I’d like to start off today by asking you all a question when is the last time
you all a question when is the last time
you all a question when is the last time you or somebody you know has said
you or somebody you know has said
you or somebody you know has said anything hurtful to anybody else based
anything hurtful to anybody else based
anything hurtful to anybody else based off of your differences
off of your differences
off of your differences no that’s a loaded question I realize so
no that’s a loaded question I realize so
no that’s a loaded question I realize so I’ll make it easier for you I’m gonna go
I’ll make it easier for you I’m gonna go
I’ll make it easier for you I’m gonna go ahead and do you all a favor and expand
ahead and do you all a favor and expand
ahead and do you all a favor and expand your vocabulary a little bit the word
your vocabulary a little bit the word
your vocabulary a little bit the word xenophobia is a fancy sounding five
xenophobia is a fancy sounding five
xenophobia is a fancy sounding five syllable for syllable word that has a
syllable for syllable word that has a
syllable for syllable word that has a really simple impactful definition
really simple impactful definition
really simple impactful definition xenophobia is the fear of people not
xenophobia is the fear of people not
xenophobia is the fear of people not like you in fact and I will admit I’m a
like you in fact and I will admit I’m a
like you in fact and I will admit I’m a bit of a nerd for knowing this
bit of a nerd for knowing this
bit of a nerd for knowing this xenophobia was dictionary coms word of
xenophobia was dictionary coms word of
xenophobia was dictionary coms word of the year in 2016 so clearly this fear is
the year in 2016 so clearly this fear is
the year in 2016 so clearly this fear is an extremely common one in today’s
an extremely common one in today’s
an extremely common one in today’s society particularly in the United
society particularly in the United
society particularly in the United States so I’ll ask the question one more
States so I’ll ask the question one more
States so I’ll ask the question one more time when is the last time you or
time when is the last time you or
time when is the last time you or somebody you know has said anything
somebody you know has said anything
somebody you know has said anything xenophobic I’d be willing to bet it’s
xenophobic I’d be willing to bet it’s
xenophobic I’d be willing to bet it’s pretty recent so what gives why are we
pretty recent so what gives why are we
pretty recent so what gives why are we letting this problem leech out into our
letting this problem leech out into our
letting this problem leech out into our society well there’s a couple of reasons
society well there’s a couple of reasons
society well there’s a couple of reasons first and foremost governments and
first and foremost governments and
first and foremost governments and corporations benefit off of our natural
corporations benefit off of our natural
corporations benefit off of our natural xenophobia by forcing minorities and
xenophobia by forcing minorities and
xenophobia by forcing minorities and immigrants into careers and economic
immigrants into careers and economic
immigrants into careers and economic classes that are nearly exclusive to
classes that are nearly exclusive to
classes that are nearly exclusive to that type of person politicians can use
that type of person politicians can use
that type of person politicians can use our natural discriminatory behavior to
our natural discriminatory behavior to
our natural discriminatory behavior to boost popularity and rally support the
boost popularity and rally support the
boost popularity and rally support the consideration of Arizona Senate bill
consideration of Arizona Senate bill
consideration of Arizona Senate bill 1070 is a perfect example of this
1070 is a perfect example of this
1070 is a perfect example of this Arizona Senate bill 1070 is a bill that
Arizona Senate bill 1070 is a bill that
Arizona Senate bill 1070 is a bill that requires police officers to determine
requires police officers to determine
requires police officers to determine the immigration status of someone when
the immigration status of someone when
the immigration status of someone when there is reasonable suspicion that
there is reasonable suspicion that
there is reasonable suspicion that they’re in the United States legally if
they’re in the United States legally if
they’re in the United States legally if that’s a bit of a mouthful so I’ll break
that’s a bit of a mouthful so I’ll break
that’s a bit of a mouthful so I’ll break it down for you
it down for you
it down for you Arizona Senate bill 1070 is a bill that
Arizona Senate bill 1070 is a bill that
Arizona Senate bill 1070 is a bill that requires police officers to discriminate
requires police officers to discriminate
requires police officers to discriminate against minority populations based
against minority populations based
against minority populations based solely off of their appearance but there
solely off of their appearance but there
solely off of their appearance but there is a more direct reason to our natural
is a more direct reason to our natural
is a more direct reason to our natural xenophobia it’s in the phrase it’s part
xenophobia it’s in the phrase it’s part
xenophobia it’s in the phrase it’s part of our human nature unfortunately part
of our human nature unfortunately part
of our human nature unfortunately part of what makes us human is being
of what makes us human is being
