I have to tell you something I am NOT a good person most of the things I do are
good person most of the things I do are
good person most of the things I do are pretty selfish like one time I was in
pretty selfish like one time I was in
pretty selfish like one time I was in high school
high school
high school heating up this really good brownie in
heating up this really good brownie in
heating up this really good brownie in the microwave because who doesn’t love a
the microwave because who doesn’t love a
the microwave because who doesn’t love a warm brownie right the microwave beeps
warm brownie right the microwave beeps
warm brownie right the microwave beeps and by this time the whole kitchen just
and by this time the whole kitchen just
and by this time the whole kitchen just smells like rich rich chocolate I take
smells like rich rich chocolate I take
smells like rich rich chocolate I take the brownie out and it’s looking really
the brownie out and it’s looking really
the brownie out and it’s looking really good to me
good to me
good to me its moist rich decadent and hot enough
its moist rich decadent and hot enough
its moist rich decadent and hot enough so the chocolate chips are kind of
so the chocolate chips are kind of
so the chocolate chips are kind of melting but unfortunately I am NOT the
melting but unfortunately I am NOT the
melting but unfortunately I am NOT the only brunette brownie fanatic in my
only brunette brownie fanatic in my
only brunette brownie fanatic in my family I hear my little brother
family I hear my little brother
family I hear my little brother jemelle quickly open his bedroom door
jemelle quickly open his bedroom door
jemelle quickly open his bedroom door his footsteps are loud and Swift on the
his footsteps are loud and Swift on the
his footsteps are loud and Swift on the wooden floor I know for a fact that he
wooden floor I know for a fact that he
wooden floor I know for a fact that he smells my brownie and simply put I am
smells my brownie and simply put I am
smells my brownie and simply put I am not willing to share you don’t know
not willing to share you don’t know
not willing to share you don’t know Jamel he will inhale that brownie
Jamel he will inhale that brownie
Jamel he will inhale that brownie so before before you reaches me open the
so before before you reaches me open the
so before before you reaches me open the pantry and put the brownie on highest
pantry and put the brownie on highest
pantry and put the brownie on highest shelf Jamel is around eight at this time
shelf Jamel is around eight at this time
shelf Jamel is around eight at this time so you can’t possibly reach it so he
so you can’t possibly reach it so he
so you can’t possibly reach it so he walks in the kitchen he’s sniffing
walks in the kitchen he’s sniffing
walks in the kitchen he’s sniffing around like a bloodhound then he says
around like a bloodhound then he says
around like a bloodhound then he says hot day which means big sister in my
hot day which means big sister in my
hot day which means big sister in my language do you have chocolate but this
language do you have chocolate but this
language do you have chocolate but this time I had my phone out pretending like
time I had my phone out pretending like
time I had my phone out pretending like I was texting and I shrug no I I wish
I was texting and I shrug no I I wish
I was texting and I shrug no I I wish and then I waited for him to leave so
and then I waited for him to leave so
and then I waited for him to leave so yeah being a good person
yeah being a good person
yeah being a good person has never been instinctual for me but
has never been instinctual for me but
has never been instinctual for me but you know what is looking out for myself
you know what is looking out for myself
you know what is looking out for myself see I came to the u.s. from the
see I came to the u.s. from the
see I came to the u.s. from the Philippines when I was around 7 years
Philippines when I was around 7 years
Philippines when I was around 7 years old and after 15 years in America I
old and after 15 years in America I
old and after 15 years in America I learned to only focus on myself the
learned to only focus on myself the
learned to only focus on myself the music TV shows and lessons from school
music TV shows and lessons from school
music TV shows and lessons from school all taught me individualism and it’s so
all taught me individualism and it’s so
all taught me individualism and it’s so different from Filipino culture and how
different from Filipino culture and how
different from Filipino culture and how my parents and my older brothers were
my parents and my older brothers were
my parents and my older brothers were raised in the Philippines it was all
raised in the Philippines it was all
raised in the Philippines it was all about the collective whole the goal was
about the collective whole the goal was
about the collective whole the goal was to provide for your family the dream was
to provide for your family the dream was
to provide for your family the dream was to better everyone in the u.s. we seemed
to better everyone in the u.s. we seemed
to better everyone in the u.s. we seemed to only focus on bettering the self and
to only focus on bettering the self and
to only focus on bettering the self and only the self and that’s kind of been
only the self and that’s kind of been
only the self and that’s kind of been our end goal
our end goal
our end goal the one thing we spend our whole lives
the one thing we spend our whole lives
the one thing we spend our whole lives working for prosperity for the self is
working for prosperity for the self is
working for prosperity for the self is not what the American Dream is all about
