here in Hungary you are well aware that migration is one of the greatest
migration is one of the greatest
migration is one of the greatest challenges we face today more people are
challenges we face today more people are
challenges we face today more people are displaced than ever before over 65
displaced than ever before over 65
displaced than ever before over 65 million people that’s approximately the
million people that’s approximately the
million people that’s approximately the population of Hungary Austria and Poland
population of Hungary Austria and Poland
population of Hungary Austria and Poland combined when I was preparing for this
combined when I was preparing for this
combined when I was preparing for this talk I found something that might
talk I found something that might
talk I found something that might surprise you but I think this little guy
surprise you but I think this little guy
surprise you but I think this little guy has a relevant lesson because every
has a relevant lesson because every
has a relevant lesson because every penny I penalize Vonnegut technically in
penny I penalize Vonnegut technically in
penny I penalize Vonnegut technically in ecology 7 in cricket Casey at the fire
ecology 7 in cricket Casey at the fire
ecology 7 in cricket Casey at the fire Kristina / delta T bashed miss VJ attack
Kristina / delta T bashed miss VJ attack
Kristina / delta T bashed miss VJ attack hog linked the egg mash tank going Laura
hog linked the egg mash tank going Laura
hog linked the egg mash tank going Laura making magnifique
[Music]
[Music] your mother finish here Monica shrewish
your mother finish here Monica shrewish
your mother finish here Monica shrewish [Music]
[Music]
[Music] yeah don’t you eat that hey hey I
yeah don’t you eat that hey hey I
yeah don’t you eat that hey hey I mean horrible yeah man move on your
mean horrible yeah man move on your
mean horrible yeah man move on your way ash Michoacan Nevada shimamu
because I believe Okeechobee meknes
because I believe Okeechobee meknes vamos Hauraki mas today ahora yeah we
vamos Hauraki mas today ahora yeah we
vamos Hauraki mas today ahora yeah we all know how that story ends and luckily
all know how that story ends and luckily
all know how that story ends and luckily VOC makes the right decision so how is
VOC makes the right decision so how is
VOC makes the right decision so how is this relevant to the migration issue
this relevant to the migration issue
this relevant to the migration issue since biblical times and beyond humans
since biblical times and beyond humans
since biblical times and beyond humans have always migrated and it’s always
have always migrated and it’s always
have always migrated and it’s always been challenging up to now we have no
been challenging up to now we have no
been challenging up to now we have no easy answer so maybe we need to look for
easy answer so maybe we need to look for
easy answer so maybe we need to look for solutions in places that aren’t so
solutions in places that aren’t so
solutions in places that aren’t so obvious this is the lesson that Vogue
obvious this is the lesson that Vogue
obvious this is the lesson that Vogue teaches us when he decides to drive
teaches us when he decides to drive
teaches us when he decides to drive directly towards the noisy machines
directly towards the noisy machines
directly towards the noisy machines it feels counterintuitive but he had a
it feels counterintuitive but he had a
it feels counterintuitive but he had a hunch that the situation was more
hunch that the situation was more
hunch that the situation was more complex so he got closer to investigate
complex so he got closer to investigate
complex so he got closer to investigate and he realized that the farmers main
and he realized that the farmers main
and he realized that the farmers main goal was to harvest grain not to kill
goal was to harvest grain not to kill
goal was to harvest grain not to kill foxes then he took a leap of faith
foxes then he took a leap of faith
foxes then he took a leap of faith he shows us that expecting clear answers
he shows us that expecting clear answers
he shows us that expecting clear answers might not be the solution it might not
might not be the solution it might not
might not be the solution it might not even be possible instead maybe we need
even be possible instead maybe we need
even be possible instead maybe we need to redesign the process of seeking
to redesign the process of seeking
to redesign the process of seeking solutions a shift in strategy that calls
solutions a shift in strategy that calls
solutions a shift in strategy that calls us to realize the innate qualities that
us to realize the innate qualities that
us to realize the innate qualities that we all possess like strength courage
we all possess like strength courage
we all possess like strength courage hope faith resilience and even humility
hope faith resilience and even humility
hope faith resilience and even humility if we’re brave enough to face our fears
if we’re brave enough to face our fears
if we’re brave enough to face our fears head-on then we can challenge the
head-on then we can challenge the
head-on then we can challenge the assumptions that limit us from
assumptions that limit us from
assumptions that limit us from innovating forward stereotypes may or
innovating forward stereotypes may or
innovating forward stereotypes may or may not have elements of truth but for
may not have elements of truth but for
may not have elements of truth but for sure they’re incomplete how many of you
sure they’re incomplete how many of you
sure they’re incomplete how many of you are European what other labels can you
are European what other labels can you
are European what other labels can you use to identify yourself man-woman
use to identify yourself man-woman
use to identify yourself man-woman Christian Jewish Muslim black white
Christian Jewish Muslim black white
Christian Jewish Muslim black white brown gay does anyone feel comfortable
brown gay does anyone feel comfortable
brown gay does anyone feel comfortable defining their entire identity with just
