freyal lawyer turned stand-up comedian and baptist minister just what you
and baptist minister just what you
and baptist minister just what you thought when you saw me right wait it
thought when you saw me right wait it
thought when you saw me right wait it gets better
gets better
gets better i also ride a harley-davidson
i also ride a harley-davidson
i also ride a harley-davidson yes yes every year my husband and I take
yes yes every year my husband and I take
yes yes every year my husband and I take a two-week cross-country motorcycle trip
a two-week cross-country motorcycle trip
a two-week cross-country motorcycle trip and in fact a couple of years ago we
and in fact a couple of years ago we
and in fact a couple of years ago we were actually turned away from a motel
were actually turned away from a motel
were actually turned away from a motel in Montana because they thought we were
in Montana because they thought we were
in Montana because they thought we were Hells Angels I’m so proud of that that’s
Hells Angels I’m so proud of that that’s
Hells Angels I’m so proud of that that’s so great right I mean okay we were
so great right I mean okay we were
so great right I mean okay we were looking a little sketchy you know Here I
looking a little sketchy you know Here I
looking a little sketchy you know Here I am in my biker leathers and my fake
am in my biker leathers and my fake
am in my biker leathers and my fake tattoos what most clergy we’re on
tattoos what most clergy we’re on
tattoos what most clergy we’re on vacation you know but because of how we
vacation you know but because of how we
vacation you know but because of how we looked
looked
looked the desk clerk turned us away I mean I
the desk clerk turned us away I mean I
the desk clerk turned us away I mean I should have known better the name of the
should have known better the name of the
should have known better the name of the motel was the sea and sand which in
motel was the sea and sand which in
motel was the sea and sand which in Montana is suspect yeah but nonetheless
Montana is suspect yeah but nonetheless
Montana is suspect yeah but nonetheless we went next door to the biker friendly
we went next door to the biker friendly
we went next door to the biker friendly Days Inn freshened up I put on a clean
Days Inn freshened up I put on a clean
Days Inn freshened up I put on a clean Harley t-shirt and then decided to take
Harley t-shirt and then decided to take
Harley t-shirt and then decided to take my business card
my business card
my business card Reverend Susan sparks to my new friend
Reverend Susan sparks to my new friend
Reverend Susan sparks to my new friend at the cience and so I walk over there
at the cience and so I walk over there
at the cience and so I walk over there put the card on the desk and I’m like
put the card on the desk and I’m like
put the card on the desk and I’m like you know Bible says judge night well
you know Bible says judge night well
you know Bible says judge night well here’s the kicker as I’m walking out the
here’s the kicker as I’m walking out the
here’s the kicker as I’m walking out the door she bursts out laughing and says I
door she bursts out laughing and says I
door she bursts out laughing and says I guess there’s a little Hells Angel in
guess there’s a little Hells Angel in
guess there’s a little Hells Angel in all of us so great I mean the bottom
all of us so great I mean the bottom
all of us so great I mean the bottom line is we judge each other by the
line is we judge each other by the
line is we judge each other by the dumbest things things like where
dumbest things things like where
dumbest things things like where someone’s from or what they look like or
someone’s from or what they look like or
someone’s from or what they look like or what kind of biker leathers and fake
what kind of biker leathers and fake
what kind of biker leathers and fake tattoos they’re wearing things that have
tattoos they’re wearing things that have
tattoos they’re wearing things that have absolutely nothing to do with who we are
absolutely nothing to do with who we are
absolutely nothing to do with who we are as people I mean at least we could take
as people I mean at least we could take
as people I mean at least we could take the biker leathers off
but so many are judged for things they
but so many are judged for things they can’t take off things like race
can’t take off things like race
can’t take off things like race nationality gender even religion let me
nationality gender even religion let me
nationality gender even religion let me share with you what I have learned in 15
share with you what I have learned in 15
share with you what I have learned in 15 years as an ordained minister and a
years as an ordained minister and a
years as an ordained minister and a professional stand-up comedian you ready
professional stand-up comedian you ready
professional stand-up comedian you ready laughter is the key to world peace and
laughter is the key to world peace and
laughter is the key to world peace and no that’s not a punchline
no that’s not a punchline
no that’s not a punchline because when human beings when we look
because when human beings when we look
because when human beings when we look at each other we tend to see the
at each other we tend to see the
at each other we tend to see the differences first and laughter reverses
differences first and laughter reverses
differences first and laughter reverses that formula it’s like a when we laugh
that formula it’s like a when we laugh
that formula it’s like a when we laugh together we share something like a big
together we share something like a big
together we share something like a big spotlight comes down on our
spotlight comes down on our
spotlight comes down on our commonalities commonalities we may not
commonalities commonalities we may not
commonalities commonalities we may not have seen before and in that moment
have seen before and in that moment
have seen before and in that moment something shifts beneath the surface and
something shifts beneath the surface and
something shifts beneath the surface and we began to go from judgment to
we began to go from judgment to
we began to go from judgment to forgiveness from hatred to understanding
forgiveness from hatred to understanding
forgiveness from hatred to understanding from despair to hope I mean given the
from despair to hope I mean given the
from despair to hope I mean given the headlines and the papers can you imagine
