dan roshani high Ripa is a freezing catch for that in English means starting
catch for that in English means starting
catch for that in English means starting in a land far away and not too long ago
in a land far away and not too long ago
in a land far away and not too long ago I learned about a 12 year old boy coming
I learned about a 12 year old boy coming
I learned about a 12 year old boy coming in love with the foreign land
in love with the foreign land
in love with the foreign land he worked shiny shoes and selling
he worked shiny shoes and selling
he worked shiny shoes and selling newspapers in La Plaza de Armas which is
newspapers in La Plaza de Armas which is
newspapers in La Plaza de Armas which is one of the most touristy streets in the
one of the most touristy streets in the
one of the most touristy streets in the city of Cuzco and he walked considerable
city of Cuzco and he walked considerable
city of Cuzco and he walked considerable distances in the course of a day shining
distances in the course of a day shining
distances in the course of a day shining the shoes of many people in the city and
the shoes of many people in the city and
the shoes of many people in the city and from the stories he got to here and
from the stories he got to here and
from the stories he got to here and people who got to meet he was
people who got to meet he was
people who got to meet he was particularly drawn to those coming from
particularly drawn to those coming from
particularly drawn to those coming from the United States years later he just
the United States years later he just
the United States years later he just finished school and time aligned just
finished school and time aligned just
finished school and time aligned just right for a program called the Visa
right for a program called the Visa
right for a program called the Visa Lottery which is a highly sought at u.s.
Lottery which is a highly sought at u.s.
Lottery which is a highly sought at u.s. immigration visa to accept applications
immigration visa to accept applications
immigration visa to accept applications from Peru because Peru was identified
from Peru because Peru was identified
from Peru because Peru was identified among some of the countries with low
among some of the countries with low
among some of the countries with low immigration rates to the United States
immigration rates to the United States
immigration rates to the United States in the early 2000s and it is literally
in the early 2000s and it is literally
in the early 2000s and it is literally by luck of the draw that you get chosen
by luck of the draw that you get chosen
by luck of the draw that you get chosen and he form part of the like you feel
and he form part of the like you feel
and he form part of the like you feel and you could just imagine he was
and you could just imagine he was
and you could just imagine he was extremely excited as if he’d actually
extremely excited as if he’d actually
extremely excited as if he’d actually won the million dollar lottery and this
won the million dollar lottery and this
won the million dollar lottery and this extremely excited young boy it was my
extremely excited young boy it was my
extremely excited young boy it was my dad he embarked on this journey with the
dad he embarked on this journey with the
dad he embarked on this journey with the rest of our family shortly after and
rest of our family shortly after and
rest of our family shortly after and similar to him many people today leave
similar to him many people today leave
similar to him many people today leave their home for a number of different
their home for a number of different
their home for a number of different reasons
reasons
reasons people leave their home as migrants has
people leave their home as migrants has
people leave their home as migrants has internally displaced people who are
internally displaced people who are
internally displaced people who are those fleeing their home within their
those fleeing their home within their
those fleeing their home within their country’s borders there are also people
country’s borders there are also people
country’s borders there are also people who leave their home is asylum seekers
who leave their home is asylum seekers
who leave their home is asylum seekers in his refugees where those forced to
in his refugees where those forced to
in his refugees where those forced to flee due to persecution conflict and
flee due to persecution conflict and
flee due to persecution conflict and natural disaster and I want to school
natural disaster and I want to school
natural disaster and I want to school with many of these kids who loved their
with many of these kids who loved their
with many of these kids who loved their home country along with their family for
home country along with their family for
home country along with their family for a better future
a better future
a better future but you see school was also where I
but you see school was also where I
but you see school was also where I first encountered light-skinned American
first encountered light-skinned American
first encountered light-skinned American kids from predominantly white
kids from predominantly white
kids from predominantly white backgrounds who opened my eyes just a
backgrounds who opened my eyes just a
backgrounds who opened my eyes just a little bit more to how I was perceived
