so my parents came to this country from Pakistan not speaking a word of English
Pakistan not speaking a word of English
Pakistan not speaking a word of English and they really did not had any idea how
and they really did not had any idea how
and they really did not had any idea how the education system worked here as the
the education system worked here as the
the education system worked here as the oldest child I became kind of the
oldest child I became kind of the
oldest child I became kind of the experiment of the family figuring out
experiment of the family figuring out
experiment of the family figuring out ways how to go about trial and error and
ways how to go about trial and error and
ways how to go about trial and error and how to get about the school system here
how to get about the school system here
how to get about the school system here in America now in third grade my my
in America now in third grade my my
in America now in third grade my my teacher gave us a project of on
teacher gave us a project of on
teacher gave us a project of on Penguin’s and I did not know what a
Penguin’s and I did not know what a
Penguin’s and I did not know what a project really meant I took it home to
project really meant I took it home to
project really meant I took it home to my parents and they were just as
my parents and they were just as
my parents and they were just as confused as I was so we went to our
confused as I was so we went to our
confused as I was so we went to our local library I sat down on the computer
local library I sat down on the computer
local library I sat down on the computer and I typed in penguin one letter at a
and I typed in penguin one letter at a
and I typed in penguin one letter at a time
time
time in the search engine the first result
in the search engine the first result
in the search engine the first result that came up was a Wikipedia page and on
that came up was a Wikipedia page and on
that came up was a Wikipedia page and on it there were pictures and a great big
it there were pictures and a great big
it there were pictures and a great big article on what penguins were so I
article on what penguins were so I
article on what penguins were so I printed it out wrote my name on top and
printed it out wrote my name on top and
printed it out wrote my name on top and handed it in now the reason I tell you
handed it in now the reason I tell you
handed it in now the reason I tell you this story is because I had many
this story is because I had many
this story is because I had many experiences just like that being a child
experiences just like that being a child
experiences just like that being a child of immigrant parents who really didn’t
of immigrant parents who really didn’t
of immigrant parents who really didn’t know the education system here I took
know the education system here I took
know the education system here I took that experience and took the identity of
that experience and took the identity of
that experience and took the identity of being a child of immigrant parents along
being a child of immigrant parents along
being a child of immigrant parents along with me through many parts of my life in
with me through many parts of my life in
with me through many parts of my life in high school I kind of figured out a
high school I kind of figured out a
high school I kind of figured out a little more when I was applying and my
little more when I was applying and my
little more when I was applying and my parents really didn’t know what it meant
parents really didn’t know what it meant
parents really didn’t know what it meant to go to high school
to go to high school
to go to high school same thing for college when I grew up in
same thing for college when I grew up in
same thing for college when I grew up in Chicago diversity was all around me and
Chicago diversity was all around me and
Chicago diversity was all around me and people were different and similar to me
people were different and similar to me
people were different and similar to me so I really didn’t see that much of my
so I really didn’t see that much of my
so I really didn’t see that much of my identity sticking out I started to
identity sticking out I started to
identity sticking out I started to notice when I came to a school somewhere
notice when I came to a school somewhere
notice when I came to a school somewhere in the middle of Ohio now
in the middle of Ohio now
in the middle of Ohio now Denison University is a great school but
Denison University is a great school but
Denison University is a great school but this is where I actually have started to
this is where I actually have started to
this is where I actually have started to learn my how my how much my identity
learn my how my how much my identity
learn my how my how much my identity really matters because my identity
really matters because my identity
really matters because my identity contributes to the diversity we have on
contributes to the diversity we have on
contributes to the diversity we have on campus at first I didn’t think that was
campus at first I didn’t think that was
campus at first I didn’t think that was such a big deal but when I started to
such a big deal but when I started to
such a big deal but when I started to look at the bigger picture of the United
look at the bigger picture of the United
look at the bigger picture of the United States and how we have diversity in
States and how we have diversity in
States and how we have diversity in every aspect of life race politic
every aspect of life race politic
every aspect of life race politic opinions political opinions religion my
opinions political opinions religion my
opinions political opinions religion my skin color my hair texture I started to
skin color my hair texture I started to
skin color my hair texture I started to notice that we haven’t really been
notice that we haven’t really been
notice that we haven’t really been taking advantage of the diversity the