of what makes us human is being xenophobic and there are real harms door
xenophobic and there are real harms door
xenophobic and there are real harms door insolence we can look at takakura for an
insolence we can look at takakura for an
insolence we can look at takakura for an example of this as I’m sure some of you
example of this as I’m sure some of you
example of this as I’m sure some of you know South Africa has a bit of a dark
know South Africa has a bit of a dark
know South Africa has a bit of a dark past when it comes to xenophobia
past when it comes to xenophobia
past when it comes to xenophobia unfortunately even with the ending of
unfortunately even with the ending of
unfortunately even with the ending of apartheid in 1990
apartheid in 1990
apartheid in 1990 things haven’t gotten perfect this is
things haven’t gotten perfect this is
things haven’t gotten perfect this is especially evident when looking at the
especially evident when looking at the
especially evident when looking at the South African immigration surge of 2001
South African immigration surge of 2001
South African immigration surge of 2001 a report released in 2001 depicts
a report released in 2001 depicts
a report released in 2001 depicts beatings of detainees by guards assaults
beatings of detainees by guards assaults
beatings of detainees by guards assaults by police officers and miss orderly
by police officers and miss orderly
by police officers and miss orderly conduct towards refugees by Department
conduct towards refugees by Department
conduct towards refugees by Department of Home Affairs officials guys we are
of Home Affairs officials guys we are
of Home Affairs officials guys we are subjecting our South African brothers
subjecting our South African brothers
subjecting our South African brothers and sisters to awful and unlawful abuse
and sisters to awful and unlawful abuse
and sisters to awful and unlawful abuse in order to feed a destructive habit
in order to feed a destructive habit
in order to feed a destructive habit that is previously split nations into
that is previously split nations into
that is previously split nations into and inspired mass genocide so how do we
and inspired mass genocide so how do we
and inspired mass genocide so how do we stop this how do we make a diff and DIF
stop this how do we make a diff and DIF
stop this how do we make a diff and DIF those are the questions I ask myself
those are the questions I ask myself
those are the questions I ask myself when preparing for this talk
when preparing for this talk
when preparing for this talk unfortunately for us there is no global
unfortunately for us there is no global
unfortunately for us there is no global code of ethics or law that prevents
code of ethics or law that prevents
code of ethics or law that prevents neophobia from popping into our brains
neophobia from popping into our brains
neophobia from popping into our brains all that exists are small groups like
all that exists are small groups like
all that exists are small groups like this that hope to inspire change thus
this that hope to inspire change thus
this that hope to inspire change thus the solution doesn’t lie in mass change
the solution doesn’t lie in mass change
the solution doesn’t lie in mass change but in individual change my goal today
but in individual change my goal today
but in individual change my goal today is to get you to change the way you see
is to get you to change the way you see
is to get you to change the way you see the world don’t see the world through a
the world don’t see the world through a
the world don’t see the world through a lens through the lens that society has
lens through the lens that society has
lens through the lens that society has given you instead see it through a lens
given you instead see it through a lens
given you instead see it through a lens of decency
of decency
of decency don’t stagnate and complacency with the
don’t stagnate and complacency with the
don’t stagnate and complacency with the way that the world has decided to give
way that the world has decided to give
way that the world has decided to give power to some groups and let others fall
power to some groups and let others fall
power to some groups and let others fall behind but before I go any further I’d
behind but before I go any further I’d
behind but before I go any further I’d like to ground all of these big ideas
like to ground all of these big ideas
like to ground all of these big ideas with a story when I was 10 I went off to
with a story when I was 10 I went off to
with a story when I was 10 I went off to a friend’s ranch to say for a couple of
a friend’s ranch to say for a couple of
a friend’s ranch to say for a couple of weeks while I was there I heard an adult
weeks while I was there I heard an adult
weeks while I was there I heard an adult use a derogatory term to describe the
use a derogatory term to describe the
use a derogatory term to describe the Indian Reservation near the property not
Indian Reservation near the property not
Indian Reservation near the property not knowing any better when I returned to
knowing any better when I returned to
knowing any better when I returned to school the next week I used the term to
school the next week I used the term to
school the next week I used the term to describe one of my friends not knowing
describe one of my friends not knowing
describe one of my friends not knowing the true nature of the word I was
the true nature of the word I was
the true nature of the word I was quickly informed of how hurtful I was
