[Applause] Who am I this probably sounds like the
Who am I this probably sounds like the
Who am I this probably sounds like the kind of question that you might ask
kind of question that you might ask
kind of question that you might ask while lying on your psychiatrist’s couch
while lying on your psychiatrist’s couch
while lying on your psychiatrist’s couch actually though it’s a timeless question
actually though it’s a timeless question
actually though it’s a timeless question when I ask Who am I I’m really asking
when I ask Who am I I’m really asking
when I ask Who am I I’m really asking what is my circle and the very next
what is my circle and the very next
what is my circle and the very next question that follows from this is are
question that follows from this is are
question that follows from this is are you inside my circle or outside it now
you inside my circle or outside it now
you inside my circle or outside it now your answer says a lot about whether you
your answer says a lot about whether you
your answer says a lot about whether you may have a lot of enemies or whether
may have a lot of enemies or whether
may have a lot of enemies or whether you’re likely to live peaceably with
you’re likely to live peaceably with
you’re likely to live peaceably with friends putting the question another way
friends putting the question another way
friends putting the question another way who is us and who is them now I happen
who is us and who is them now I happen
who is us and who is them now I happen to come from a wasp background in the
to come from a wasp background in the
to come from a wasp background in the United States so as I grew up I was
United States so as I grew up I was
United States so as I grew up I was perhaps initially a little less attuned
perhaps initially a little less attuned
perhaps initially a little less attuned to perhaps questions of minority
to perhaps questions of minority
to perhaps questions of minority people’s cultures and languages but when
people’s cultures and languages but when
people’s cultures and languages but when I became a teenager I became fascinated
I became a teenager I became fascinated
I became a teenager I became fascinated with other cultures I wanted to travel
with other cultures I wanted to travel
with other cultures I wanted to travel live overseas learn languages and my job
live overseas learn languages and my job
live overseas learn languages and my job later on I was an intelligence officer
later on I was an intelligence officer
later on I was an intelligence officer took me and my family to live overseas
took me and my family to live overseas
took me and my family to live overseas in many different places over a
in many different places over a
in many different places over a considerable period of time and then
considerable period of time and then
considerable period of time and then multiculturalism entered our own family
multiculturalism entered our own family
multiculturalism entered our own family apart from our two biological daughters
apart from our two biological daughters
apart from our two biological daughters my wife and I adopted a one-year-old
my wife and I adopted a one-year-old
my wife and I adopted a one-year-old Korean orphan now we watched as he dealt
Korean orphan now we watched as he dealt
Korean orphan now we watched as he dealt with this question of identity and
with this question of identity and
with this question of identity and belonging
belonging
belonging over the years living with us all a
over the years living with us all a
over the years living with us all a while in very different places all
while in very different places all
while in very different places all around the world Luke
around the world Luke
around the world Luke sadly died of a drug overdose at age 21
sadly died of a drug overdose at age 21
sadly died of a drug overdose at age 21 these things
these things
these things sadly happened to many people I ended up
sadly happened to many people I ended up
sadly happened to many people I ended up writing a memoir about this but our time
writing a memoir about this but our time
writing a memoir about this but our time with him
with him
with him made us even more personally sensitive
made us even more personally sensitive
made us even more personally sensitive to questions of identity in daily life
to questions of identity in daily life
to questions of identity in daily life where we belong
where we belong
where we belong although I certainly wouldn’t want to
although I certainly wouldn’t want to
although I certainly wouldn’t want to suggest that identity issues have to
suggest that identity issues have to
suggest that identity issues have to lead to despair or to drugs but the
lead to despair or to drugs but the
lead to despair or to drugs but the question is still there for most of us
question is still there for most of us
question is still there for most of us we all have friends family who might be
we all have friends family who might be
we all have friends family who might be from minority backgrounds or different
from minority backgrounds or different
from minority backgrounds or different than we are but let’s go back to the
than we are but let’s go back to the