defining their entire identity with just
defining their entire identity with just one label by labeling people we not only
one label by labeling people we not only
one label by labeling people we not only confined them to an incomplete identity
confined them to an incomplete identity
confined them to an incomplete identity but we limit ourselves we basically
but we limit ourselves we basically
but we limit ourselves we basically choose to make critical life decisions
choose to make critical life decisions
choose to make critical life decisions with limited information
with limited information
with limited information so maybe this is actually less about
so maybe this is actually less about
so maybe this is actually less about them and more about me and you and the
them and more about me and you and the
them and more about me and you and the choices that we make here we are today
choices that we make here we are today
choices that we make here we are today at a TEDx event instead of looking for
at a TEDx event instead of looking for
at a TEDx event instead of looking for differences between us you and I
differences between us you and I
differences between us you and I intentionally come together seeking new
intentionally come together seeking new
intentionally come together seeking new perspectives then we can innovate
perspectives then we can innovate
perspectives then we can innovate forward together you receive me with
forward together you receive me with
forward together you receive me with curiosity expecting that I have
curiosity expecting that I have
curiosity expecting that I have something valuable to contribute can you
something valuable to contribute can you
something valuable to contribute can you imagine a world where we apply that same
imagine a world where we apply that same
imagine a world where we apply that same sense of curiosity to everyone around us
sense of curiosity to everyone around us
sense of curiosity to everyone around us no matter what they look like or where
no matter what they look like or where
no matter what they look like or where they come from actually I come from the
they come from actually I come from the
they come from actually I come from the United States but my grandparents and my
United States but my grandparents and my
United States but my grandparents and my great-grandparents came from here
great-grandparents came from here
great-grandparents came from here Eastern Europe Russia Poland and Hungary
Eastern Europe Russia Poland and Hungary
Eastern Europe Russia Poland and Hungary they were Jewish refugees seeking to
they were Jewish refugees seeking to
they were Jewish refugees seeking to belong somewhere this is my
belong somewhere this is my
belong somewhere this is my great-grandfather Here I am a hundred
great-grandfather Here I am a hundred
great-grandfather Here I am a hundred years later living into the dream of
years later living into the dream of
years later living into the dream of freedom and opportunity given to me by a
freedom and opportunity given to me by a
freedom and opportunity given to me by a culture that welcomes my ancestors today
culture that welcomes my ancestors today
culture that welcomes my ancestors today in my role is an immigration lawyer I
in my role is an immigration lawyer I
in my role is an immigration lawyer I have the opportunity to welcome migrants
have the opportunity to welcome migrants
have the opportunity to welcome migrants and refugees from all over the world and
and refugees from all over the world and
and refugees from all over the world and I’ve learned over time that people
I’ve learned over time that people
I’ve learned over time that people generally migrate for three reasons
generally migrate for three reasons
generally migrate for three reasons refuge opportunity or love people like
refuge opportunity or love people like
refuge opportunity or love people like Esther and her family who fled political
Esther and her family who fled political
Esther and her family who fled political persecution in Haiti
persecution in Haiti
persecution in Haiti about ten years ago Esther had to learn
about ten years ago Esther had to learn
about ten years ago Esther had to learn English she worked her way through
English she worked her way through
English she worked her way through school and now she’s an award-winning
school and now she’s an award-winning
school and now she’s an award-winning nurse in Washington DC Alka had came
nurse in Washington DC Alka had came
nurse in Washington DC Alka had came from Iraq on a fellowship to do research
from Iraq on a fellowship to do research
from Iraq on a fellowship to do research at Johns Hopkins University and now he’s
at Johns Hopkins University and now he’s
at Johns Hopkins University and now he’s a globally recognized cancer research
a globally recognized cancer research
a globally recognized cancer research doctor and Marysol came from Mexico to
doctor and Marysol came from Mexico to
doctor and Marysol came from Mexico to join her husband she started a business
join her husband she started a business
join her husband she started a business she pays taxes they’ve earned enough
she pays taxes they’ve earned enough
she pays taxes they’ve earned enough money to buy a home and I don’t have her
money to buy a home and I don’t have her
money to buy a home and I don’t have her picture here because she doesn’t have
picture here because she doesn’t have
picture here because she doesn’t have legal status in the United States even
legal status in the United States even
legal status in the United States even though her kids are US citizens in 18
though her kids are US citizens in 18
though her kids are US citizens in 18 years I have never encountered anyone
years I have never encountered anyone
years I have never encountered anyone whose goal was to change their new home
whose goal was to change their new home
whose goal was to change their new home or to do anyone harm people are people
or to do anyone harm people are people
or to do anyone harm people are people we all just want to find someplace to