quickly informed of how hurtful I was
quickly informed of how hurtful I was being when my friend let me know what
being when my friend let me know what
being when my friend let me know what the word meant I think this is the first
the word meant I think this is the first
the word meant I think this is the first time I ever realized how powerful words
time I ever realized how powerful words
time I ever realized how powerful words can be see words have the power to
can be see words have the power to
can be see words have the power to inflict psychic wounds and if we’re not
inflict psychic wounds and if we’re not
inflict psychic wounds and if we’re not careful with them then we may as well be
careful with them then we may as well be
careful with them then we may as well be waving a sword around in the air
waving a sword around in the air
waving a sword around in the air taunting people to come forward and take
taunting people to come forward and take
taunting people to come forward and take a hit I would argue that words are the
a hit I would argue that words are the
a hit I would argue that words are the basis for xenophobia as well as the
basis for xenophobia as well as the
basis for xenophobia as well as the means for it to spread if I say
means for it to spread if I say
means for it to spread if I say something hurtful not only am i
something hurtful not only am i
something hurtful not only am i impacting the group of people that I’m
impacting the group of people that I’m
impacting the group of people that I’m targeting but I’m also spreading the
targeting but I’m also spreading the
targeting but I’m also spreading the plague of hate around me to those
plague of hate around me to those
plague of hate around me to those unaware of their true verbal impact it’s
unaware of their true verbal impact it’s
unaware of their true verbal impact it’s because of this phenomenon that simply
because of this phenomenon that simply
because of this phenomenon that simply rejecting xenophobia isn’t enough even
rejecting xenophobia isn’t enough even
rejecting xenophobia isn’t enough even if I succeed in my mission and convince
if I succeed in my mission and convince
if I succeed in my mission and convince you that xenophobia is
you that xenophobia is
you that xenophobia is and try to lead you away from your
and try to lead you away from your
and try to lead you away from your natural discriminatory ways I can’t ever
natural discriminatory ways I can’t ever
natural discriminatory ways I can’t ever hope to create change until I create an
hope to create change until I create an
hope to create change until I create an atmosphere of counter speech so what is
atmosphere of counter speech so what is
atmosphere of counter speech so what is counter speech CR words spread and have
counter speech CR words spread and have
counter speech CR words spread and have impact just like hateful ones if I can
impact just like hateful ones if I can
impact just like hateful ones if I can convince you first to move away from
convince you first to move away from
convince you first to move away from your xenophobia but second and more
your xenophobia but second and more
your xenophobia but second and more importantly to stand up for the victims
importantly to stand up for the victims
importantly to stand up for the victims of hate then and only then can i combat
of hate then and only then can i combat
of hate then and only then can i combat the disease that is xenophobia now words
the disease that is xenophobia now words
the disease that is xenophobia now words are not the only way to affect change
are not the only way to affect change
are not the only way to affect change when it comes to this topic education is
when it comes to this topic education is
when it comes to this topic education is equally as important and the quest to
equally as important and the quest to
equally as important and the quest to stop racism sexism anti-semitism
stop racism sexism anti-semitism
stop racism sexism anti-semitism homophobia Islamophobia and the like the
homophobia Islamophobia and the like the
homophobia Islamophobia and the like the list goes on and on if we start teaching
list goes on and on if we start teaching
list goes on and on if we start teaching more in-depth the atrocities and
more in-depth the atrocities and
more in-depth the atrocities and contributions made against and by
contributions made against and by
contributions made against and by minorities in our country then where you
minorities in our country then where you
minorities in our country then where you can begin to have a deeper understanding
can begin to have a deeper understanding
can begin to have a deeper understanding of the effects of our hateful status quo
of the effects of our hateful status quo
of the effects of our hateful status quo and we can begin to inspire change at a
and we can begin to inspire change at a
and we can begin to inspire change at a personal level it’s an old saying that
personal level it’s an old saying that
personal level it’s an old saying that demonstrates my point far better than I
demonstrates my point far better than I
demonstrates my point far better than I can ever hope to write those who fail to
can ever hope to write those who fail to
can ever hope to write those who fail to learn history are dooms repeated this
learn history are dooms repeated this
learn history are dooms repeated this saying as cliche as it may be has real
saying as cliche as it may be has real
saying as cliche as it may be has real impacts in fact it’s happening right now