than we are but let’s go back to the beginning did cavemen cavemen sit around
beginning did cavemen cavemen sit around
beginning did cavemen cavemen sit around their fireplace and worry about this
their fireplace and worry about this
their fireplace and worry about this question of identity well yes in the
question of identity well yes in the
question of identity well yes in the sense they did they didn’t talk to
sense they did they didn’t talk to
sense they did they didn’t talk to psychiatrists about it no but they
psychiatrists about it no but they
psychiatrists about it no but they certainly knew who belonged and who
certainly knew who belonged and who
certainly knew who belonged and who didn’t was the next cave for example
didn’t was the next cave for example
didn’t was the next cave for example friendly and did it belong or what about
friendly and did it belong or what about
friendly and did it belong or what about the next five or ten caves away how far
the next five or ten caves away how far
the next five or ten caves away how far did you have to go to find unfriendly
did you have to go to find unfriendly
did you have to go to find unfriendly caves and why were they unfriendly yeah
caves and why were they unfriendly yeah
caves and why were they unfriendly yeah back then we might have fought over who
back then we might have fought over who
back then we might have fought over who got what portion of a mastodon that we
got what portion of a mastodon that we
got what portion of a mastodon that we had just haunted but even then there
had just haunted but even then there
had just haunted but even then there were those who were we were willing to
were those who were we were willing to
were those who were we were willing to work with peaceably and others we viewed
work with peaceably and others we viewed
work with peaceably and others we viewed flat out as enemies who we couldn’t get
flat out as enemies who we couldn’t get
flat out as enemies who we couldn’t get along with so the question of who do we
along with so the question of who do we
along with so the question of who do we belong to becomes very fundamental you
belong to becomes very fundamental you
belong to becomes very fundamental you know it’s interesting that among many
know it’s interesting that among many
know it’s interesting that among many Aboriginal peoples with very ancient
Aboriginal peoples with very ancient
Aboriginal peoples with very ancient cultures like Navajo in the American
cultures like Navajo in the American
cultures like Navajo in the American Southwest or Kwakiutl in in North
Southwest or Kwakiutl in in North
Southwest or Kwakiutl in in North Western Canada and for these people the
Western Canada and for these people the
Western Canada and for these people the word for their own peoples is simply the
word for their own peoples is simply the
word for their own peoples is simply the people now if you weren’t one of the
people now if you weren’t one of the
people now if you weren’t one of the people you were obviously something else
people you were obviously something else
people you were obviously something else and possibly something even threatening
and possibly something even threatening
and possibly something even threatening that makes again who am i a very
that makes again who am i a very
that makes again who am i a very important question so who do we include
important question so who do we include
important question so who do we include then and who do we exclude from our
then and who do we exclude from our
then and who do we exclude from our group
group
group I’m not just talking about our own
I’m not just talking about our own
I’m not just talking about our own communities this is actually a global
communities this is actually a global
communities this is actually a global issue and so let me get a little more
issue and so let me get a little more
issue and so let me get a little more specific for clarity’s sake let’s take
specific for clarity’s sake let’s take
specific for clarity’s sake let’s take the case of Iraq by now sadly familiar
the case of Iraq by now sadly familiar
the case of Iraq by now sadly familiar to all of us to watching events over the
to all of us to watching events over the
to all of us to watching events over the years on this on the TV screen
years on this on the TV screen
years on this on the TV screen the country is suffered terribly in the
the country is suffered terribly in the
the country is suffered terribly in the last two decades and is still undergoing
last two decades and is still undergoing
last two decades and is still undergoing serious identity crises and struggles
serious identity crises and struggles
serious identity crises and struggles but you know when we use the word
but you know when we use the word
but you know when we use the word identity this isn’t just one thing it’s
identity this isn’t just one thing it’s
identity this isn’t just one thing it’s a complicated thing in reality we all
a complicated thing in reality we all
a complicated thing in reality we all have multiple identities gender for
have multiple identities gender for
have multiple identities gender for example is one of the most basic ones in