taking advantage of the diversity the
taking advantage of the diversity the way we should
way we should
way we should so this is where my idea for pluralism
so this is where my idea for pluralism
so this is where my idea for pluralism came about because I really wanted to
came about because I really wanted to
came about because I really wanted to explore how do we go ahead and engage
explore how do we go ahead and engage
explore how do we go ahead and engage the diversity that we have on campus and
the diversity that we have on campus and
the diversity that we have on campus and worldwide the topic of pluralism came to
worldwide the topic of pluralism came to
worldwide the topic of pluralism came to me from a role model of mine Prince had
me from a role model of mine Prince had
me from a role model of mine Prince had prince highness
prince highness
prince highness sorry His Highness Prince Ali Khan who
sorry His Highness Prince Ali Khan who
sorry His Highness Prince Ali Khan who is elite a religious leader for 15
is elite a religious leader for 15
is elite a religious leader for 15 million people across the across the
million people across the across the
million people across the across the world called his smiley Nazari Muslims
world called his smiley Nazari Muslims
world called his smiley Nazari Muslims they are a small sect of Shia Muslims
they are a small sect of Shia Muslims
they are a small sect of Shia Muslims including myself now aside from being a
including myself now aside from being a
including myself now aside from being a religious leader Prince agakhan he has
religious leader Prince agakhan he has
religious leader Prince agakhan he has developed many nonprofits including for
developed many nonprofits including for
developed many nonprofits including for higher education education in the
higher education education in the
higher education education in the third-world countries a disaster relief
third-world countries a disaster relief
third-world countries a disaster relief and things like that so I really knew
and things like that so I really knew
and things like that so I really knew this guy had a lot in him when he was
this guy had a lot in him when he was
this guy had a lot in him when he was talking about pluralism and I wanted to
talking about pluralism and I wanted to
talking about pluralism and I wanted to do more research on it and in 2006
do more research on it and in 2006
do more research on it and in 2006 Prince AVI Khan worked with the
Prince AVI Khan worked with the
Prince AVI Khan worked with the Government of Canada to create the
Government of Canada to create the
Government of Canada to create the global Center for pluralism in which he
global Center for pluralism in which he
global Center for pluralism in which he incorporated working together and
incorporated working together and
incorporated working together and fostering a nation hood and of all
fostering a nation hood and of all
fostering a nation hood and of all people with race participation and being
people with race participation and being
people with race participation and being together in a different way and I really
together in a different way and I really
together in a different way and I really thought this was really interesting
thought this was really interesting
thought this was really interesting because we often look at our identities
because we often look at our identities
because we often look at our identities different from one another we seclude
different from one another we seclude
different from one another we seclude ourselves because of our different
ourselves because of our different
ourselves because of our different identities and we find ourselves within
identities and we find ourselves within
identities and we find ourselves within different groups and although we
different groups and although we
different groups and although we encourage people like hey look we have a
encourage people like hey look we have a
encourage people like hey look we have a diversity on campus and it’s a great
diversity on campus and it’s a great
diversity on campus and it’s a great thing we really don’t find ourselves
thing we really don’t find ourselves
thing we really don’t find ourselves contributing to the engagement of it so
contributing to the engagement of it so
contributing to the engagement of it so what I found were four points that
what I found were four points that
what I found were four points that Harvard University came up with to kind
Harvard University came up with to kind
Harvard University came up with to kind of talk about pluralism today and I’m
of talk about pluralism today and I’m
of talk about pluralism today and I’m gonna be using those to kind of foster
gonna be using those to kind of foster
gonna be using those to kind of foster my talk around the first one is an
my talk around the first one is an
my talk around the first one is an energetic engagement with diversity
energetic engagement with diversity
energetic engagement with diversity basically what this means is that we
basically what this means is that we
basically what this means is that we know different races exist we know
know different races exist we know
know different races exist we know different religions exist now it’s time
different religions exist now it’s time
different religions exist now it’s time to kind of build those bridges and
to kind of build those bridges and
to kind of build those bridges and figure out how we understand one another
figure out how we understand one another
figure out how we understand one another a great example of this would be on
a great example of this would be on
a great example of this would be on campus so we know that we have so many
campus so we know that we have so many
campus so we know that we have so many great organizations across campus and a
great organizations across campus and a
