form again I’m going to ask you to consider two questions I wanted to
consider two questions I wanted to
consider two questions I wanted to listen and really think about them for
listen and really think about them for
listen and really think about them for the few minutes I’m here speaking in
the few minutes I’m here speaking in
the few minutes I’m here speaking in front of you and by the end of this talk
front of you and by the end of this talk
front of you and by the end of this talk hopefully you will have figured out the
hopefully you will have figured out the
hopefully you will have figured out the answer to them and maybe even changed
answer to them and maybe even changed
answer to them and maybe even changed your initial answers number one where
your initial answers number one where
your initial answers number one where are you from and why does it matter
are you from and why does it matter
are you from and why does it matter pause and really think about it
pause and really think about it
pause and really think about it hopefully for those of you who aren’t
hopefully for those of you who aren’t
hopefully for those of you who aren’t sure I’ll be able to enlighten you
sure I’ll be able to enlighten you
sure I’ll be able to enlighten you number two I want you to think about
number two I want you to think about
number two I want you to think about someone you know who’s from somewhere
someone you know who’s from somewhere
someone you know who’s from somewhere else than you maybe that’s another state
else than you maybe that’s another state
else than you maybe that’s another state maybe just across town maybe across an
maybe just across town maybe across an
maybe just across town maybe across an ocean now that you have that person in
ocean now that you have that person in
ocean now that you have that person in your mind does knowing where that person
your mind does knowing where that person
your mind does knowing where that person comes from change the way you see that
comes from change the way you see that
comes from change the way you see that person
person
person it shouldn’t or maybe it should because
it shouldn’t or maybe it should because
it shouldn’t or maybe it should because if he or she grew up somewhere different
if he or she grew up somewhere different
if he or she grew up somewhere different than you chances are he or she is
than you chances are he or she is
than you chances are he or she is different from you but at the same time
different from you but at the same time
different from you but at the same time you two know each other your lives are
you two know each other your lives are
you two know each other your lives are intertwined you may have a lot more in
intertwined you may have a lot more in
intertwined you may have a lot more in common than you may think
common than you may think
common than you may think I’m here to talk today about what it
I’m here to talk today about what it
I’m here to talk today about what it means to be a global citizen global
means to be a global citizen global
means to be a global citizen global citizenship is the zeitgeist of today
citizenship is the zeitgeist of today
citizenship is the zeitgeist of today whether you realize it or not
more so than previous generations before
more so than previous generations before us perceive ourselves as global not
us perceive ourselves as global not
us perceive ourselves as global not confined to one specific nation and not
confined to one specific nation and not
confined to one specific nation and not defined by one specific place so what is
defined by one specific place so what is
defined by one specific place so what is a global citizen I’ve learned a global
a global citizen I’ve learned a global
a global citizen I’ve learned a global citizen is defined as many things it’s
citizen is defined as many things it’s
citizen is defined as many things it’s someone who has an understanding of how
someone who has an understanding of how
someone who has an understanding of how the world works so he respects and
the world works so he respects and
the world works so he respects and values diversity someone who is willing
values diversity someone who is willing
values diversity someone who is willing to act to make the world a more
to act to make the world a more
to act to make the world a more equitable and sustainable place for me
equitable and sustainable place for me
equitable and sustainable place for me being a global citizen means being a
being a global citizen means being a
being a global citizen means being a worldly person someone who is
worldly person someone who is
worldly person someone who is open-minded open to new ideas or other
open-minded open to new ideas or other
open-minded open to new ideas or other ways of thinking some new concerns
ways of thinking some new concerns
ways of thinking some new concerns himself with the events of the world
himself with the events of the world
himself with the events of the world because of this feeling of being
because of this feeling of being
because of this feeling of being interconnected having been in a place
interconnected having been in a place
