s chief
Joseph Goebbels was Hitler’s chief minister of propaganda and he was pretty
minister of propaganda and he was pretty
minister of propaganda and he was pretty good at what he did in his role he used
good at what he did in his role he used
good at what he did in his role he used a sophisticated marketing campaign to
a sophisticated marketing campaign to
a sophisticated marketing campaign to demonize the enemies of the Nazi Party
demonize the enemies of the Nazi Party
demonize the enemies of the Nazi Party and inflate tensions between the Jews
and inflate tensions between the Jews
and inflate tensions between the Jews and the Nazis he did so primarily again
and the Nazis he did so primarily again
and the Nazis he did so primarily again by playing on people’s fears there was
by playing on people’s fears there was
by playing on people’s fears there was quite a bit of Institute instability and
quite a bit of Institute instability and
quite a bit of Institute instability and unrest in the country at that time
unrest in the country at that time
unrest in the country at that time so while Goebbels was assisting Hitler
so while Goebbels was assisting Hitler
so while Goebbels was assisting Hitler and his evil plan to eradicate an entire
and his evil plan to eradicate an entire
and his evil plan to eradicate an entire race of people Jewish families were
race of people Jewish families were
race of people Jewish families were separated Jewish people were forced into
separated Jewish people were forced into
separated Jewish people were forced into concentration camps and gas chambers
concentration camps and gas chambers
concentration camps and gas chambers were used to perform mass killings and
were used to perform mass killings and
were used to perform mass killings and other inhumane experiments in the end
other inhumane experiments in the end
other inhumane experiments in the end according to estimates published by the
according to estimates published by the
according to estimates published by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum up to six million Jews women children
up to six million Jews women children
up to six million Jews women children men were murdered today a civil war
men were murdered today a civil war
men were murdered today a civil war rooted in religious and political
rooted in religious and political
rooted in religious and political tensions and exasperated by the use of
tensions and exasperated by the use of
tensions and exasperated by the use of fear to both oppress and control those
fear to both oppress and control those
fear to both oppress and control those in opposition to the Syrian government
in opposition to the Syrian government
in opposition to the Syrian government has resulted in the death
has resulted in the death
has resulted in the death of more than 400,000 people since 2011
of more than 400,000 people since 2011
of more than 400,000 people since 2011 serious president has overseen a regime
serious president has overseen a regime
serious president has overseen a regime that carries out chemical weapon attacks
that carries out chemical weapon attacks
that carries out chemical weapon attacks bombs mosque schools and marketplaces
bombs mosque schools and marketplaces
bombs mosque schools and marketplaces and tortures Syrian citizens just this
and tortures Syrian citizens just this
and tortures Syrian citizens just this past week another chemical attack took
past week another chemical attack took
past week another chemical attack took place and it killed more than 80 people
place and it killed more than 80 people
place and it killed more than 80 people in response the United States launched a
in response the United States launched a
in response the United States launched a military airstrike on the site from
military airstrike on the site from
military airstrike on the site from which the chemical attack was believed
which the chemical attack was believed
which the chemical attack was believed to be launched this move to step in and
to be launched this move to step in and
to be launched this move to step in and show force was applauded by some people
show force was applauded by some people
show force was applauded by some people but others believed that it was in stark
but others believed that it was in stark
but others believed that it was in stark contrast to the current travel ban
contrast to the current travel ban
contrast to the current travel ban barring Syrian refugees from entering
barring Syrian refugees from entering
barring Syrian refugees from entering the United States to seek safety they
the United States to seek safety they
the United States to seek safety they asked the question how come as a country
asked the question how come as a country
asked the question how come as a country we have the courage to launch a missile
we have the courage to launch a missile
we have the courage to launch a missile attack but we remain afraid to build
attack but we remain afraid to build
attack but we remain afraid to build bridges and not walls you see the
bridges and not walls you see the
bridges and not walls you see the trouble with fear is this it is so
trouble with fear is this it is so
trouble with fear is this it is so pervasive that in the wrong hands it
pervasive that in the wrong hands it
pervasive that in the wrong hands it cannot be contained instead it is often
cannot be contained instead it is often
cannot be contained instead it is often manipulated and it spreads it can be
manipulated and it spreads it can be
manipulated and it spreads it can be dredged up and turned into a power that
dredged up and turned into a power that
dredged up and turned into a power that corrupts the moral compass of others in
corrupts the moral compass of others in
corrupts the moral compass of others in today’s American political climate this
today’s American political climate this
today’s American political climate this issue is on the rise and it’s dividing
issue is on the rise and it’s dividing
issue is on the rise and it’s dividing us we see leaders who exploit the
us we see leaders who exploit the
us we see leaders who exploit the concerns of everyday people for personal
concerns of everyday people for personal
concerns of everyday people for personal gain don’t get me wrong
gain don’t get me wrong
gain don’t get me wrong the things that keep us up at night all
the things that keep us up at night all
the things that keep us up at night all of us up at night do matter and we
of us up at night do matter and we
of us up at night do matter and we should be looking for leaders who speak
should be looking for leaders who speak
should be looking for leaders who speak directly to those issues issues like
directly to those issues issues like
directly to those issues issues like personal security border control
personal security border control
personal security border control economic justice education the
economic justice education the
economic justice education the environment those issues shouldn’t be
environment those issues shouldn’t be
