[Applause] imagine having a legitimate fear of how
imagine having a legitimate fear of how
imagine having a legitimate fear of how people might deceive you just because
people might deceive you just because
people might deceive you just because your identity hello my name is Maria
your identity hello my name is Maria
your identity hello my name is Maria Omer I’m sixteen years of age and I’ve
Omer I’m sixteen years of age and I’ve
Omer I’m sixteen years of age and I’ve been living in different countries and
been living in different countries and
been living in different countries and I’ve been going to international schools
I’ve been going to international schools
I’ve been going to international schools all around the world
all around the world
all around the world so far I’ve lived in Sweden and here in
so far I’ve lived in Sweden and here in
so far I’ve lived in Sweden and here in England I’ll get back to that in a bit
England I’ll get back to that in a bit
England I’ll get back to that in a bit something I’ve noticed about living in
something I’ve noticed about living in
something I’ve noticed about living in different places is the way in which we
different places is the way in which we
different places is the way in which we tend to show a particular attitude to
tend to show a particular attitude to
tend to show a particular attitude to something that we view in other words
something that we view in other words
something that we view in other words perspective but in particular the way in
perspective but in particular the way in
perspective but in particular the way in which we perceive Arabs or Muslims in
which we perceive Arabs or Muslims in
which we perceive Arabs or Muslims in general so here’s a wonderful picture of
general so here’s a wonderful picture of
general so here’s a wonderful picture of me my class in Sweden in 2007 and let
me my class in Sweden in 2007 and let
me my class in Sweden in 2007 and let you guys have a guess of which one of
you guys have a guess of which one of
you guys have a guess of which one of these students I am hint I’m the only
these students I am hint I’m the only
these students I am hint I’m the only brown one there Tania
brown one there Tania
brown one there Tania so this is the little version of me and
so this is the little version of me and
so this is the little version of me and I’m guessing you would already guessed
I’m guessing you would already guessed
I’m guessing you would already guessed that but just the way in which you find
that but just the way in which you find
that but just the way in which you find it easy to find to find out who I was in
it easy to find to find out who I was in
it easy to find to find out who I was in the crowd the way in which you scanned
the crowd the way in which you scanned
the crowd the way in which you scanned your eyes through the screen and picked
your eyes through the screen and picked
your eyes through the screen and picked me out that’s how easy it is for airport
me out that’s how easy it is for airport
me out that’s how easy it is for airport security to notice me as well now others
security to notice me as well now others
security to notice me as well now others might see me as an outcast to society
might see me as an outcast to society
might see me as an outcast to society yes I did stand-up from the crowd when I
yes I did stand-up from the crowd when I
yes I did stand-up from the crowd when I was 6 years old and I still do but did
was 6 years old and I still do but did
was 6 years old and I still do but did stand out from the crowd in a cheesy
stand out from the crowd in a cheesy
stand out from the crowd in a cheesy obnoxious term the quote way no but in a
obnoxious term the quote way no but in a
obnoxious term the quote way no but in a scary way
scary way
scary way now I had a different perspective to
now I had a different perspective to
now I had a different perspective to being different I thought it meant being
being different I thought it meant being
being different I thought it meant being unique and special but not have someone
unique and special but not have someone
unique and special but not have someone that we should fear not someone that we
that we should fear not someone that we
that we should fear not someone that we should circumspect 24/7 but was this all
should circumspect 24/7 but was this all
should circumspect 24/7 but was this all because I was Arab now let’s talk about
because I was Arab now let’s talk about
because I was Arab now let’s talk about being Arab in fact let’s talk about the
being Arab in fact let’s talk about the
being Arab in fact let’s talk about the media’s perspective about Arabs and how
media’s perspective about Arabs and how
media’s perspective about Arabs and how it completely defines the way in which I
it completely defines the way in which I
it completely defines the way in which I see my own culture some of you guys
see my own culture some of you guys
see my own culture some of you guys might be familiar with some of these
might be familiar with some of these
might be familiar with some of these stereotypes because they’re constantly
stereotypes because they’re constantly
stereotypes because they’re constantly portrayed in movies on social media all
portrayed in movies on social media all
portrayed in movies on social media all across the news one how our men are seen
across the news one how our men are seen
across the news one how our men are seen as barbaric crazy and intolerant
as barbaric crazy and intolerant
as barbaric crazy and intolerant – how every Arab lives in the desert