headlines and the papers can you imagine
headlines and the papers can you imagine a message the world needs more one of my
a message the world needs more one of my
a message the world needs more one of my greatest joys is being part of the
greatest joys is being part of the
greatest joys is being part of the laugh-in piece Comedy Tour starring me a
laugh-in piece Comedy Tour starring me a
laugh-in piece Comedy Tour starring me a Baptist a stand-up rabbi and a Muslim
Baptist a stand-up rabbi and a Muslim
Baptist a stand-up rabbi and a Muslim comic yeah in our show rabbi Bob Alper
comic yeah in our show rabbi Bob Alper
comic yeah in our show rabbi Bob Alper for example talks about studying in
for example talks about studying in
for example talks about studying in Israel after seminary eager to try out
Israel after seminary eager to try out
Israel after seminary eager to try out his Biblical Hebrew he gets in a cab and
his Biblical Hebrew he gets in a cab and
his Biblical Hebrew he gets in a cab and says to the driver in Hebrew what he
says to the driver in Hebrew what he
says to the driver in Hebrew what he thinks is let me out here the driver
thinks is let me out here the driver
thinks is let me out here the driver bursts out laughing and explains what
bursts out laughing and explains what
bursts out laughing and explains what Bob had said was behold here I descend
I talked about the oftentimes narrow
I talked about the oftentimes narrow worldview of Christians including my
worldview of Christians including my
worldview of Christians including my people the Baptist
people the Baptist
people the Baptist for example Southern Baptists they can
for example Southern Baptists they can
for example Southern Baptists they can tow a pretty hard line but their
tow a pretty hard line but their
tow a pretty hard line but their theology is always short and sweet like
theology is always short and sweet like
theology is always short and sweet like their idea of heaven
their idea of heaven
their idea of heaven you ain’t Southern Baptist you ain’t
you ain’t Southern Baptist you ain’t
you ain’t Southern Baptist you ain’t coming you know that’s a lot of people
coming you know that’s a lot of people
coming you know that’s a lot of people not coming it’s like 6.5 billion people
not coming it’s like 6.5 billion people
not coming it’s like 6.5 billion people not coming you know if you look at a
not coming you know if you look at a
not coming you know if you look at a world map that’s like every landmass on
world map that’s like every landmass on
world map that’s like every landmass on the face of the globe not coming except
the face of the globe not coming except
the face of the globe not coming except Texas and Alabama and then as hard as
Texas and Alabama and then as hard as
Texas and Alabama and then as hard as mine our Muslim comic loves to riff on
mine our Muslim comic loves to riff on
mine our Muslim comic loves to riff on what it’s like to be a Muslim in America
what it’s like to be a Muslim in America
what it’s like to be a Muslim in America especially going through airports he
especially going through airports he
especially going through airports he says to our audience I don’t get why
says to our audience I don’t get why
says to our audience I don’t get why you’re so upset that you have to be
you’re so upset that you have to be
you’re so upset that you have to be there two weeks ahead of time I have to
there two weeks ahead of time I have to
there two weeks ahead of time I have to be there two months ahead of time our
be there two months ahead of time our
be there two months ahead of time our audiences which span everything from
audiences which span everything from
audiences which span everything from yarmulkes and burkas to Easter hats gets
yarmulkes and burkas to Easter hats gets
yarmulkes and burkas to Easter hats gets a rare visual Jewish Christian Muslim
a rare visual Jewish Christian Muslim
a rare visual Jewish Christian Muslim standing together not hating not judging
standing together not hating not judging
standing together not hating not judging but laughing in solidarity and it’s then
but laughing in solidarity and it’s then
but laughing in solidarity and it’s then our worlds ours and our audiences
our worlds ours and our audiences
our worlds ours and our audiences overlaps for a tiny but significant
overlaps for a tiny but significant
overlaps for a tiny but significant moment and we lock into our common
moment and we lock into our common
moment and we lock into our common humanity it’s no wonder that Georgetown
humanity it’s no wonder that Georgetown
humanity it’s no wonder that Georgetown University’s conflict resolution program
University’s conflict resolution program
University’s conflict resolution program has identified humor as playing a
has identified humor as playing a
has identified humor as playing a significant role in peace building I
significant role in peace building I
significant role in peace building I mean why not genetic studies showed that
mean why not genetic studies showed that
mean why not genetic studies showed that notwithstanding things like nationality
notwithstanding things like nationality
notwithstanding things like nationality or race or gender we as human beings are
or race or gender we as human beings are
or race or gender we as human beings are 99.99% genetically the same let me think
99.99% genetically the same let me think
99.99% genetically the same let me think about that I mean that means all of the
about that I mean that means all of the
about that I mean that means all of the hatred and judgment and even war
hatred and judgment and even war
hatred and judgment and even war is over point zero one percent I think
is over point zero one percent I think
is over point zero one percent I think that’s so crazy
that’s so crazy
that’s so crazy why would anybody fight over a teeny
why would anybody fight over a teeny
why would anybody fight over a teeny tiny decimal point I mean it’s like my
tiny decimal point I mean it’s like my
tiny decimal point I mean it’s like my southern grandmother used to say honey I
southern grandmother used to say honey I
southern grandmother used to say honey I think the butter has slipped off their
think the butter has slipped off their
think the butter has slipped off their biscuit let me share with you an example
biscuit let me share with you an example