environment those issues shouldn’t be ignored they are relevant and they are
ignored they are relevant and they are
ignored they are relevant and they are important but we all no matter what our
important but we all no matter what our
important but we all no matter what our political beliefs should be seeking
political beliefs should be seeking
political beliefs should be seeking leaders who are working toward
leaders who are working toward
leaders who are working toward solutions not working to incite fear we
solutions not working to incite fear we
solutions not working to incite fear we should be wary of leaders who seek to
should be wary of leaders who seek to
should be wary of leaders who seek to use our vulnerabilities to turn us
use our vulnerabilities to turn us
use our vulnerabilities to turn us against one another as a journalist my
against one another as a journalist my
against one another as a journalist my responsibility is to present the truth
responsibility is to present the truth
responsibility is to present the truth so that fear-based leadership doesn’t
so that fear-based leadership doesn’t
so that fear-based leadership doesn’t penetrate the public lately that’s been
penetrate the public lately that’s been
penetrate the public lately that’s been a hard job
a hard job
a hard job many of our political leaders use their
many of our political leaders use their
many of our political leaders use their platform to disassemble the facts shame
platform to disassemble the facts shame
platform to disassemble the facts shame the work of the media and control the
the work of the media and control the
the work of the media and control the narrative and that confuses people no
narrative and that confuses people no
narrative and that confuses people no matter how challenging it can be I think
matter how challenging it can be I think
matter how challenging it can be I think what I’m doing is really important and
what I’m doing is really important and
what I’m doing is really important and that’s because I want to live in a world
that’s because I want to live in a world
that’s because I want to live in a world where I can be a part of creating a new
where I can be a part of creating a new
where I can be a part of creating a new kind of leadership one where people
kind of leadership one where people
kind of leadership one where people don’t allow themselves to be led or
don’t allow themselves to be led or
don’t allow themselves to be led or paralyzed by trepidation one where we
paralyzed by trepidation one where we
paralyzed by trepidation one where we all practice self-awareness and shield
all practice self-awareness and shield
all practice self-awareness and shield ourselves from the forcefield of fear I
ourselves from the forcefield of fear I
ourselves from the forcefield of fear I realized that this work is really really
realized that this work is really really
realized that this work is really really worth it and so today I shared this
worth it and so today I shared this
worth it and so today I shared this little message hoping I could inspire a
little message hoping I could inspire a
little message hoping I could inspire a few of the next generations leaders like
few of the next generations leaders like
few of the next generations leaders like you and I thought there were three key
you and I thought there were three key
you and I thought there were three key takeaway points that could really drive
takeaway points that could really drive
takeaway points that could really drive my message home and you could use them
my message home and you could use them
my message home and you could use them as you walk out of this room the first
as you walk out of this room the first
as you walk out of this room the first charge I would give to you is to raise
charge I would give to you is to raise
charge I would give to you is to raise awareness around this issue that’s what
awareness around this issue that’s what
awareness around this issue that’s what we’re doing here today by having this
we’re doing here today by having this
we’re doing here today by having this TED talk but it shouldn’t stop here we
TED talk but it shouldn’t stop here we
TED talk but it shouldn’t stop here we should leave this room and take this
should leave this room and take this
should leave this room and take this conversation about fear-based leadership
conversation about fear-based leadership
conversation about fear-based leadership back onto our college campus into our
back onto our college campus into our
back onto our college campus into our classrooms bring it to the dinner table
classrooms bring it to the dinner table
classrooms bring it to the dinner table when you’re sitting around talking with
when you’re sitting around talking with
when you’re sitting around talking with your family next understand your role in
your family next understand your role in
your family next understand your role in it and this is tricky whether your role
it and this is tricky whether your role
it and this is tricky whether your role be as a leader or someone being led it’s
be as a leader or someone being led it’s
be as a leader or someone being led it’s really important to remain conscious and
really important to remain conscious and
really important to remain conscious and be the kind of person who inspires and
be the kind of person who inspires and
be the kind of person who inspires and motivates people with positivity and
motivates people with positivity and
motivates people with positivity and finally it’s really important that we
finally it’s really important that we
finally it’s really important that we all work to hold our current leaders
all work to hold our current leaders
all work to hold our current leaders accountable no matter what we believe
accountable no matter what we believe
accountable no matter what we believe leadership through fear has no place in
leadership through fear has no place in
leadership through fear has no place in our society we must challenge our
our society we must challenge our
our society we must challenge our leaders to turn fear into love trust and
leaders to turn fear into love trust and
leaders to turn fear into love trust and belief we should call out bias and
belief we should call out bias and
belief we should call out bias and dishonesty we should elect good moral
dishonesty we should elect good moral
dishonesty we should elect good moral people people who uphold the light just
people people who uphold the light just
people people who uphold the light just like the Jedi the reality is the
like the Jedi the reality is the
like the Jedi the reality is the consequences of not doing so are just
consequences of not doing so are just
consequences of not doing so are just too great
too great
too great history’s evidence is clear let’s start
history’s evidence is clear let’s start
history’s evidence is clear let’s start shaping a world that isn’t ruled by fear
shaping a world that isn’t ruled by fear
shaping a world that isn’t ruled by fear thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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