yeah and three and this is my favorite
yeah and three and this is my favorite one how every Arab woman is an oppressed
one how every Arab woman is an oppressed
one how every Arab woman is an oppressed failed exotic belly dancer now let me
failed exotic belly dancer now let me
failed exotic belly dancer now let me give you some geography and history
give you some geography and history
give you some geography and history lessons first as you can see there are
lessons first as you can see there are
lessons first as you can see there are 23 official Arabic speaking countries
23 official Arabic speaking countries
23 official Arabic speaking countries they distributed all across the Middle
they distributed all across the Middle
they distributed all across the Middle East and North Africa so there’s no way
East and North Africa so there’s no way
East and North Africa so there’s no way that we all live in the desert unless
that we all live in the desert unless
that we all live in the desert unless you live in North Africa then I can’t
you live in North Africa then I can’t
you live in North Africa then I can’t speak for you also make sure you thank
speak for you also make sure you thank
speak for you also make sure you thank us next time you have a sip of your
us next time you have a sip of your
us next time you have a sip of your delicious coffee because remember that
delicious coffee because remember that
delicious coffee because remember that you originated first from yemen and ira
you originated first from yemen and ira
you originated first from yemen and ira country oh how you looking forward for
country oh how you looking forward for
country oh how you looking forward for an answer from you new university keep
an answer from you new university keep
an answer from you new university keep it in mind that establish of the first
it in mind that establish of the first
it in mind that establish of the first university in the world was a moroccan
university in the world was a moroccan
university in the world was a moroccan woman around 9th century now these are
woman around 9th century now these are
woman around 9th century now these are some amazing inventions and there is
some amazing inventions and there is
some amazing inventions and there is also the musical notation the first
also the musical notation the first
also the musical notation the first musical notations ever made were arabic
musical notations ever made were arabic
musical notations ever made were arabic and that formed today’s modern music you
and that formed today’s modern music you
and that formed today’s modern music you know these are some great inventions
know these are some great inventions
know these are some great inventions apart from algebra that’s something we
apart from algebra that’s something we
apart from algebra that’s something we have to apologize for I’m sorry
so moving on to a modern day topic an
so moving on to a modern day topic an issue that is dear to my heart and it’s
issue that is dear to my heart and it’s
issue that is dear to my heart and it’s a sensitive and deep topic to every Arab
a sensitive and deep topic to every Arab
a sensitive and deep topic to every Arab and that is the Syrian refugee crisis
and that is the Syrian refugee crisis
and that is the Syrian refugee crisis and war now Arabs have experienced war
and war now Arabs have experienced war
and war now Arabs have experienced war for a long time in fact we’re known for
for a long time in fact we’re known for
for a long time in fact we’re known for this it’s been going on for decades in
this it’s been going on for decades in
this it’s been going on for decades in Palestine Iraq Syria Libya Tunisia Egypt
Palestine Iraq Syria Libya Tunisia Egypt
Palestine Iraq Syria Libya Tunisia Egypt Lebanon it’s just been going on since
Lebanon it’s just been going on since
Lebanon it’s just been going on since forever more for me
forever more for me
forever more for me see now I use the picture of Syrians
see now I use the picture of Syrians
see now I use the picture of Syrians children smiling because I thought that
children smiling because I thought that
children smiling because I thought that me objectifying their pain isn’t gonna
me objectifying their pain isn’t gonna
me objectifying their pain isn’t gonna help anyway because they go into the
help anyway because they go into the
help anyway because they go into the currently going through a really hard
currently going through a really hard
currently going through a really hard time especially in Syria so so the
time especially in Syria so so the
time especially in Syria so so the Syrian refugee crisis is one of the
Syrian refugee crisis is one of the
Syrian refugee crisis is one of the biggest problems in the world and
biggest problems in the world and
biggest problems in the world and biggest problems in politics and it’s
biggest problems in politics and it’s
biggest problems in politics and it’s the most discussed issue in politics
the most discussed issue in politics
the most discussed issue in politics actually I thought from Donald Trump now
actually I thought from Donald Trump now
actually I thought from Donald Trump now questions my appear regarding the Syrian
questions my appear regarding the Syrian
questions my appear regarding the Syrian refugee crisis such as why are they here
refugee crisis such as why are they here
refugee crisis such as why are they here crowding our countries
crowding our countries
crowding our countries hopefully what okay this is why in fact
hopefully what okay this is why in fact