example is one of the most basic ones in
example is one of the most basic ones in our everyday lives and then there’s
our everyday lives and then there’s
our everyday lives and then there’s ethnic difference what ethnic group do
ethnic difference what ethnic group do
ethnic difference what ethnic group do we belong to many of us are increasingly
we belong to many of us are increasingly
we belong to many of us are increasingly ethnically mixed and then there’s
ethnically mixed and then there’s
ethnically mixed and then there’s linguistic you might belong to one
linguistic you might belong to one
linguistic you might belong to one language or ethnic group but end up
language or ethnic group but end up
language or ethnic group but end up speaking another language and then
speaking another language and then
speaking another language and then there’s regional what region do you come
there’s regional what region do you come
there’s regional what region do you come from and how much do people from that
from and how much do people from that
from and how much do people from that region have a strong sense of belonging
region have a strong sense of belonging
region have a strong sense of belonging against others on the outside think
against others on the outside think
against others on the outside think Texas think of northern versus southern
Texas think of northern versus southern
Texas think of northern versus southern China or even northern versus southern
China or even northern versus southern
China or even northern versus southern Italy and then there’s religion in the
Italy and then there’s religion in the
Italy and then there’s religion in the Middle East for several thousands of
Middle East for several thousands of
Middle East for several thousands of years people organize their communities
years people organize their communities
years people organize their communities on religious basis rather than on ethnic
on religious basis rather than on ethnic
on religious basis rather than on ethnic or linguistic basis now in principle one
or linguistic basis now in principle one
or linguistic basis now in principle one system can work just as well as the
system can work just as well as the
system can work just as well as the other it’s all about how tolerant you
other it’s all about how tolerant you
other it’s all about how tolerant you are within that particular system and
are within that particular system and
are within that particular system and then there’s political identity in
then there’s political identity in
then there’s political identity in America are you a Democrat or a
America are you a Democrat or a
America are you a Democrat or a Republican where these days red or blue
Republican where these days red or blue
Republican where these days red or blue in the UK are you a Tory or a socialist
in the UK are you a Tory or a socialist
in the UK are you a Tory or a socialist or something else do you identify
or something else do you identify
or something else do you identify personally as a liberal or conservative
personally as a liberal or conservative
personally as a liberal or conservative globally and then we even have
globally and then we even have
globally and then we even have national identity at our class are you
national identity at our class are you
national identity at our class are you from more from a blue-collar class to
from more from a blue-collar class to
from more from a blue-collar class to use a old-fashioned term or are you
use a old-fashioned term or are you
use a old-fashioned term or are you white-collar are you to university
white-collar are you to university
white-collar are you to university educated for Karl Marx class was the
educated for Karl Marx class was the
educated for Karl Marx class was the ultimate mean meaningful identity issue
ultimate mean meaningful identity issue
ultimate mean meaningful identity issue and even music and culture what cultural
and even music and culture what cultural
and even music and culture what cultural tribe do you belong to if you’re my age
tribe do you belong to if you’re my age
tribe do you belong to if you’re my age did you get off on Grateful Dead or
did you get off on Grateful Dead or
did you get off on Grateful Dead or today do you go to Radiohead concerts
today do you go to Radiohead concerts
today do you go to Radiohead concerts and what sports tribe do you belong to
and what sports tribe do you belong to
and what sports tribe do you belong to in some countries that question can lead
in some countries that question can lead
in some countries that question can lead to street riots now some of these
to street riots now some of these
to street riots now some of these identity elements we can easily change
identity elements we can easily change
identity elements we can easily change we can change what team we root for we
we can change what team we root for we
we can change what team we root for we can change our musical tastes we can
can change our musical tastes we can
can change our musical tastes we can seek higher education we can change our
seek higher education we can change our
seek higher education we can change our profession we can move from one part of