not what the American Dream is all about
not what the American Dream is all about even in mainstream music the songs that
even in mainstream music the songs that
even in mainstream music the songs that are getting popular are all talking
are getting popular are all talking
are getting popular are all talking about the self statistically speaking
about the self statistically speaking
about the self statistically speaking songs released in recent years have more
songs released in recent years have more
songs released in recent years have more words with me and I in it than ever
words with me and I in it than ever
words with me and I in it than ever before according to dr. Nathan de Waal a
before according to dr. Nathan de Waal a
before according to dr. Nathan de Waal a psychology professor from the University
psychology professor from the University
psychology professor from the University of Kentucky
of Kentucky
of Kentucky basically he analyzed the increasing
basically he analyzed the increasing
basically he analyzed the increasing narcissism between modern popular songs
narcissism between modern popular songs
narcissism between modern popular songs and songs from the 70s
and songs from the 70s
and songs from the 70s in fact in this exact month in 1985 the
in fact in this exact month in 1985 the
in fact in this exact month in 1985 the number one song on the Billboard Top 100
number one song on the Billboard Top 100
number one song on the Billboard Top 100 was we are the world we are the world
was we are the world we are the world
was we are the world we are the world was a song a collaboration of artists
was a song a collaboration of artists
was a song a collaboration of artists and together in efforts to raise money
and together in efforts to raise money
and together in efforts to raise money for charity what’s one of the more
for charity what’s one of the more
for charity what’s one of the more popular songs of today all I can think
popular songs of today all I can think
popular songs of today all I can think of is star boy a song that flaunt
of is star boy a song that flaunt
of is star boy a song that flaunt self-centered success a norm for pop
self-centered success a norm for pop
self-centered success a norm for pop culture nowadays it seems as though
culture nowadays it seems as though
culture nowadays it seems as though mainstream music has gotten real
mainstream music has gotten real
mainstream music has gotten real individualistic but as is general
individualistic but as is general
individualistic but as is general society it seems as though we can’t do
society it seems as though we can’t do
society it seems as though we can’t do anything unless we get something out of
anything unless we get something out of
anything unless we get something out of it
it
it like when I’m driving on the freeway and
like when I’m driving on the freeway and
like when I’m driving on the freeway and the slow car ahead of me goes on my lane
the slow car ahead of me goes on my lane
the slow car ahead of me goes on my lane why should I let them get in front of me
why should I let them get in front of me
why should I let them get in front of me what’s in it for me like sharing the
what’s in it for me like sharing the
what’s in it for me like sharing the brandy with Jamal what’s in it for me
brandy with Jamal what’s in it for me
brandy with Jamal what’s in it for me especially as a 22 year old millennial
especially as a 22 year old millennial
especially as a 22 year old millennial the biggest question is what is in it
the biggest question is what is in it
the biggest question is what is in it for me we have this huge reputation for
for me we have this huge reputation for
for me we have this huge reputation for being the most self-centered generation
being the most self-centered generation
being the most self-centered generation and it’s not the most flattering but
and it’s not the most flattering but
and it’s not the most flattering but like I already said I am NOT a good
like I already said I am NOT a good
like I already said I am NOT a good person so let’s take the regular average
person so let’s take the regular average
person so let’s take the regular average person and their lifespan since we are
person and their lifespan since we are
person and their lifespan since we are on the topic of individualism let’s
on the topic of individualism let’s
on the topic of individualism let’s measure how much time we spend on the
measure how much time we spend on the
measure how much time we spend on the self according to the Bureau of Labor
self according to the Bureau of Labor
self according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics on average we live up to the
Statistics on average we live up to the
Statistics on average we live up to the age of 80 already we spend 33% of our
age of 80 already we spend 33% of our
age of 80 already we spend 33% of our lives sleeping that’s selfish you can’t
lives sleeping that’s selfish you can’t
lives sleeping that’s selfish you can’t help it and you need to sleep but still
help it and you need to sleep but still
help it and you need to sleep but still it only directly benefits yourself then
it only directly benefits yourself then
it only directly benefits yourself then we take five
we take five
we take five Mountain for eating another 5% out for
Mountain for eating another 5% out for
Mountain for eating another 5% out for driving we spent around 13% worth of our
driving we spent around 13% worth of our
driving we spent around 13% worth of our lives working assuming you work
lives working assuming you work
lives working assuming you work full-time already we’re less than half
full-time already we’re less than half