interconnected having been in a place only recently watching the people there
only recently watching the people there
only recently watching the people there live their daily lives perfectly
live their daily lives perfectly
live their daily lives perfectly normally one day then having a
normally one day then having a
normally one day then having a catastrophic event of terror or a
catastrophic event of terror or a
catastrophic event of terror or a natural disaster happened the next hurts
natural disaster happened the next hurts
natural disaster happened the next hurts on a personal level for me this sense of
on a personal level for me this sense of
on a personal level for me this sense of hurt came when I was in Nice just last
hurt came when I was in Nice just last
hurt came when I was in Nice just last summer my half-sister lives not more
summer my half-sister lives not more
summer my half-sister lives not more than 20 minutes from the city of nice in
than 20 minutes from the city of nice in
than 20 minutes from the city of nice in the small village of Manto rue when my
the small village of Manto rue when my
the small village of Manto rue when my family and I were staying
family and I were staying
family and I were staying we dined at a restaurant and the same
we dined at a restaurant and the same
we dined at a restaurant and the same port of nice just two nights before the
port of nice just two nights before the
port of nice just two nights before the attack on the CEO dead when I heard the
attack on the CEO dead when I heard the
attack on the CEO dead when I heard the news the morning after that there had
news the morning after that there had
news the morning after that there had been an attack resulting in the deaths
been an attack resulting in the deaths
been an attack resulting in the deaths of 86 innocent people of course I felt
of 86 innocent people of course I felt
of 86 innocent people of course I felt upset I was even angry the nice terror
upset I was even angry the nice terror
upset I was even angry the nice terror attack made me reflect on the world in
attack made me reflect on the world in
attack made me reflect on the world in which we live today and my place in it
which we live today and my place in it
which we live today and my place in it it made me realize the things that
it made me realize the things that
it made me realize the things that happen in the world aren’t just abstract
happen in the world aren’t just abstract
happen in the world aren’t just abstract things they’re real and they affect each
things they’re real and they affect each
things they’re real and they affect each and every one of us the night of the
and every one of us the night of the
and every one of us the night of the attack I sat at the dinner table with my
attack I sat at the dinner table with my
attack I sat at the dinner table with my whole family begging and pleading my
whole family begging and pleading my
whole family begging and pleading my parents to go to nice to watch the
parents to go to nice to watch the
parents to go to nice to watch the fireworks and celebrate that steal dead
fireworks and celebrate that steal dead
fireworks and celebrate that steal dead thankfully and lucky for me my parents
thankfully and lucky for me my parents
thankfully and lucky for me my parents were too tired to go after being there
were too tired to go after being there
were too tired to go after being there and seeing life moved the way it should
and seeing life moved the way it should
and seeing life moved the way it should and then suddenly seeing those same
and then suddenly seeing those same
and then suddenly seeing those same people crying and screaming and pain
people crying and screaming and pain
people crying and screaming and pain it’s gut-wrenching and you feel
it’s gut-wrenching and you feel
it’s gut-wrenching and you feel something perhaps it’s empathy but not
something perhaps it’s empathy but not
something perhaps it’s empathy but not for yourself being lucky rather it’s the
for yourself being lucky rather it’s the
for yourself being lucky rather it’s the feeling of understanding that some
feeling of understanding that some
feeling of understanding that some family suffered a meaningless loss of
family suffered a meaningless loss of
family suffered a meaningless loss of life that day and it could have just as
life that day and it could have just as
life that day and it could have just as easily been my family being in the wrong
easily been my family being in the wrong
easily been my family being in the wrong place at the wrong time that devastating
place at the wrong time that devastating
place at the wrong time that devastating attack really struck a chord with me it
attack really struck a chord with me it
attack really struck a chord with me it made me mull over how much is so very
made me mull over how much is so very
made me mull over how much is so very wrong with the world in which we live
wrong with the world in which we live
wrong with the world in which we live today yes this world is fraud but the
today yes this world is fraud but the
today yes this world is fraud but the solution to these problems is to embrace