profession we can move from one part of
profession we can move from one part of the country to another even emigrate to
the country to another even emigrate to
the country to another even emigrate to another country but it’s harder to
another country but it’s harder to
another country but it’s harder to change our ethnicity and skin colour and
change our ethnicity and skin colour and
change our ethnicity and skin colour and facial appearance are with us forever
facial appearance are with us forever
facial appearance are with us forever and then comes the harshest aspect of
and then comes the harshest aspect of
and then comes the harshest aspect of this identity question of all because
this identity question of all because
this identity question of all because our identity it isn’t just what we think
our identity it isn’t just what we think
our identity it isn’t just what we think we are we can decide who we are we can
we are we can decide who we are we can
we are we can decide who we are we can cling to that identity but unfortunately
cling to that identity but unfortunately
cling to that identity but unfortunately it’s a two-way street I I may think I
it’s a two-way street I I may think I
it’s a two-way street I I may think I know who I am but you may think I’m a
know who I am but you may think I’m a
know who I am but you may think I’m a different person you may see me in a
different person you may see me in a
different person you may see me in a different light and that those two views
different light and that those two views
different light and that those two views may not agree for example sadly some
may not agree for example sadly some
may not agree for example sadly some Americans argue now about who is a real
Americans argue now about who is a real
Americans argue now about who is a real American and that causes real trouble
American and that causes real trouble
American and that causes real trouble and sometimes questions like this can
and sometimes questions like this can
and sometimes questions like this can cause even life or death consequences
cause even life or death consequences
cause even life or death consequences for example a terrible genocide took
for example a terrible genocide took
for example a terrible genocide took place in Rwanda in 1994 between Hutu and
place in Rwanda in 1994 between Hutu and
place in Rwanda in 1994 between Hutu and Tutsi people yes the differences between
Tutsi people yes the differences between
Tutsi people yes the differences between the two – and the Tutsi were in
the two – and the Tutsi were in
the two – and the Tutsi were in like or linguistic or even religious
like or linguistic or even religious
like or linguistic or even religious terms were really rather slight so who
terms were really rather slight so who
terms were really rather slight so who was us and who was them at that time and
was us and who was them at that time and
was us and who was them at that time and 1 million people ended up being
1 million people ended up being
1 million people ended up being slaughtered as a result or take a rock I
slaughtered as a result or take a rock I
slaughtered as a result or take a rock I may say I’m Iraqi but another Iraqi may
may say I’m Iraqi but another Iraqi may
may say I’m Iraqi but another Iraqi may say no your occurred even if I’m an
say no your occurred even if I’m an
say no your occurred even if I’m an Iraqi citizen yet another Iraqi may
Iraqi citizen yet another Iraqi may
Iraqi citizen yet another Iraqi may focus on whether I’m Shiite or Sunni for
focus on whether I’m Shiite or Sunni for
focus on whether I’m Shiite or Sunni for them that is the most important
them that is the most important
them that is the most important designation not what my passport says or
designation not what my passport says or
designation not what my passport says or take the tragic case of Nazi Germany
take the tragic case of Nazi Germany
take the tragic case of Nazi Germany look how quickly here situations can
look how quickly here situations can
look how quickly here situations can change in 1922 if we had asked the
change in 1922 if we had asked the
change in 1922 if we had asked the German Jew on the street who are you and
German Jew on the street who are you and
German Jew on the street who are you and remember in 1992 we’re talking about the
remember in 1992 we’re talking about the
remember in 1992 we’re talking about the German Weimar Republic democratic
German Weimar Republic democratic
German Weimar Republic democratic liberal if we were to ask that you on
liberal if we were to ask that you on
liberal if we were to ask that you on the street in 1922 who are you he or she
the street in 1922 who are you he or she
the street in 1922 who are you he or she might have answered well I’m a German I
might have answered well I’m a German I
might have answered well I’m a German I am A Berliner I teach it to file a new
am A Berliner I teach it to file a new
am A Berliner I teach it to file a new verse eat ate I’m a Jew I’m a professor
verse eat ate I’m a Jew I’m a professor
verse eat ate I’m a Jew I’m a professor of psychology I grew up in Heidelberg
of psychology I grew up in Heidelberg
of psychology I grew up in Heidelberg I’m a socialist