we all just want to find someplace to
we all just want to find someplace to belong and to realize our full human
belong and to realize our full human
belong and to realize our full human potential it’s far more likely that well
potential it’s far more likely that well
potential it’s far more likely that well thrive and contribute and even create
thrive and contribute and even create
thrive and contribute and even create opportunity for others in an environment
opportunity for others in an environment
opportunity for others in an environment where we feel a sense of belonging the
where we feel a sense of belonging the
where we feel a sense of belonging the United States has its own challenges
United States has its own challenges
United States has its own challenges with immigration as everybody knows but
with immigration as everybody knows but
with immigration as everybody knows but historically we have been a nation that
historically we have been a nation that
historically we have been a nation that welcomes migrants and refugees and today
welcomes migrants and refugees and today
welcomes migrants and refugees and today 25% of all US businesses are started by
25% of all US businesses are started by
25% of all US businesses are started by immigrants which is significant when you
immigrants which is significant when you
immigrants which is significant when you consider that only 13% of the u.s.
consider that only 13% of the u.s.
consider that only 13% of the u.s. population are migrants still migration
population are migrants still migration
population are migrants still migration is hard for everyone involved it’s hard
is hard for everyone involved it’s hard
is hard for everyone involved it’s hard for migrants and it’s hard for receiving
for migrants and it’s hard for receiving
for migrants and it’s hard for receiving communities especially when we’re
communities especially when we’re
communities especially when we’re talking about refugees people who are
talking about refugees people who are
talking about refugees people who are forcibly displaced from their homes
forcibly displaced from their homes
forcibly displaced from their homes neither refugees nor the receiving
neither refugees nor the receiving
neither refugees nor the receiving countries necessarily want to be in this
countries necessarily want to be in this
countries necessarily want to be in this position but here we are migration is a
position but here we are migration is a
position but here we are migration is a reality that we can’t ignore and it
reality that we can’t ignore and it
reality that we can’t ignore and it won’t go away 65 million people are not
won’t go away 65 million people are not
won’t go away 65 million people are not going to disappear when migration flows
going to disappear when migration flows
going to disappear when migration flows are so massive facts don’t really matter
are so massive facts don’t really matter
are so massive facts don’t really matter especially when the media and elected
especially when the media and elected
especially when the media and elected officials describe this humanitarian
officials describe this humanitarian
officials describe this humanitarian crisis as an invasion great they create
crisis as an invasion great they create
crisis as an invasion great they create more jobs than the average citizen but
more jobs than the average citizen but
more jobs than the average citizen but will they change our culture what are
will they change our culture what are
will they change our culture what are their values
their values
their values how will they challenge our identity
how will they challenge our identity
how will they challenge our identity these are all valid questions the
these are all valid questions the
these are all valid questions the migration issue cuts to the core of who
migration issue cuts to the core of who
migration issue cuts to the core of who we are it forces us to wrestle with
we are it forces us to wrestle with
we are it forces us to wrestle with uncertainty and the possibility of
uncertainty and the possibility of
uncertainty and the possibility of change this is an emotional issue and
change this is an emotional issue and
change this is an emotional issue and you can’t reason with emotions so what
you can’t reason with emotions so what
you can’t reason with emotions so what do we do well one option is to build
do we do well one option is to build
do we do well one option is to build walls or contain people and until we can
walls or contain people and until we can
walls or contain people and until we can figure out what to do with them but does
figure out what to do with them but does
figure out what to do with them but does that really work facts aside
that really work facts aside
that really work facts aside how do walls and containers make us feel
how do walls and containers make us feel
how do walls and containers make us feel it reminds me when I was a kid afraid of
it reminds me when I was a kid afraid of
it reminds me when I was a kid afraid of the dark
the dark
the dark hoping desperately that if I just pulled
hoping desperately that if I just pulled
hoping desperately that if I just pulled the sheets over my head I would be safe
the sheets over my head I would be safe
the sheets over my head I would be safe but that never worked because I still
but that never worked because I still
but that never worked because I still didn’t understand what was out there in
didn’t understand what was out there in
didn’t understand what was out there in the dark night I only felt safe trapped
the dark night I only felt safe trapped
the dark night I only felt safe trapped in my bed with the sheets pulled over my
in my bed with the sheets pulled over my
in my bed with the sheets pulled over my head walls and containers keep us
head walls and containers keep us
head walls and containers keep us trapped in a state of uncertainty
trapped in a state of uncertainty
trapped in a state of uncertainty uncertainty lingers in the unknown and
uncertainty lingers in the unknown and