little bit more to how I was perceived
little bit more to how I was perceived in this culture I would often be
in this culture I would often be
in this culture I would often be referenced as brown and I remember as a
referenced as brown and I remember as a
referenced as brown and I remember as a kid learning English taking that quite
kid learning English taking that quite
kid learning English taking that quite literally in fact I remember convincing
literally in fact I remember convincing
literally in fact I remember convincing my mom to buy me a set of Crayola
my mom to buy me a set of Crayola
my mom to buy me a set of Crayola crayons for a school experiment
crayons for a school experiment
crayons for a school experiment and one by one I align my fist through
and one by one I align my fist through
and one by one I align my fist through the brown pieces in the box
the brown pieces in the box
the brown pieces in the box tire sleep and I mean tire sleep trying
tire sleep and I mean tire sleep trying
tire sleep and I mean tire sleep trying to match my skin with the brown crayon
to match my skin with the brown crayon
to match my skin with the brown crayon in hopes of finding relatable and
in hopes of finding relatable and
in hopes of finding relatable and affirming ways to define who I was but
affirming ways to define who I was but
affirming ways to define who I was but you see comments like these became less
you see comments like these became less
you see comments like these became less and less than usual because really we’re
and less than usual because really we’re
and less than usual because really we’re all programmed to notice difference
all programmed to notice difference
all programmed to notice difference I’m not saying be cool about it but we
I’m not saying be cool about it but we
I’m not saying be cool about it but we all notice skin color in fact our brain
all notice skin color in fact our brain
all notice skin color in fact our brain is hardwired with an evolutionary legacy
is hardwired with an evolutionary legacy
is hardwired with an evolutionary legacy to divide the world we live in into two
to divide the world we live in into two
to divide the world we live in into two groups the us under them where we are
groups the us under them where we are
groups the us under them where we are often kind tolerable understanding
often kind tolerable understanding
often kind tolerable understanding empathetic to people we consider an
empathetic to people we consider an
empathetic to people we consider an anger member and we’re completely the
anger member and we’re completely the
anger member and we’re completely the opposite to people we can set an
opposite to people we can set an
opposite to people we can set an accurate remember which is for them or
accurate remember which is for them or
accurate remember which is for them or the other and people coming from migrant
the other and people coming from migrant
the other and people coming from migrant refugee asylum seeking backgrounds often
refugee asylum seeking backgrounds often
refugee asylum seeking backgrounds often fall in one of these two groups
fall in one of these two groups
fall in one of these two groups but you see this type of group
but you see this type of group
but you see this type of group membership often favors in-group members
membership often favors in-group members
membership often favors in-group members at the expense of out group members and
at the expense of out group members and
at the expense of out group members and I thought this whole concept play out a
I thought this whole concept play out a
I thought this whole concept play out a couple weeks ago when I visited a town
couple weeks ago when I visited a town
couple weeks ago when I visited a town in Greece located in Keke’s there was a
in Greece located in Keke’s there was a
in Greece located in Keke’s there was a very apparent division the locals on one
very apparent division the locals on one
very apparent division the locals on one side and a handful of nonprofit
side and a handful of nonprofit
side and a handful of nonprofit organizations on this other side and
organizations on this other side and
organizations on this other side and these were organizations specifically
these were organizations specifically
these were organizations specifically serving refugee families coming in from
serving refugee families coming in from
serving refugee families coming in from Turkey to Greece and there was a very
Turkey to Greece and there was a very
Turkey to Greece and there was a very apparent divide a number of these
apparent divide a number of these
apparent divide a number of these organizations considering Greece’s
organizations considering Greece’s
organizations considering Greece’s current tough economic crises as well as
current tough economic crises as well as
current tough economic crises as well as the established tech community people in
the established tech community people in
the established tech community people in that little town a lot of them but all
that little town a lot of them but all
that little town a lot of them but all the locals perceived the new families
the locals perceived the new families
the locals perceived the new families coming in as Vernis BC that changed when
coming in as Vernis BC that changed when
coming in as Vernis BC that changed when these organizations decided that they