I’m a socialist
I’m a socialist I’m a serious tennis player and I play
I’m a serious tennis player and I play
I’m a serious tennis player and I play oboe and our local symphony now let’s
oboe and our local symphony now let’s
oboe and our local symphony now let’s take that same person 15 years later
take that same person 15 years later
take that same person 15 years later when Hitler’s Nazi Party had come to
when Hitler’s Nazi Party had come to
when Hitler’s Nazi Party had come to full power if you ask that person then
full power if you ask that person then
full power if you ask that person then who are you there was only one answer
who are you there was only one answer
who are you there was only one answer that meant anything to the authorities
that meant anything to the authorities
that meant anything to the authorities the Jewish identity was all that
the Jewish identity was all that
the Jewish identity was all that mattered and that usually had fatal
mattered and that usually had fatal
mattered and that usually had fatal consequences same country same people
consequences same country same people
consequences same country same people different circumstances I wrote a book
different circumstances I wrote a book
different circumstances I wrote a book some years back on Arab Shiites along
some years back on Arab Shiites along
some years back on Arab Shiites along with an Iraqi American woman whose
with an Iraqi American woman whose
with an Iraqi American woman whose father happened to be Shiite and her
father happened to be Shiite and her
father happened to be Shiite and her mother was something this was
mother was something this was
mother was something this was commonplace in the Iraq in the
commonplace in the Iraq in the
commonplace in the Iraq in the these but after the chaos following the
these but after the chaos following the
these but after the chaos following the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 the place
US invasion of Iraq in 2003 the place
US invasion of Iraq in 2003 the place fell apart a mixed marriage like that
fell apart a mixed marriage like that
fell apart a mixed marriage like that then really became unthinkable indeed
then really became unthinkable indeed
then really became unthinkable indeed mixed neighborhoods became unthinkable
mixed neighborhoods became unthinkable
mixed neighborhoods became unthinkable so your sectarian identity often for you
so your sectarian identity often for you
so your sectarian identity often for you came to mean life or death and others
came to mean life or death and others
came to mean life or death and others impose that on you for many black people
impose that on you for many black people
impose that on you for many black people the question of color may be at the top
the question of color may be at the top
the question of color may be at the top of their identity concerns but it’s not
of their identity concerns but it’s not
of their identity concerns but it’s not because they want it to be among
because they want it to be among
because they want it to be among themselves it isn’t the key criterion
themselves it isn’t the key criterion
themselves it isn’t the key criterion but for some other people color is a key
but for some other people color is a key
but for some other people color is a key issue and this isn’t only about
issue and this isn’t only about
issue and this isn’t only about prejudice we’re also talking about power
prejudice we’re also talking about power
prejudice we’re also talking about power so there it is we can’t always control
so there it is we can’t always control
so there it is we can’t always control what we claim our identity is if others
what we claim our identity is if others
what we claim our identity is if others don’t see it that way but what’s
don’t see it that way but what’s
don’t see it that way but what’s striking are all in all of this is how
striking are all in all of this is how
striking are all in all of this is how fast these identity issues can get right
fast these identity issues can get right
fast these identity issues can get right down to the ugly gut level and times of
down to the ugly gut level and times of
down to the ugly gut level and times of crisis are what throws this all right
crisis are what throws this all right
crisis are what throws this all right out on the table out on the floor in
out on the table out on the floor in
out on the table out on the floor in front of us when things go bad political
front of us when things go bad political
front of us when things go bad political or social on evil upheaval revolution
or social on evil upheaval revolution
or social on evil upheaval revolution war riots anything that destroys the
war riots anything that destroys the
war riots anything that destroys the formerly established order then identity
formerly established order then identity
formerly established order then identity becomes deeply fundamental when things
becomes deeply fundamental when things
becomes deeply fundamental when things go bad like this you find who what your
go bad like this you find who what your
go bad like this you find who what your gut identity is have you ever wondered
gut identity is have you ever wondered