full-time already we’re less than half than what we started with now all we
than what we started with now all we
than what we started with now all we deducted was the mandatory selfish
deducted was the mandatory selfish
deducted was the mandatory selfish things we do every day but when you take
things we do every day but when you take
things we do every day but when you take into consideration all our hobbies all
into consideration all our hobbies all
into consideration all our hobbies all that times you’ve been binge watch on
that times you’ve been binge watch on
that times you’ve been binge watch on Netflix or scroll aimlessly down
Netflix or scroll aimlessly down
Netflix or scroll aimlessly down Facebook think about how much time you
Facebook think about how much time you
Facebook think about how much time you just invested in yourself where did all
just invested in yourself where did all
just invested in yourself where did all that time go see most people would
that time go see most people would
that time go see most people would invest in themselves but the thing with
invest in themselves but the thing with
invest in themselves but the thing with investing in yourself is that you don’t
investing in yourself is that you don’t
investing in yourself is that you don’t really see it grow okay I have nice
really see it grow okay I have nice
really see it grow okay I have nice clothes now what okay I have my degree
clothes now what okay I have my degree
clothes now what okay I have my degree now what okay I have a bunch of money in
now what okay I have a bunch of money in
now what okay I have a bunch of money in the bank and you call a house now what
the bank and you call a house now what
the bank and you call a house now what all of a sudden we’ve reached the end of
all of a sudden we’ve reached the end of
all of a sudden we’ve reached the end of our lives we’re down to our last percent
our lives we’re down to our last percent
our lives we’re down to our last percent we finally stop focusing on ourselves
we finally stop focusing on ourselves
we finally stop focusing on ourselves lift our chin look to the people around
lift our chin look to the people around
lift our chin look to the people around us and realize we live through all those
us and realize we live through all those
us and realize we live through all those years we spent all that money and now we
years we spent all that money and now we
years we spent all that money and now we have nothing to show for just material
have nothing to show for just material
have nothing to show for just material things that don’t even make you happy
things that don’t even make you happy
things that don’t even make you happy living a life the only focuses on
living a life the only focuses on
living a life the only focuses on yourself is probably the worst
yourself is probably the worst
yourself is probably the worst investment which is the difficult thing
investment which is the difficult thing
investment which is the difficult thing for an individualist like me to come to
for an individualist like me to come to
for an individualist like me to come to terms with you spend so much of your
terms with you spend so much of your
terms with you spend so much of your life trying to get more and you end up
life trying to get more and you end up
life trying to get more and you end up just getting less what’s the best
just getting less what’s the best
just getting less what’s the best investment altruism giving to others
investment altruism giving to others
investment altruism giving to others even if you are an individualist see you
even if you are an individualist see you
even if you are an individualist see you don’t have to be a good person to know
don’t have to be a good person to know
don’t have to be a good person to know that helping others has more of an
that helping others has more of an
that helping others has more of an impact than if you only help yourself
impact than if you only help yourself
impact than if you only help yourself when you dedicate your whole life
when you dedicate your whole life
when you dedicate your whole life achieving things for your own betterment
achieving things for your own betterment
achieving things for your own betterment that investment ends with you but when
that investment ends with you but when
that investment ends with you but when you extend your philanthropy it
you extend your philanthropy it
you extend your philanthropy it continues in the lives of others
continues in the lives of others
continues in the lives of others one day out of your busy life helping
one day out of your busy life helping
one day out of your busy life helping someone else can mean more to them than
someone else can mean more to them than
someone else can mean more to them than you can ever imagine so why don’t we do
you can ever imagine so why don’t we do
you can ever imagine so why don’t we do it
it
it why don’t we continually give to other
why don’t we continually give to other
why don’t we continually give to other people well there are a few
people well there are a few
people well there are a few psychological and sociological factors
psychological and sociological factors
psychological and sociological factors that get in the way there’s this concept
that get in the way there’s this concept
that get in the way there’s this concept by Rene Grinnell called just world
by Rene Grinnell called just world
by Rene Grinnell called just world theory just what theory is basically the
theory just what theory is basically the
theory just what theory is basically the belief that everything that happens to
belief that everything that happens to
belief that everything that happens to someone is deserved why should I give to
someone is deserved why should I give to