these organizations decided that they
these organizations decided that they would rather invest in the town small
would rather invest in the town small
would rather invest in the town small businesses to buy the furniture supplies
businesses to buy the furniture supplies
businesses to buy the furniture supplies they needed rather than going like eeeh
they needed rather than going like eeeh
they needed rather than going like eeeh and they did this intentionally because
and they did this intentionally because
and they did this intentionally because in this process let they let the locals
in this process let they let the locals
in this process let they let the locals know about who these refugee families
know about who these refugee families
know about who these refugee families were the makeup of these new families a
were the makeup of these new families a
were the makeup of these new families a little by little believe it or not a lot
little by little believe it or not a lot
little by little believe it or not a lot of the locals found they had a lot of
of the locals found they had a lot of
of the locals found they had a lot of things in common
things in common
things in common and vice-versa and they were these new
and vice-versa and they were these new
and vice-versa and they were these new families were soon described as assets
families were soon described as assets
families were soon described as assets to their community rather than burdens
to their community rather than burdens
to their community rather than burdens but more than that were described as
but more than that were described as
but more than that were described as actual human beings and I would often
actual human beings and I would often
actual human beings and I would often wonder what about if it were up to you
wonder what about if it were up to you
wonder what about if it were up to you or me to build her own little town or
or me to build her own little town or
or me to build her own little town or society from scratch where things could
society from scratch where things could
society from scratch where things could be a little more fair and less divided
be a little more fair and less divided
be a little more fair and less divided like in giggy’s and one of my platonic
like in giggy’s and one of my platonic
like in giggy’s and one of my platonic crushes of all times philosopher John
crushes of all times philosopher John
crushes of all times philosopher John Rawls proposes the veil of ignorance as
Rawls proposes the veil of ignorance as
Rawls proposes the veil of ignorance as the way of seeing things in a different
the way of seeing things in a different
the way of seeing things in a different light
light
light he says that behind this imaginary veil
he says that behind this imaginary veil
he says that behind this imaginary veil we don’t know anything about ourselves
we don’t know anything about ourselves
we don’t know anything about ourselves we don’t know we don’t know our age
we don’t know we don’t know our age
we don’t know we don’t know our age nationality gender occupation the power
nationality gender occupation the power
nationality gender occupation the power we hold in that new society behind this
we hold in that new society behind this
we hold in that new society behind this veil he says that then we would strive
veil he says that then we would strive
veil he says that then we would strive for a more fair and just equitable
for a more fair and just equitable
for a more fair and just equitable Society and philosopher bets take this
Society and philosopher bets take this
Society and philosopher bets take this even further and he says behind this
even further and he says behind this
even further and he says behind this veil we are all potentially refugees
veil we are all potentially refugees
veil we are all potentially refugees that refugees are ordinary people in
that refugees are ordinary people in
that refugees are ordinary people in exceptional situations and the same
exceptional situations and the same
exceptional situations and the same stands true for any other group
stands true for any other group
stands true for any other group exemplifying human mobility today but
exemplifying human mobility today but
exemplifying human mobility today but now imagine this that you don’t know if
now imagine this that you don’t know if
now imagine this that you don’t know if you’re brown black or white you don’t
you’re brown black or white you don’t
you’re brown black or white you don’t know if you’re rich or poor you don’t
know if you’re rich or poor you don’t
know if you’re rich or poor you don’t know if you’re healthy or sick you don’t
know if you’re healthy or sick you don’t
know if you’re healthy or sick you don’t know if you’re female male or identified
know if you’re female male or identified
know if you’re female male or identified within the LGBTQ community you don’t
within the LGBTQ community you don’t
within the LGBTQ community you don’t even know if you’re Muslim Catholic or
even know if you’re Muslim Catholic or
even know if you’re Muslim Catholic or an atheist just to name a few of course
an atheist just to name a few of course
an atheist just to name a few of course behind this veil in this new society how
behind this veil in this new society how
behind this veil in this new society how what do you think of immigration policy
what do you think of immigration policy