biscuit let me share with you an example of what might happen if we would focus
of what might happen if we would focus
of what might happen if we would focus on the commonalities first it happened
on the commonalities first it happened
on the commonalities first it happened in one of our laughs and piece college
in one of our laughs and piece college
in one of our laughs and piece college shows it was sponsored by the Muslim
shows it was sponsored by the Muslim
shows it was sponsored by the Muslim Student Association and the Jewish
Student Association and the Jewish
Student Association and the Jewish Student Association and backstage before
Student Association and backstage before
Student Association and backstage before the show we heard the presidents of each
the show we heard the presidents of each
the show we heard the presidents of each organization busily talking about where
organization busily talking about where
organization busily talking about where they were going for dinner later they
they were going for dinner later they
they were going for dinner later they told us that even though their offices
told us that even though their offices
told us that even though their offices were right next to each other in the
were right next to each other in the
were right next to each other in the Student Union before the show they had
Student Union before the show they had
Student Union before the show they had never spoken and now their friends hang
never spoken and now their friends hang
never spoken and now their friends hang out look bottom line you cannot hate
out look bottom line you cannot hate
out look bottom line you cannot hate each other
each other
each other if you laugh together you just can’t I
if you laugh together you just can’t I
if you laugh together you just can’t I mean are we gonna change the world
mean are we gonna change the world
mean are we gonna change the world overnight with laughter no but we are
overnight with laughter no but we are
overnight with laughter no but we are gonna start a ripple effect
gonna start a ripple effect
gonna start a ripple effect a ripple effect where we change how we
a ripple effect where we change how we
a ripple effect where we change how we see each other and eventually change the
see each other and eventually change the
see each other and eventually change the world but that change has to start here
world but that change has to start here
world but that change has to start here with each one of us we have to be the
with each one of us we have to be the
with each one of us we have to be the first to make the move it’s like a
first to make the move it’s like a
first to make the move it’s like a parade that I saw last year in the
parade that I saw last year in the
parade that I saw last year in the Midwest it was called the stand still
Midwest it was called the stand still
Midwest it was called the stand still parade why because all of the floats and
parade why because all of the floats and
parade why because all of the floats and bands and Shriners were stationary
bands and Shriners were stationary
bands and Shriners were stationary parked along the road it was the crowd
parked along the road it was the crowd
parked along the road it was the crowd that marched by
well like that standstill parade we can
well like that standstill parade we can no longer afford to just stand still and
no longer afford to just stand still and
no longer afford to just stand still and watch judgment and hatred marched by
watch judgment and hatred marched by
watch judgment and hatred marched by it’s our time to move it’s our time to
it’s our time to move it’s our time to
it’s our time to move it’s our time to get up and march past that point zero
get up and march past that point zero
get up and march past that point zero one percent it’s our time to engage the
one percent it’s our time to engage the
one percent it’s our time to engage the world with a fresh new lens I mean it’s
world with a fresh new lens I mean it’s
world with a fresh new lens I mean it’s like a billboard my husband and I saw on
like a billboard my husband and I saw on
like a billboard my husband and I saw on our latest motorcycle trip at the top it
our latest motorcycle trip at the top it
our latest motorcycle trip at the top it said Minnesota cremation Society
said Minnesota cremation Society
said Minnesota cremation Society underneath that was a photograph of a
underneath that was a photograph of a
underneath that was a photograph of a casket and underneath that it said think
casket and underneath that it said think
casket and underneath that it said think outside the box that’s what I’m talking
outside the box that’s what I’m talking
outside the box that’s what I’m talking about
about
about I won’t laughter to help us live the
I won’t laughter to help us live the
I won’t laughter to help us live the words of that sign I won’t laughter to
words of that sign I won’t laughter to
words of that sign I won’t laughter to help us come at the world in a fresh new
help us come at the world in a fresh new
help us come at the world in a fresh new way I want laughter to help us see the
way I want laughter to help us see the
way I want laughter to help us see the commonalities first our homework I want
commonalities first our homework I want
commonalities first our homework I want each and every one of us to leave here
each and every one of us to leave here
each and every one of us to leave here today and start to bring laughter into
today and start to bring laughter into
today and start to bring laughter into every aspect of our lives into our
every aspect of our lives into our
every aspect of our lives into our workplaces our boardrooms our courtrooms
workplaces our boardrooms our courtrooms
workplaces our boardrooms our courtrooms our hospitals our jails are our schools
our hospitals our jails are our schools
our hospitals our jails are our schools our houses of worship our families bring
our houses of worship our families bring
our houses of worship our families bring humor into all aspects of your life so
humor into all aspects of your life so
humor into all aspects of your life so that together we can laugh our way to
that together we can laugh our way to
that together we can laugh our way to world peace one joke at a time thank you
world peace one joke at a time thank you
world peace one joke at a time thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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