someone is deserved why should I give to the homeless if they worked harder in
the homeless if they worked harder in
the homeless if they worked harder in life they wouldn’t be in that situation
life they wouldn’t be in that situation
life they wouldn’t be in that situation why should I volunteer at a women’s
why should I volunteer at a women’s
why should I volunteer at a women’s shelter if they were in an abusive
shelter if they were in an abusive
shelter if they were in an abusive relationship why didn’t they just leave
relationship why didn’t they just leave
relationship why didn’t they just leave it’s these subconscious excuses that we
it’s these subconscious excuses that we
it’s these subconscious excuses that we make in order for us not to help other
make in order for us not to help other
make in order for us not to help other people it’s a lot easier for us to blame
people it’s a lot easier for us to blame
people it’s a lot easier for us to blame the person who was suffering in order
the person who was suffering in order
the person who was suffering in order for us to comfortably do nothing and we
for us to comfortably do nothing and we
for us to comfortably do nothing and we ignore the systemic problems associated
ignore the systemic problems associated
ignore the systemic problems associated to these situations like for
to these situations like for
to these situations like for homelessness we ignore the statistics
homelessness we ignore the statistics
homelessness we ignore the statistics according to the National Coalition for
according to the National Coalition for
according to the National Coalition for the homeless 20 to 25% of the American
the homeless 20 to 25% of the American
the homeless 20 to 25% of the American homeless population suffer from some
homeless population suffer from some
homeless population suffer from some form of severe mental illness so maybe
form of severe mental illness so maybe
form of severe mental illness so maybe just maybe people don’t deserve what
just maybe people don’t deserve what
just maybe people don’t deserve what happens to them people are lucky or
happens to them people are lucky or
happens to them people are lucky or unlucky because when you really think
unlucky because when you really think
unlucky because when you really think about it people are just equals we just
about it people are just equals we just
about it people are just equals we just put in unequal circumstances and that’s
put in unequal circumstances and that’s
put in unequal circumstances and that’s why it’s so important to help other
why it’s so important to help other
why it’s so important to help other people because it can easily be you
people because it can easily be you
people because it can easily be you who’s homeless who’s abused or in other
who’s homeless who’s abused or in other
who’s homeless who’s abused or in other unfortunate circumstances we’re just
unfortunate circumstances we’re just
unfortunate circumstances we’re just lucky that we weren’t put in those
lucky that we weren’t put in those
lucky that we weren’t put in those situations we need to give up that sense
situations we need to give up that sense
situations we need to give up that sense of entitlement as if everything good
of entitlement as if everything good
of entitlement as if everything good that happens to us is deserved give up
that happens to us is deserved give up
that happens to us is deserved give up that sense that we don’t have a duty to
that sense that we don’t have a duty to
that sense that we don’t have a duty to help others it’s our responsibility to
help others it’s our responsibility to
help others it’s our responsibility to recognize that we are all equals and
recognize that we are all equals and
recognize that we are all equals and that we have to lift others up who are
that we have to lift others up who are
that we have to lift others up who are in difficult situations and it’s not
in difficult situations and it’s not
in difficult situations and it’s not always going to be fun like I would much
always going to be fun like I would much
always going to be fun like I would much rather sleep in on a Sunday morning then
rather sleep in on a Sunday morning then
rather sleep in on a Sunday morning then to volunteer at a homeless shelter
to volunteer at a homeless shelter
to volunteer at a homeless shelter I’d much rather treat myself a a
I’d much rather treat myself a a
I’d much rather treat myself a a shopping spree than to donate and I
shopping spree than to donate and I
shopping spree than to donate and I admit I don’t always feel like doing
admit I don’t always feel like doing
admit I don’t always feel like doing community service but that’s the thing
community service but that’s the thing
community service but that’s the thing it’s not about how you feel it’s about
it’s not about how you feel it’s about
it’s not about how you feel it’s about what you do what they are entitled or
what you do what they are entitled or
what you do what they are entitled or not collectivist or individualist it’s
not collectivist or individualist it’s
not collectivist or individualist it’s not about whether you’re a good person
not about whether you’re a good person
not about whether you’re a good person or not it’s whether you take action
or not it’s whether you take action
or not it’s whether you take action that’s for the good back to the bounty
that’s for the good back to the bounty
that’s for the good back to the bounty story so Jamal is checking everywhere
story so Jamal is checking everywhere
story so Jamal is checking everywhere he’s checking the microwave all the
he’s checking the microwave all the
he’s checking the microwave all the shelves that he can reach but he finds