solution to these problems is to embrace
solution to these problems is to embrace global citizenship to understand that
global citizenship to understand that
global citizenship to understand that what happens in Nice can happen and does
what happens in Nice can happen and does
what happens in Nice can happen and does happen elsewhere in the world on a much
happen elsewhere in the world on a much
happen elsewhere in the world on a much lighter note my partners in researching
lighter note my partners in researching
lighter note my partners in researching for this TEDx talk are Christian and
for this TEDx talk are Christian and
for this TEDx talk are Christian and Daniel both of whom are proponents of
Daniel both of whom are proponents of
Daniel both of whom are proponents of global citizenship there’s a three of us
global citizenship there’s a three of us
global citizenship there’s a three of us three typical teenagers perhaps more
three typical teenagers perhaps more
three typical teenagers perhaps more than typical truly stereotypical blonde
than typical truly stereotypical blonde
than typical truly stereotypical blonde blue-eyed white privilege prep school
blue-eyed white privilege prep school
blue-eyed white privilege prep school students but there’s more here than
students but there’s more here than
students but there’s more here than meets the eye
meets the eye
meets the eye we aren’t simply Americans we can pass
we aren’t simply Americans we can pass
we aren’t simply Americans we can pass as the poster children of global
as the poster children of global
as the poster children of global citizenship Christian Soderbergh grew up
citizenship Christian Soderbergh grew up
citizenship Christian Soderbergh grew up in Brazil speaking Portuguese as his
in Brazil speaking Portuguese as his
in Brazil speaking Portuguese as his first language he was brought up in a
first language he was brought up in a
first language he was brought up in a tight-knit family with strong family
tight-knit family with strong family
tight-knit family with strong family values behind him allowing him to see
values behind him allowing him to see
values behind him allowing him to see himself but had through and through
himself but had through and through
himself but had through and through native of Brazil but his christian began
native of Brazil but his christian began
native of Brazil but his christian began traveling to new places and learning of
traveling to new places and learning of
traveling to new places and learning of his father Swedish culture new
his father Swedish culture new
his father Swedish culture new influences began to change his views of
influences began to change his views of
influences began to change his views of himself and how he sees the world every
himself and how he sees the world every
himself and how he sees the world every day
day
day for Christian level citizenship means
for Christian level citizenship means
for Christian level citizenship means absorbing different cultures wherever
absorbing different cultures wherever
absorbing different cultures wherever you go going to new places and retaining
you go going to new places and retaining
you go going to new places and retaining just a small piece of that culture is
just a small piece of that culture is
just a small piece of that culture is how Christian finds himself identifying
how Christian finds himself identifying
how Christian finds himself identifying as a citizen of the globe rather than
as a citizen of the globe rather than
as a citizen of the globe rather than just a Brazilian on the complete other
just a Brazilian on the complete other
just a Brazilian on the complete other side of the world is Daniel a citizen of
side of the world is Daniel a citizen of
side of the world is Daniel a citizen of Russia who sees Russian culture as the
Russia who sees Russian culture as the
Russia who sees Russian culture as the frame to his now American lenses
frame to his now American lenses
frame to his now American lenses although he is forever open and
although he is forever open and
although he is forever open and optimistic like Americans tend to be he
optimistic like Americans tend to be he
optimistic like Americans tend to be he still adheres to the strict discipline
still adheres to the strict discipline
still adheres to the strict discipline and learn loyalty that Russian parents
and learn loyalty that Russian parents
and learn loyalty that Russian parents foster and their children so here we are
foster and their children so here we are
foster and their children so here we are three amigos
three amigos
three amigos born in different parts of the world we
born in different parts of the world we
born in different parts of the world we share the same core beliefs that while
share the same core beliefs that while
share the same core beliefs that while the United States may be our current
the United States may be our current
the United States may be our current home we still feel a part of just one
home we still feel a part of just one
home we still feel a part of just one other culture but of all the cultures
other culture but of all the cultures