uncertainty lingers in the unknown and that’s where fear breeds if we choose
that’s where fear breeds if we choose
that’s where fear breeds if we choose not to face our fears we basically
not to face our fears we basically
not to face our fears we basically choose to stay trapped in a state of
choose to stay trapped in a state of
choose to stay trapped in a state of uncertainty to make critical life
uncertainty to make critical life
uncertainty to make critical life decisions with limited information I
decisions with limited information I
decisions with limited information I deeply believe that the only way forward
deeply believe that the only way forward
deeply believe that the only way forward is to take that leap of faith like Vogue
is to take that leap of faith like Vogue
is to take that leap of faith like Vogue did we have to engage with each other
did we have to engage with each other
did we have to engage with each other until we pull the sheets off of our head
until we pull the sheets off of our head
until we pull the sheets off of our head and get to know what’s really out there
and get to know what’s really out there
and get to know what’s really out there we can’t even start to feel safe and
we can’t even start to feel safe and
we can’t even start to feel safe and secure so I was recently exploring this
secure so I was recently exploring this
secure so I was recently exploring this issue in the state of Kansas which is
issue in the state of Kansas which is
issue in the state of Kansas which is right in the middle of the United States
right in the middle of the United States
right in the middle of the United States we call this region the heartland Kansas
we call this region the heartland Kansas
we call this region the heartland Kansas is predominantly white Christian rural
is predominantly white Christian rural
is predominantly white Christian rural and politically conservative tight-knit
and politically conservative tight-knit
and politically conservative tight-knit friendly communities where most people
friendly communities where most people
friendly communities where most people know each other feel safe and have job
know each other feel safe and have job
know each other feel safe and have job security so navigating change in the
security so navigating change in the
security so navigating change in the form of new residents from countries and
form of new residents from countries and
form of new residents from countries and cultures that appear different is
cultures that appear different is
cultures that appear different is challenging we were talking through this
challenging we were talking through this
challenging we were talking through this at the local library and we
at the local library and we
at the local library and we intentionally included immigrants in the
intentionally included immigrants in the
intentionally included immigrants in the conversation at the end of the evening a
conversation at the end of the evening a
conversation at the end of the evening a white woman admitted that this is
white woman admitted that this is
white woman admitted that this is difficult and she wished she could meet
difficult and she wished she could meet
difficult and she wished she could meet someone Muslim to get to know them in
someone Muslim to get to know them in
someone Muslim to get to know them in person and better understand the culture
person and better understand the culture
person and better understand the culture dark-skinned women from India and the
dark-skinned women from India and the
dark-skinned women from India and the Philippines offered to host a dinner
Philippines offered to host a dinner
Philippines offered to host a dinner party both bragging to the great cooks
party both bragging to the great cooks
party both bragging to the great cooks by the end of the night people are
by the end of the night people are
by the end of the night people are laughing together and the conversation
laughing together and the conversation
laughing together and the conversation was so good that everybody went to the
was so good that everybody went to the
was so good that everybody went to the local bar when the library closed as I
local bar when the library closed as I
local bar when the library closed as I travel around the United States in the
travel around the United States in the
travel around the United States in the world I find the same thing everywhere
world I find the same thing everywhere
world I find the same thing everywhere when we shift from approaching people as
when we shift from approaching people as
when we shift from approaching people as a threat or a liability to the
a threat or a liability to the
a threat or a liability to the possibility that everybody has something
possibility that everybody has something
possibility that everybody has something valuable to contribute when we seek the
valuable to contribute when we seek the
valuable to contribute when we seek the best in people instead of expecting the
best in people instead of expecting the
best in people instead of expecting the worst something magic happens that’s the
worst something magic happens that’s the
worst something magic happens that’s the moment they cease to be other and that’s
moment they cease to be other and that’s
moment they cease to be other and that’s where hope is born everyone has a light
where hope is born everyone has a light
where hope is born everyone has a light inside
inside
inside just waiting to be discovered more than
just waiting to be discovered more than
just waiting to be discovered more than charity or sympathy people want the
charity or sympathy people want the
charity or sympathy people want the opportunity to shine their light and it
opportunity to shine their light and it
opportunity to shine their light and it only takes a spark to light the darkness
only takes a spark to light the darkness
only takes a spark to light the darkness that spark could be you or you might be
that spark could be you or you might be
that spark could be you or you might be surprised you might be the one sparked