great organizations across campus and a lot of times we find collaborations that
lot of times we find collaborations that
lot of times we find collaborations that come up with creative
come up with creative
come up with creative you know it’s really well attended by
you know it’s really well attended by
you know it’s really well attended by your student body and everyone really
your student body and everyone really
your student body and everyone really likes attending them just in general but
likes attending them just in general but
likes attending them just in general but have you guys noticed how many times the
have you guys noticed how many times the
have you guys noticed how many times the same couple organizations collaborate
same couple organizations collaborate
same couple organizations collaborate with one another it’s not a bad thing
with one another it’s not a bad thing
with one another it’s not a bad thing it’s actually a really good thing that
it’s actually a really good thing that
it’s actually a really good thing that we have collaborations but we don’t
we have collaborations but we don’t
we have collaborations but we don’t often see different kinds of groups
often see different kinds of groups
often see different kinds of groups interacting with one another and that’s
interacting with one another and that’s
interacting with one another and that’s what that’s what the engagement with
what that’s what the engagement with
what that’s what the engagement with diversity is just try to reach out to
diversity is just try to reach out to
diversity is just try to reach out to different groups who are nothing like
different groups who are nothing like
different groups who are nothing like you and this is why I’m kind of talking
you and this is why I’m kind of talking
you and this is why I’m kind of talking about it in Denison’s terms because it’s
about it in Denison’s terms because it’s
about it in Denison’s terms because it’s harder to kind of realize it in bigger
harder to kind of realize it in bigger
harder to kind of realize it in bigger terms when we come to when we think of
terms when we come to when we think of
terms when we come to when we think of maybe like a whole country like the
maybe like a whole country like the
maybe like a whole country like the United States like how do we actively
United States like how do we actively
United States like how do we actively reach across to people but that that
reach across to people but that that
reach across to people but that that kind of comes across in my next point
kind of comes across in my next point
kind of comes across in my next point which is active seeking of understanding
which is active seeking of understanding
which is active seeking of understanding across lines of differences take for
across lines of differences take for
across lines of differences take for example the refugee crisis that we are
example the refugee crisis that we are
example the refugee crisis that we are seeing in our society today well it is
seeing in our society today well it is
seeing in our society today well it is very evident that people have their
very evident that people have their
very evident that people have their specific views on if they should or
specific views on if they should or
specific views on if they should or should not be allowed into our country
should not be allowed into our country
should not be allowed into our country and they have really valid points for
and they have really valid points for
and they have really valid points for that for example people believe that
that for example people believe that
that for example people believe that their family needs to be safe feel safer
their family needs to be safe feel safer
their family needs to be safe feel safer and if we have people who we don’t know
and if we have people who we don’t know
and if we have people who we don’t know from a different country come that that
from a different country come that that
from a different country come that that safety is kind of compromised but if you
safety is kind of compromised but if you
safety is kind of compromised but if you take a look at the understanding across
take a look at the understanding across
take a look at the understanding across the lines of differences you see that
the lines of differences you see that
the lines of differences you see that the people on the other side want the
the people on the other side want the
the people on the other side want the exact same thing they want their family
exact same thing they want their family
exact same thing they want their family members to be safe they want their
members to be safe they want their
members to be safe they want their children to be safe but when we think of
children to be safe but when we think of
children to be safe but when we think of it in terms of individual we really
it in terms of individual we really
it in terms of individual we really don’t think about how they want the same
don’t think about how they want the same
don’t think about how they want the same thing so that’s where the active
thing so that’s where the active
thing so that’s where the active understanding across lines of
understanding across lines of
understanding across lines of differences comes in my third point is
differences comes in my third point is
differences comes in my third point is encounter of commitments this pretty
encounter of commitments this pretty
encounter of commitments this pretty much means that you are not changing who
much means that you are not changing who
much means that you are not changing who you are you are not changing your
you are you are not changing your
you are you are not changing your identity just to understand someone else
identity just to understand someone else
identity just to understand someone else of a different identity a really good
of a different identity a really good
of a different identity a really good example of this is in Egypt 2013 when