hopefully what okay this is why in fact this is one of the first pictures that
this is one of the first pictures that
this is one of the first pictures that showed up as soon as I googled my own
showed up as soon as I googled my own
showed up as soon as I googled my own country but what if our safety feels
country but what if our safety feels
country but what if our safety feels threatened if they come to our country
threatened if they come to our country
threatened if they come to our country tell us about it see you know in which
tell us about it see you know in which
tell us about it see you know in which you know in the way in which you can’t
you know in the way in which you can’t
you know in the way in which you can’t order food through your phone without
order food through your phone without
order food through your phone without having to rehearse the lines or make
having to rehearse the lines or make
having to rehearse the lines or make sure you don’t see something anything
sure you don’t see something anything
sure you don’t see something anything like we don’t say anything wrong
like we don’t say anything wrong
like we don’t say anything wrong that’s exactly how every error field as
that’s exactly how every error field as
that’s exactly how every error field as soon as we step out of the house how we
soon as we step out of the house how we
soon as we step out of the house how we look how he presents herself or how we
look how he presents herself or how we
look how he presents herself or how we speak in fact I had doubts about today’s
speak in fact I had doubts about today’s
speak in fact I had doubts about today’s presentation are feared on how you might
presentation are feared on how you might
presentation are feared on how you might view me after but then I realized that I
view me after but then I realized that I
view me after but then I realized that I have a voice I have a voice I should be
have a voice I have a voice I should be
have a voice I have a voice I should be standing up for the unheard and I have
standing up for the unheard and I have
standing up for the unheard and I have every right to be standing up for my
every right to be standing up for my
every right to be standing up for my country and my culture so us as the new
country and my culture so us as the new
country and my culture so us as the new generation we have a lot of power and we
generation we have a lot of power and we
generation we have a lot of power and we could be standing up against xenophobia
could be standing up against xenophobia
could be standing up against xenophobia racism and stereotypes so I asked all of
racism and stereotypes so I asked all of
racism and stereotypes so I asked all of us to stand in unity this is one famous
us to stand in unity this is one famous
us to stand in unity this is one famous Arabic quote that goes and remember
Arabic quote that goes and remember
Arabic quote that goes and remember well healin so for tomorrow Lucifer
well healin so for tomorrow Lucifer
well healin so for tomorrow Lucifer which translates to and finally the
which translates to and finally the
which translates to and finally the storm will pass this is a quote that’s
storm will pass this is a quote that’s
storm will pass this is a quote that’s deep and very special to my heart it’s a
deep and very special to my heart it’s a
deep and very special to my heart it’s a it’s a quote that’s in every Arabs heart
it’s a quote that’s in every Arabs heart
it’s a quote that’s in every Arabs heart and I hope it will remain in your hearts
and I hope it will remain in your hearts
and I hope it will remain in your hearts thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] well turn that career hook I haven’t had
well turn that career hook I haven’t had
well turn that career hook I haven’t had a hug fantastic thank you listen you
a hug fantastic thank you listen you
a hug fantastic thank you listen you know when you just for when you’re
know when you just for when you’re
know when you just for when you’re talking about that kind of immediate
talking about that kind of immediate
talking about that kind of immediate response one thing I know that when I
response one thing I know that when I
response one thing I know that when I walk into room people notice I’m female
walk into room people notice I’m female
walk into room people notice I’m female they also think I look a bit like
they also think I look a bit like
they also think I look a bit like Beyonce I’m sure then you get the frame
Beyonce I’m sure then you get the frame
Beyonce I’m sure then you get the frame and they notice that I’m maybe you know
and they notice that I’m maybe you know
and they notice that I’m maybe you know I’m brown but they notice that I’ve got
I’m brown but they notice that I’ve got
I’m brown but they notice that I’ve got a bit of a Midlands accent which clearly
a bit of a Midlands accent which clearly
a bit of a Midlands accent which clearly means I own a whip it and I’m from the
means I own a whip it and I’m from the
means I own a whip it and I’m from the north but on out what I’ve worked out is
north but on out what I’ve worked out is
north but on out what I’ve worked out is that I I used to get very anxious about
that I I used to get very anxious about
that I I used to get very anxious about that and one website I can’t be
that and one website I can’t be
that and one website I can’t be everybody’s assumption so I’ll just do
everybody’s assumption so I’ll just do
everybody’s assumption so I’ll just do me and then I’ll get on with that but
me and then I’ll get on with that but