other culture but of all the cultures we’ve come across through our travels
we’ve come across through our travels
we’ve come across through our travels and here we find ourselves in Fort
and here we find ourselves in Fort
and here we find ourselves in Fort Lauderdale so our paths have crossed at
Lauderdale so our paths have crossed at
Lauderdale so our paths have crossed at this very school with students from such
this very school with students from such
this very school with students from such diverse backgrounds where all we need to
diverse backgrounds where all we need to
diverse backgrounds where all we need to do in order to reach beyond our spheres
do in order to reach beyond our spheres
do in order to reach beyond our spheres of knowledge and understanding is to
of knowledge and understanding is to
of knowledge and understanding is to have a conversation a real conversation
have a conversation a real conversation
have a conversation a real conversation about life experiences which is the
about life experiences which is the
about life experiences which is the first step towards embracing global
first step towards embracing global
first step towards embracing global citizenship now you may be wondering why
citizenship now you may be wondering why
citizenship now you may be wondering why does an 18 year old high school student
does an 18 year old high school student
does an 18 year old high school student concern himself with global citizenship
concern himself with global citizenship
concern himself with global citizenship I’m aware of how fortunate I’ve been in
I’m aware of how fortunate I’ve been in
I’m aware of how fortunate I’ve been in my life and I say that with a sense of
my life and I say that with a sense of
my life and I say that with a sense of responsibility as the saying goes to
responsibility as the saying goes to
responsibility as the saying goes to whom much is given much is expected
whom much is given much is expected
whom much is given much is expected I’ve been fortunate enough to have
I’ve been fortunate enough to have
I’ve been fortunate enough to have traveled to 17 different countries and
traveled to 17 different countries and
traveled to 17 different countries and be fully exposed to the richness and
be fully exposed to the richness and
be fully exposed to the richness and diversity of each of these societies for
diversity of each of these societies for
diversity of each of these societies for me traveling when I’m not at school is
me traveling when I’m not at school is
me traveling when I’m not at school is the life I’m accustomed to and I know
the life I’m accustomed to and I know
the life I’m accustomed to and I know that may not be the norm for others for
that may not be the norm for others for
that may not be the norm for others for some traveling beyond our borders isn’t
some traveling beyond our borders isn’t
some traveling beyond our borders isn’t an option for others traveling beyond
an option for others traveling beyond
an option for others traveling beyond isn’t given much thought now more than
isn’t given much thought now more than
isn’t given much thought now more than ever the need for reaching Beyond
ever the need for reaching Beyond
ever the need for reaching Beyond Borders has become urgent the need to
Borders has become urgent the need to
Borders has become urgent the need to reach out to understand other points of
reach out to understand other points of
reach out to understand other points of view has become an existential matter
view has become an existential matter
view has become an existential matter from as young as I can remember I’ve
from as young as I can remember I’ve
from as young as I can remember I’ve always considered myself English I
always considered myself English I
always considered myself English I wasn’t born there but I’ve such close
wasn’t born there but I’ve such close
wasn’t born there but I’ve such close ties with the small town of pag in which
ties with the small town of pag in which
ties with the small town of pag in which I grew up in that besides my eyes
I grew up in that besides my eyes
I grew up in that besides my eyes slightly odd British accent at the time
slightly odd British accent at the time
slightly odd British accent at the time but is if I’d lived there my whole life
but is if I’d lived there my whole life
but is if I’d lived there my whole life in fact pagan was so small it doesn’t
in fact pagan was so small it doesn’t
in fact pagan was so small it doesn’t even appear on a zoomed-in map the
even appear on a zoomed-in map the
even appear on a zoomed-in map the southern portion of England it shows the
southern portion of England it shows the
southern portion of England it shows the nearest city ought to Regis regardless
nearest city ought to Regis regardless
nearest city ought to Regis regardless of size the feeling of being a part of
of size the feeling of being a part of
of size the feeling of being a part of something bigger
something bigger
something bigger rather than
rather than
rather than the outsider was the same impact as it
the outsider was the same impact as it
the outsider was the same impact as it would be when I returned to Boca Raton