gut identity is have you ever wondered why we hear so much about tribalism or
why we hear so much about tribalism or
why we hear so much about tribalism or clans or sectarian groups right down in
clans or sectarian groups right down in
clans or sectarian groups right down in Iraq it’s because the government and the
Iraq it’s because the government and the
Iraq it’s because the government and the infrastructure and the social order were
infrastructure and the social order were
infrastructure and the social order were destroyed society then turns into a
destroyed society then turns into a
destroyed society then turns into a jungle of survival and at that point
jungle of survival and at that point
jungle of survival and at that point your identity becomes totally focused on
your identity becomes totally focused on
your identity becomes totally focused on your own personal security and the
your own personal security and the
your own personal security and the security of your family why wouldn’t it
security of your family why wouldn’t it
security of your family why wouldn’t it weird where’d you go and tie
weird where’d you go and tie
weird where’d you go and tie of deep trouble like this who-who will
of deep trouble like this who-who will
of deep trouble like this who-who will take you in
take you in
take you in who will acknowledge you as one of their
who will acknowledge you as one of their
who will acknowledge you as one of their own who will protect you feed you give
own who will protect you feed you give
own who will protect you feed you give you a gun fight for your cause it can
you a gun fight for your cause it can
you a gun fight for your cause it can get pretty raw and fundamental and at
get pretty raw and fundamental and at
get pretty raw and fundamental and at that point you’ve come to know that your
that point you’ve come to know that your
that point you’ve come to know that your government isn’t going to defend you if
government isn’t going to defend you if
government isn’t going to defend you if it ever did but your tribe will so can
it ever did but your tribe will so can
it ever did but your tribe will so can we find some more positive thoughts and
we find some more positive thoughts and
we find some more positive thoughts and all of this yeah I think the more
all of this yeah I think the more
all of this yeah I think the more heartening aspect is that things can
heartening aspect is that things can
heartening aspect is that things can change
change
change chaos war and violence create of course
chaos war and violence create of course
chaos war and violence create of course the harshest interpretations of who we
the harshest interpretations of who we
the harshest interpretations of who we are but when conditions are fairly
are but when conditions are fairly
are but when conditions are fairly decent stable safe our perceptions of
decent stable safe our perceptions of
decent stable safe our perceptions of ourselves and others can change if I
ourselves and others can change if I
ourselves and others can change if I feel more comfortable safer than I feel
feel more comfortable safer than I feel
feel more comfortable safer than I feel less suspicious and more relaxed I can
less suspicious and more relaxed I can
less suspicious and more relaxed I can be more generous and open maybe I can
be more generous and open maybe I can
be more generous and open maybe I can develop a broader outlook again maybe
develop a broader outlook again maybe
develop a broader outlook again maybe that’s when I decide that yes we’re all
that’s when I decide that yes we’re all
that’s when I decide that yes we’re all Iraqis or Rwandan stew gether or I can
Iraqis or Rwandan stew gether or I can
Iraqis or Rwandan stew gether or I can maybe think bigger that we’re all Middle
maybe think bigger that we’re all Middle
maybe think bigger that we’re all Middle Easterners or we’re all Europeans or
Easterners or we’re all Europeans or
Easterners or we’re all Europeans or were all Africans together or maybe just
were all Africans together or maybe just
were all Africans together or maybe just humans together but even then have we
humans together but even then have we
humans together but even then have we noticed how similar individuals can
noticed how similar individuals can
noticed how similar individuals can sometimes see things very differently
sometimes see things very differently
sometimes see things very differently even from almost exactly the same
even from almost exactly the same
even from almost exactly the same background what is it that makes one
background what is it that makes one
background what is it that makes one person of that faith of one faith decide
person of that faith of one faith decide
person of that faith of one faith decide to put up rigid walls against other
to put up rigid walls against other
to put up rigid walls against other people and yet another person of that
people and yet another person of that
people and yet another person of that very same religion or culture is more
very same religion or culture is more
very same religion or culture is more open we can even see this in siblings
open we can even see this in siblings