me and then I’ll get on with that but what I’m aware of is that that goes
what I’m aware of is that that goes
what I’m aware of is that that goes against what people assume and then
against what people assume and then
against what people assume and then there sometimes get a bit of a problem
there sometimes get a bit of a problem
there sometimes get a bit of a problem where they’re thinking something and I’m
where they’re thinking something and I’m
where they’re thinking something and I’m being a different way how do you cope
being a different way how do you cope
being a different way how do you cope with that how do you cope with people
with that how do you cope with people
with that how do you cope with people making these assumptions and you know
making these assumptions and you know
making these assumptions and you know how do you kind of overcome them in
how do you kind of overcome them in
how do you kind of overcome them in relationships well first of all I don’t
relationships well first of all I don’t
relationships well first of all I don’t let it get to me because you know I am a
let it get to me because you know I am a
let it get to me because you know I am a woman I am a Muslim I am an Arab there
woman I am a Muslim I am an Arab there
woman I am a Muslim I am an Arab there are some you know difficulties I
are some you know difficulties I
are some you know difficulties I experienced in my life and I’ve
experienced in my life and I’ve
experienced in my life and I’ve experienced ever since I was a kid but I
experienced ever since I was a kid but I
experienced ever since I was a kid but I don’t first thing that you have to know
don’t first thing that you have to know
don’t first thing that you have to know is don’t let these things get to you
is don’t let these things get to you
is don’t let these things get to you because whatever the meanness is about
because whatever the meanness is about
because whatever the meanness is about you will never betray how we really are
you will never betray how we really are
you will never betray how we really are yeah and you know you talked about at
yeah and you know you talked about at
yeah and you know you talked about at airports that really kind of stuck with
airports that really kind of stuck with
airports that really kind of stuck with me because I you know I take for granted
me because I you know I take for granted
me because I you know I take for granted that I can just walk I’m just getting a
that I can just walk I’m just getting a
that I can just walk I’m just getting a plane and fly where I like I can just
plane and fly where I like I can just
plane and fly where I like I can just get on and walk through and get back and
get on and walk through and get back and
get on and walk through and get back and come off it’s not the same experience
come off it’s not the same experience
come off it’s not the same experience for some people and there’s things about
for some people and there’s things about
for some people and there’s things about you that you know make people’s eye sore
you that you know make people’s eye sore
you that you know make people’s eye sore do you get that anywhere else is that
do you get that anywhere else is that
do you get that anywhere else is that just airports or is that something
just airports or is that something
just airports or is that something that’s in your daily life it’s
that’s in your daily life it’s
that’s in your daily life it’s definitely my daily life but once again
definitely my daily life but once again
definitely my daily life but once again I don’t let it affect me as much because
I don’t let it affect me as much because
I don’t let it affect me as much because I know there are much more than just you
I know there are much more than just you
I know there are much more than just you know people’s views and that’s why I
know people’s views and that’s why I
know people’s views and that’s why I asked everyone to to don’t just don’t
asked everyone to to don’t just don’t
asked everyone to to don’t just don’t look into what the media says because
look into what the media says because
look into what the media says because you know talk to someone from the
you know talk to someone from the
you know talk to someone from the community don’t take notes from the
community don’t take notes from the
community don’t take notes from the media because they love to twist things
media because they love to twist things
media because they love to twist things around about Muslims about black people
around about Muslims about black people
around about Muslims about black people about gays or any oppressed minorities
about gays or any oppressed minorities
about gays or any oppressed minorities they love to make us seem bad in a way
they love to make us seem bad in a way
they love to make us seem bad in a way yeah just don’t take notes so I think we
yeah just don’t take notes so I think we
yeah just don’t take notes so I think we should all just hang out with you
should all just hang out with you
should all just hang out with you and then we can say well my friend Maria
and then we can say well my friend Maria
and then we can say well my friend Maria says thank you for inspiring
says thank you for inspiring
says thank you for inspiring you’ve been courageous and thank you for
you’ve been courageous and thank you for
you’ve been courageous and thank you for being awesome Maria you’re a star Maria
being awesome Maria you’re a star Maria
being awesome Maria you’re a star Maria everybody
everybody
everybody [Applause]
”
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