surprised you might be the one sparked
surprised you might be the one sparked you know when I went to law school I
you know when I went to law school I
you know when I went to law school I thought of this as humanitarian work
thought of this as humanitarian work
thought of this as humanitarian work those people need help and I’ll feel
those people need help and I’ll feel
those people need help and I’ll feel good about myself if I can give them
good about myself if I can give them
good about myself if I can give them hope but over the years I’ve learned
hope but over the years I’ve learned
hope but over the years I’ve learned that migrants and refugees are neither
that migrants and refugees are neither
that migrants and refugees are neither helpless nor hopeless hope is the spark
helpless nor hopeless hope is the spark
helpless nor hopeless hope is the spark that drives people forward and hope is
that drives people forward and hope is
that drives people forward and hope is the gift that my clients give to me on a
the gift that my clients give to me on a
the gift that my clients give to me on a daily basis can you imagine being
daily basis can you imagine being
daily basis can you imagine being constantly surrounded by
constantly surrounded by
constantly surrounded by solutions-oriented people working hard
solutions-oriented people working hard
solutions-oriented people working hard to create a better life that’s the kind
to create a better life that’s the kind
to create a better life that’s the kind of environment that we cultivate when we
of environment that we cultivate when we
of environment that we cultivate when we invite people to shine their light and
invite people to shine their light and
invite people to shine their light and that kind of energy is contagious
that kind of energy is contagious
that kind of energy is contagious inspired people inspired people so the
inspired people inspired people so the
inspired people inspired people so the critical questions are how do you want
critical questions are how do you want
critical questions are how do you want to feel and what kind of environment do
to feel and what kind of environment do
to feel and what kind of environment do you want to cultivate that’s the big
you want to cultivate that’s the big
you want to cultivate that’s the big picture the city of Clarkston Georgia is
picture the city of Clarkston Georgia is
picture the city of Clarkston Georgia is an example of possibility the community
an example of possibility the community
an example of possibility the community has consciously decided to welcome
has consciously decided to welcome
has consciously decided to welcome migrants and refugees and now this
migrants and refugees and now this
migrants and refugees and now this historically white town is the most
historically white town is the most
historically white town is the most multicultural square mile in the whole
multicultural square mile in the whole
multicultural square mile in the whole United States they’ve struggled with
United States they’ve struggled with
United States they’ve struggled with changing demographics change is never
changing demographics change is never
changing demographics change is never easy but the local residents say that
easy but the local residents say that
easy but the local residents say that they feel more safe and secure and
they feel more safe and secure and
they feel more safe and secure and happier when they embrace their new
happier when they embrace their new
happier when they embrace their new neighbors sharing food and exploring the
neighbors sharing food and exploring the
neighbors sharing food and exploring the world through their own communities
world through their own communities
world through their own communities these pictures are from their annual
these pictures are from their annual
these pictures are from their annual culture festival and fun run which I had
culture festival and fun run which I had
culture festival and fun run which I had the opportunity to experience a few
the opportunity to experience a few
the opportunity to experience a few weeks ago white and black church
weeks ago white and black church
weeks ago white and black church ministries volunteering together with
ministries volunteering together with
ministries volunteering together with veiled Somali and Syrian refugees is not
veiled Somali and Syrian refugees is not
veiled Somali and Syrian refugees is not what you expect to find in the
what you expect to find in the
what you expect to find in the politically conservative American South
politically conservative American South
politically conservative American South but the people of Clarkston are happy to
but the people of Clarkston are happy to
but the people of Clarkston are happy to shatter the stereotypes
shatter the stereotypes
shatter the stereotypes they choose to cultivate an environment
they choose to cultivate an environment
they choose to cultivate an environment where everyone can win so with so much
where everyone can win so with so much
where everyone can win so with so much change and uncertainty in the world
change and uncertainty in the world
change and uncertainty in the world today we can’t afford to lose sight of
today we can’t afford to lose sight of
today we can’t afford to lose sight of the big picture we all want to feel safe
the big picture we all want to feel safe
the big picture we all want to feel safe and secure to be happy and to live in
and secure to be happy and to live in
and secure to be happy and to live in communities where everyone can thrive I
communities where everyone can thrive I
communities where everyone can thrive I invite you to shine your light and
invite you to shine your light and
invite you to shine your light and please let’s all seek to build community
please let’s all seek to build community
please let’s all seek to build community instead of building walls thank you
instead of building walls thank you
instead of building walls thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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