would be when I returned to Boca Raton
would be when I returned to Boca Raton the population is almost 15 times larger
the population is almost 15 times larger
the population is almost 15 times larger that transition from England to Florida
that transition from England to Florida
that transition from England to Florida was extremely noticeable on the journey
was extremely noticeable on the journey
was extremely noticeable on the journey from one place to the other my accident
from one place to the other my accident
from one place to the other my accident would simply change on the journey home
would simply change on the journey home
would simply change on the journey home I would be totally and utterly
I would be totally and utterly
I would be totally and utterly Americanized by the time you reach the
Americanized by the time you reach the
Americanized by the time you reach the gate simply because of the people and
gate simply because of the people and
gate simply because of the people and the stories I was surrounded by on the
the stories I was surrounded by on the
the stories I was surrounded by on the flight there a specific time that I can
flight there a specific time that I can
flight there a specific time that I can recall this happening is around the age
recall this happening is around the age
recall this happening is around the age of four my mom and I arrived at Miami
of four my mom and I arrived at Miami
of four my mom and I arrived at Miami International Airport and when we got to
International Airport and when we got to
International Airport and when we got to passport control the customs officer
passport control the customs officer
passport control the customs officer asked how old are you young man with my
asked how old are you young man with my
asked how old are you young man with my most perfect British act and I said I’m
most perfect British act and I said I’m
most perfect British act and I said I’m four and a half the next day we then
four and a half the next day we then
four and a half the next day we then left Miami and flew to Atlanta and
left Miami and flew to Atlanta and
left Miami and flew to Atlanta and someone asked me a similar question at
someone asked me a similar question at
someone asked me a similar question at the gate there once again being the
the gate there once again being the
the gate there once again being the proud little four year old I was I
proud little four year old I was I
proud little four year old I was I replied I’m four and a half but this
replied I’m four and a half but this
replied I’m four and a half but this time in the southern accent you can
time in the southern accent you can
time in the southern accent you can possibly imagine this story may seem
possibly imagine this story may seem
possibly imagine this story may seem slightly off topic but it’s very
slightly off topic but it’s very
slightly off topic but it’s very relevant to the point I made earlier it
relevant to the point I made earlier it
relevant to the point I made earlier it shows that just from travelling across a
shows that just from travelling across a
shows that just from travelling across a border line and hearing a new accent my
border line and hearing a new accent my
border line and hearing a new accent my brain shifted into a totally different
brain shifted into a totally different
brain shifted into a totally different dialect in a way of behaving simply
dialect in a way of behaving simply
dialect in a way of behaving simply because I knew even at four that these
because I knew even at four that these
because I knew even at four that these were too drastically different cultures
were too drastically different cultures
were too drastically different cultures that I had already been assimilated to
that I had already been assimilated to
that I had already been assimilated to understand and replicate without even
understand and replicate without even
understand and replicate without even realizing psychology behind this
realizing psychology behind this
realizing psychology behind this phenomenon is called code switching code
phenomenon is called code switching code
phenomenon is called code switching code switching is when you were able to
switching is when you were able to
switching is when you were able to suddenly shift from one language to
suddenly shift from one language to
suddenly shift from one language to another in conversation consciously or
another in conversation consciously or
another in conversation consciously or subconsciously but this means
subconsciously but this means
subconsciously but this means essentially is that while talking to you
essentially is that while talking to you
essentially is that while talking to you right now if I was as long as I used to
right now if I was as long as I used to
right now if I was as long as I used to be I can start talking without even
be I can start talking without even
be I can start talking without even realizing something a certain word or
realizing something a certain word or
realizing something a certain word or thought I provoked me to slip into a
thought I provoked me to slip into a