shelves that he can reach but he finds
shelves that he can reach but he finds nothing success I can finally eat my
nothing success I can finally eat my
nothing success I can finally eat my brownie and peace so he walks away and
brownie and peace so he walks away and
brownie and peace so he walks away and I’m watching him walk away but I knew I
I’m watching him walk away but I knew I
I’m watching him walk away but I knew I had to do the right thing so I sigh okay
had to do the right thing so I sigh okay
had to do the right thing so I sigh okay we can half the brownie but
we can half the brownie but
we can half the brownie but unfortunately Jamel and I have very
unfortunately Jamel and I have very
unfortunately Jamel and I have very different definitions of what half is
different definitions of what half is
different definitions of what half is because he ate almost all of it but I
because he ate almost all of it but I
because he ate almost all of it but I knew it was the right thing to do even
knew it was the right thing to do even
knew it was the right thing to do even though I didn’t technically feel like
though I didn’t technically feel like
though I didn’t technically feel like doing it but you don’t have to feel like
doing it but you don’t have to feel like
doing it but you don’t have to feel like doing something in order to take action
doing something in order to take action
doing something in order to take action I don’t feel like volunteering all the
I don’t feel like volunteering all the
I don’t feel like volunteering all the time or or donating I don’t feel like
time or or donating I don’t feel like
time or or donating I don’t feel like letting the red Prius on the 405 freeway
letting the red Prius on the 405 freeway
letting the red Prius on the 405 freeway get in my lane but I do it see it’s not
get in my lane but I do it see it’s not
get in my lane but I do it see it’s not about me it’s not about you it’s not
about me it’s not about you it’s not
about me it’s not about you it’s not about what’s in it for me it’s what’s in
about what’s in it for me it’s what’s in
about what’s in it for me it’s what’s in it for us
it for us
it for us it’s what’s in it for the people on Skid
it’s what’s in it for the people on Skid
it’s what’s in it for the people on Skid Row who are homeless who need food and
Row who are homeless who need food and
Row who are homeless who need food and shelter it’s what’s in it for the
shelter it’s what’s in it for the
shelter it’s what’s in it for the mentally ill who need support and not
mentally ill who need support and not
mentally ill who need support and not hateful ignorance it’s what’s in it for
hateful ignorance it’s what’s in it for
hateful ignorance it’s what’s in it for the cancer patients who need treatment
the cancer patients who need treatment
the cancer patients who need treatment there is absolutely no difference
there is absolutely no difference
there is absolutely no difference between you and the people who need your
between you and the people who need your
between you and the people who need your help and whether you’re a good person a
help and whether you’re a good person a
help and whether you’re a good person a bad person a collectivists and
bad person a collectivists and
bad person a collectivists and individualists we need to help each
individualists we need to help each
individualists we need to help each other out we need to realize that we
other out we need to realize that we
other out we need to realize that we won’t get anything done if we only focus
won’t get anything done if we only focus
won’t get anything done if we only focus on ourselves why we let other people
on ourselves why we let other people
on ourselves why we let other people struggle so let me challenge you on a
struggle so let me challenge you on a
struggle so let me challenge you on a little something invest in something
little something invest in something
little something invest in something other than yourself
other than yourself
other than yourself go on Facebook tonight and instead of
go on Facebook tonight and instead of
go on Facebook tonight and instead of just sharing that said article about
just sharing that said article about
just sharing that said article about homelessness or domestic abuse go
homelessness or domestic abuse go
homelessness or domestic abuse go research how you can help invest one day
research how you can help invest one day
research how you can help invest one day every month in charity even if it’s out
every month in charity even if it’s out
every month in charity even if it’s out of character or if it’s this community
of character or if it’s this community
of character or if it’s this community service isn’t your thing go out and take
service isn’t your thing go out and take
service isn’t your thing go out and take action and you’ll be surprised what a
action and you’ll be surprised what a
action and you’ll be surprised what a difference you’ll make you’ll feed the
difference you’ll make you’ll feed the
difference you’ll make you’ll feed the hungry you’ll make people who feel
hungry you’ll make people who feel
hungry you’ll make people who feel oppressed feel like a human again you’ll
oppressed feel like a human again you’ll
oppressed feel like a human again you’ll brighten days you’ll make a real
brighten days you’ll make a real
brighten days you’ll make a real positive difference and who knows you
positive difference and who knows you
positive difference and who knows you might even become a good person thank
might even become a good person thank
might even become a good person thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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