example of this is in Egypt 2013 when
example of this is in Egypt 2013 when there are lots of crimes going on
there are lots of crimes going on
there are lots of crimes going on against religion there were Christian
against religion there were Christian
against religion there were Christian men being attacked by Muslims and Muslim
men being attacked by Muslims and Muslim
men being attacked by Muslims and Muslim men being attacked by Christians so a
men being attacked by Christians so a
men being attacked by Christians so a picture in 2013 went viral of Muslim man
picture in 2013 went viral of Muslim man
picture in 2013 went viral of Muslim man holding hands outside of a church while
holding hands outside of a church while
holding hands outside of a church while Christians prayed inside now you see
Christians prayed inside now you see
Christians prayed inside now you see like they but they both have different
like they but they both have different
like they but they both have different religions and a lot of times they don’t
religions and a lot of times they don’t
religions and a lot of times they don’t seem to understand
seem to understand
seem to understand on one another and a lot of violence is
on one another and a lot of violence is
on one another and a lot of violence is speculated in that term but we still see
speculated in that term but we still see
speculated in that term but we still see this really great picture going viral
this really great picture going viral
this really great picture going viral because it is that seeking of
because it is that seeking of
because it is that seeking of understanding and understanding that hey
understanding and understanding that hey
understanding and understanding that hey they have the same point they want to
they have the same point they want to
they have the same point they want to pray they want some peace in mind so why
pray they want some peace in mind so why
pray they want some peace in mind so why don’t we help our brothers out and the
don’t we help our brothers out and the
don’t we help our brothers out and the similar similar thing was reciprocated
similar similar thing was reciprocated
similar similar thing was reciprocated when Christian men stood outside a
when Christian men stood outside a
when Christian men stood outside a mosque one day while the Muslims prayed
mosque one day while the Muslims prayed
mosque one day while the Muslims prayed the last point that Harvard University
the last point that Harvard University
the last point that Harvard University seeked out was based on dialogue now
seeked out was based on dialogue now
seeked out was based on dialogue now this is a little crucial point because
this is a little crucial point because
this is a little crucial point because when we think of dialogue we think of
when we think of dialogue we think of
when we think of dialogue we think of speaking but often times we forget that
speaking but often times we forget that
speaking but often times we forget that dialogue is also listening and this is
dialogue is also listening and this is
dialogue is also listening and this is where it’s really important when we
where it’s really important when we
where it’s really important when we think of pluralism because pluralism is
think of pluralism because pluralism is
think of pluralism because pluralism is the act of coexisting and understanding
the act of coexisting and understanding
the act of coexisting and understanding if you’re not in the room trying to
if you’re not in the room trying to
if you’re not in the room trying to solve a problem how are we ever going to
solve a problem how are we ever going to
solve a problem how are we ever going to find a solution even if you don’t agree
find a solution even if you don’t agree
find a solution even if you don’t agree with it the active participation of
with it the active participation of
with it the active participation of being in the room to find out what’s
being in the room to find out what’s
being in the room to find out what’s going on who it is even if you don’t
going on who it is even if you don’t
going on who it is even if you don’t agree with it is the first step to
agree with it is the first step to
agree with it is the first step to solving the problem now in in the end
solving the problem now in in the end
solving the problem now in in the end what I’m really thinking about
what I’m really thinking about
what I’m really thinking about immigration and my parents I know that
immigration and my parents I know that
immigration and my parents I know that my identities play such a big role when
my identities play such a big role when
my identities play such a big role when it comes to diversity but how can I be
it comes to diversity but how can I be
it comes to diversity but how can I be comfortable with my identity if I’m not
comfortable with my identity if I’m not
comfortable with my identity if I’m not getting the same comfort and if I’m not
getting the same comfort and if I’m not
getting the same comfort and if I’m not getting the same acceptance from other
getting the same acceptance from other
getting the same acceptance from other members what I really want to point out
members what I really want to point out
members what I really want to point out today is that coexisting with other
today is that coexisting with other
today is that coexisting with other people does not mean that you have to
people does not mean that you have to
people does not mean that you have to change who you are and that’s what
change who you are and that’s what
change who you are and that’s what pluralism is all about I know my talk is
pluralism is all about I know my talk is
pluralism is all about I know my talk is a little short but that’s all I have to
a little short but that’s all I have to
a little short but that’s all I have to say thank you
say thank you
say thank you [Applause]
”
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