thought I provoked me to slip into a British accent and we have speech which
British accent and we have speech which
British accent and we have speech which I’m sure most of you would find rather
I’m sure most of you would find rather
I’m sure most of you would find rather entertaining this is just one example of
entertaining this is just one example of
entertaining this is just one example of my personal experiences however as time
my personal experiences however as time
my personal experiences however as time passes by many more of these cross
passes by many more of these cross
passes by many more of these cross culture phenomena are starting to occur
culture phenomena are starting to occur
culture phenomena are starting to occur more frequently and on a much bigger
more frequently and on a much bigger
more frequently and on a much bigger scale just the other night I was lying
scale just the other night I was lying
scale just the other night I was lying in my bed listening to music and John
in my bed listening to music and John
in my bed listening to music and John Lennon’s Imagine started playing and for
Lennon’s Imagine started playing and for
Lennon’s Imagine started playing and for the first time I listened to the song
the first time I listened to the song
the first time I listened to the song and really took it to heart this song is
and really took it to heart this song is
and really took it to heart this song is one of the most instantly recognizable
one of the most instantly recognizable
one of the most instantly recognizable songs of all time and even after
songs of all time and even after
songs of all time and even after listening to it over a hundred times I
listening to it over a hundred times I
listening to it over a hundred times I finally fully understood the meaning of
finally fully understood the meaning of
finally fully understood the meaning of the lyrics and vision John Lennon was
the lyrics and vision John Lennon was
the lyrics and vision John Lennon was trying to convey the one verse that
trying to convey the one verse that
trying to convey the one verse that stuck in my mind was the following
stuck in my mind was the following
stuck in my mind was the following imagine there’s no countries it isn’t
imagine there’s no countries it isn’t
imagine there’s no countries it isn’t hard to do nothing to kill or die for
hard to do nothing to kill or die for
hard to do nothing to kill or die for and no religion too imagine all the
and no religion too imagine all the
and no religion too imagine all the people living life in peace
people living life in peace
people living life in peace well this verse is from 1971 it speaks
well this verse is from 1971 it speaks
well this verse is from 1971 it speaks to exactly what I’m trying to get across
to exactly what I’m trying to get across
to exactly what I’m trying to get across in this talk as well as directly to some
in this talk as well as directly to some
in this talk as well as directly to some of the conflicts we’re still
of the conflicts we’re still
of the conflicts we’re still encountering in today’s world if there
encountering in today’s world if there
encountering in today’s world if there were more people who weren’t concerned
were more people who weren’t concerned
were more people who weren’t concerned about where someone was from and instead
about where someone was from and instead
about where someone was from and instead we’re concerned with what pieces of
we’re concerned with what pieces of
we’re concerned with what pieces of their cultures they bring with them
their cultures they bring with them
their cultures they bring with them there would be nothing to kill for and
there would be nothing to kill for and
there would be nothing to kill for and everyone would live in peace after
everyone would live in peace after
everyone would live in peace after hearing all of this the solution to my
hearing all of this the solution to my
hearing all of this the solution to my question posed or posed earlier should
question posed or posed earlier should
question posed or posed earlier should seem pretty simple now were you or your
seem pretty simple now were you or your
seem pretty simple now were you or your friend or one of the thousands of people
friend or one of the thousands of people
friend or one of the thousands of people you’ll encounter in your lifetime
you’ll encounter in your lifetime
you’ll encounter in your lifetime i–from does matter because it makes
i–from does matter because it makes
i–from does matter because it makes each single human on earth different
each single human on earth different
each single human on earth different than the next but these differences are
than the next but these differences are
than the next but these differences are what we should be admiring and sharing
what we should be admiring and sharing
what we should be admiring and sharing with each other not what we should be
with each other not what we should be
with each other not what we should be fighting over thank you
fighting over thank you
fighting over thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] Oh
”
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