impacts in fact it’s happening right now
impacts in fact it’s happening right now a study conducted in 1994 shows that
a study conducted in 1994 shows that
a study conducted in 1994 shows that uneducated populations are significantly
uneducated populations are significantly
uneducated populations are significantly more likely to commit atrocities and
more likely to commit atrocities and
more likely to commit atrocities and they’re against minorities in their
they’re against minorities in their
they’re against minorities in their nation this chart shows something just
nation this chart shows something just
nation this chart shows something just as revealing this chart shows that
as revealing this chart shows that
as revealing this chart shows that uneducated populations are more likely
uneducated populations are more likely
uneducated populations are more likely to respond favorably to the Taliban the
to respond favorably to the Taliban the
to respond favorably to the Taliban the history and atrocities we are teaching
history and atrocities we are teaching
history and atrocities we are teaching in our nation right now are already
in our nation right now are already
in our nation right now are already making a difference so why not go
making a difference so why not go
making a difference so why not go further we live in a society full of
further we live in a society full of
further we live in a society full of hate subtle or not through both
hate subtle or not through both
hate subtle or not through both educating our population on the effects
educating our population on the effects
educating our population on the effects of xenophobia as well as using our words
of xenophobia as well as using our words
of xenophobia as well as using our words to stand up for others we may finally
to stand up for others we may finally
to stand up for others we may finally make a difference but before I leave you
make a difference but before I leave you
make a difference but before I leave you I’d like to give you all a word of
I’d like to give you all a word of
I’d like to give you all a word of warning this change that I hope to
warning this change that I hope to
warning this change that I hope to inspire will not come without fierce
inspire will not come without fierce
inspire will not come without fierce opposition in our quest to stop
opposition in our quest to stop
opposition in our quest to stop xenophobia we will undoubtedly face
xenophobia we will undoubtedly face
xenophobia we will undoubtedly face people who defend their ideals and tell
people who defend their ideals and tell
people who defend their ideals and tell you that it’s not your way to tell them
you that it’s not your way to tell them
you that it’s not your way to tell them how to think
how to think
how to think you must never fall victim to this type
you must never fall victim to this type
you must never fall victim to this type of thinking even excuse me remember
of thinking even excuse me remember
of thinking even excuse me remember xenophobia causes tangible injury and
xenophobia causes tangible injury and
xenophobia causes tangible injury and those who target thievery or murder are
those who target thievery or murder are
those who target thievery or murder are never considered appropriate because
never considered appropriate because
never considered appropriate because they hurt the group of people that they
they hurt the group of people that they
they hurt the group of people that they target the same logic applies to
target the same logic applies to
target the same logic applies to xenophobia you will also face people who
xenophobia you will also face people who
xenophobia you will also face people who don’t believe that their words can truly
don’t believe that their words can truly
don’t believe that their words can truly hurt others
hurt others
hurt others once again never fall victim to this
once again never fall victim to this
once again never fall victim to this type of thinking even if somebody never
type of thinking even if somebody never
type of thinking even if somebody never expresses their words targeted at
expresses their words targeted at
expresses their words targeted at somebody remember they’re still
somebody remember they’re still
somebody remember they’re still spreading the plague of hate to those
spreading the plague of hate to those
spreading the plague of hate to those around them I will not stand idly by and
around them I will not stand idly by and
around them I will not stand idly by and watch my American brothers and sisters
watch my American brothers and sisters
watch my American brothers and sisters fall victim to hate and I challenge you
fall victim to hate and I challenge you
fall victim to hate and I challenge you to do the same stand up for people and
to do the same stand up for people and
to do the same stand up for people and use your words to inspire change as well
use your words to inspire change as well
use your words to inspire change as well as educate your peers on the effects
as educate your peers on the effects
as educate your peers on the effects historically and present of our
historically and present of our
historically and present of our xenophobia with these actions we can
xenophobia with these actions we can
xenophobia with these actions we can truly inspire change and make the world
truly inspire change and make the world
truly inspire change and make the world a better place thank you
a better place thank you
a better place thank you [Applause]
”
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