open we can even see this in siblings brought up within the same family one of
brought up within the same family one of
brought up within the same family one of whom is narrow and suspicious and
whom is narrow and suspicious and
whom is narrow and suspicious and perspective and another more open and
perspective and another more open and
perspective and another more open and generous what is it that creates these
generous what is it that creates these
generous what is it that creates these mental boundaries within us this is hard
mental boundaries within us this is hard
mental boundaries within us this is hard to understand sometimes but I always
to understand sometimes but I always
to understand sometimes but I always love to go back to the wonderful old
love to go back to the wonderful old
love to go back to the wonderful old Sioux
Sioux
Sioux saying that they drew a square and
saying that they drew a square and
saying that they drew a square and excluded me but I drew a circle and
excluded me but I drew a circle and
excluded me but I drew a circle and included them so if things are going to
included them so if things are going to
included them so if things are going to get better in this world what
get better in this world what
get better in this world what circumstances might help us think more
circumstances might help us think more
circumstances might help us think more broadly and more generously well
broadly and more generously well
broadly and more generously well obviously a feeling of security law and
obviously a feeling of security law and
obviously a feeling of security law and order around us for a start that enables
order around us for a start that enables
order around us for a start that enables us to lower our guard and feel less
us to lower our guard and feel less
us to lower our guard and feel less fearful and then of course mixing with a
fearful and then of course mixing with a
fearful and then of course mixing with a wide variety of other people does a
wide variety of other people does a
wide variety of other people does a great deal it’s a critically valuable
great deal it’s a critically valuable
great deal it’s a critically valuable experience for us learning foreign
experience for us learning foreign
experience for us learning foreign languages makes us much more empathetic
languages makes us much more empathetic
languages makes us much more empathetic and here I’m not just thinking about oh
and here I’m not just thinking about oh
and here I’m not just thinking about oh well I learned that foreign language so
well I learned that foreign language so
well I learned that foreign language so I can now communicate with that person
I can now communicate with that person
I can now communicate with that person actually most of us are pretty good in
actually most of us are pretty good in
actually most of us are pretty good in communicating in some language or other
communicating in some language or other
communicating in some language or other anyway but when you’re sit down and
anyway but when you’re sit down and
anyway but when you’re sit down and learn a foreign language this is a
learn a foreign language this is a
learn a foreign language this is a gesture of generosity of empathy towards
gesture of generosity of empathy towards
gesture of generosity of empathy towards another culture even if you don’t
another culture even if you don’t
another culture even if you don’t require that language to communicate
require that language to communicate
require that language to communicate with them so this kind of acknowledgment
with them so this kind of acknowledgment
with them so this kind of acknowledgment of common goals can be extremely
of common goals can be extremely
of common goals can be extremely important in bringing us together who
important in bringing us together who
important in bringing us together who knows a Martian invasion might unite all
knows a Martian invasion might unite all
knows a Martian invasion might unite all of us on the globe against another
of us on the globe against another
of us on the globe against another invader so it comes back to us and our
invader so it comes back to us and our
invader so it comes back to us and our personal psychology in the end am I
personal psychology in the end am I
personal psychology in the end am I going to look for the things that you
going to look for the things that you
going to look for the things that you and I have in common that we share or do
and I have in common that we share or do
and I have in common that we share or do I focus on what we don’t have in common
I focus on what we don’t have in common
I focus on what we don’t have in common and don’t share so I can put up my
and don’t share so I can put up my
and don’t share so I can put up my boundaries and so in the end the way I
boundaries and so in the end the way I
boundaries and so in the end the way I respond to others comes right back to
respond to others comes right back to
respond to others comes right back to the original question that we posed at
the original question that we posed at
the original question that we posed at the outset who do I think I am
”
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