what do you think of immigration policy how would you feel about immigration
how would you feel about immigration
how would you feel about immigration policy and this is where it gets a whole
policy and this is where it gets a whole
policy and this is where it gets a whole lot more interesting for me because I
lot more interesting for me because I
lot more interesting for me because I arbitrarily asked a hundred people what
arbitrarily asked a hundred people what
arbitrarily asked a hundred people what they would do to be more kind to
they would do to be more kind to
they would do to be more kind to tolerable and understanding to people
tolerable and understanding to people
tolerable and understanding to people from refugee asylum seeking and refugee
from refugee asylum seeking and refugee
from refugee asylum seeking and refugee backgrounds including migrants and 95%
backgrounds including migrants and 95%
backgrounds including migrants and 95% of the immediate response I would get
of the immediate response I would get
of the immediate response I would get consisted of a four letter word and it
consisted of a four letter word and it
consisted of a four letter word and it was help not the type of help that you
was help not the type of help that you
was help not the type of help that you would scream if your house is on fire or
would scream if your house is on fire or
would scream if your house is on fire or if you got in a pool not at all the type
if you got in a pool not at all the type
if you got in a pool not at all the type of help that would go along the lines of
of help that would go along the lines of
of help that would go along the lines of responses like this well I would
responses like this well I would
responses like this well I would volunteer I would be more generous with
volunteer I would be more generous with
volunteer I would be more generous with my
my
my I’m I would be kinder to people and do a
I’m I would be kinder to people and do a
I’m I would be kinder to people and do a community service project and you see
community service project and you see
community service project and you see that’s a great start but it’s also
that’s a great start but it’s also
that’s a great start but it’s also problematic one and here’s why because
problematic one and here’s why because
problematic one and here’s why because how P needs different things for many
how P needs different things for many
how P needs different things for many different people and for some it’s a
different people and for some it’s a
different people and for some it’s a checkbox on a to do list
checkbox on a to do list
checkbox on a to do list often driven by self-interest as he I’m
often driven by self-interest as he I’m
often driven by self-interest as he I’m guilty of this I formed part of that 95%
guilty of this I formed part of that 95%
guilty of this I formed part of that 95% well and I also decided to go and help
well and I also decided to go and help
well and I also decided to go and help specifically help rebuilt the community
specifically help rebuilt the community
specifically help rebuilt the community center right in the plaza of the town
center right in the plaza of the town
center right in the plaza of the town and kikis with a group of students we
and kikis with a group of students we
and kikis with a group of students we rolled up our sleeves and began painting
rolled up our sleeves and began painting
rolled up our sleeves and began painting the wall arranging the furniture and
the wall arranging the furniture and
the wall arranging the furniture and decorating the room until one man from
decorating the room until one man from
decorating the room until one man from Syria in the room came in and he said
Syria in the room came in and he said
Syria in the room came in and he said stop he said I don’t need you to paint
stop he said I don’t need you to paint
stop he said I don’t need you to paint the wall arrange the furniture decorate
the wall arrange the furniture decorate
the wall arrange the furniture decorate this room I can easily do that myself I
this room I can easily do that myself I
this room I can easily do that myself I would love someone that I could have a
would love someone that I could have a
would love someone that I could have a conversation with or join me for a
conversation with or join me for a
conversation with or join me for a family lunch there was complete silence
family lunch there was complete silence
family lunch there was complete silence in the room and to be completely honest
in the room and to be completely honest
in the room and to be completely honest with you I was actually expecting a
with you I was actually expecting a
with you I was actually expecting a thank you because of all the hard work
thank you because of all the hard work
thank you because of all the hard work dedication time it’s what I’d put into
dedication time it’s what I’d put into
dedication time it’s what I’d put into that project the Fitz man was right I
that project the Fitz man was right I
that project the Fitz man was right I had lost complete focus on the point of
had lost complete focus on the point of
had lost complete focus on the point of the project but more than that this man
the project but more than that this man
the project but more than that this man in front of me also has dreams
in front of me also has dreams
in front of me also has dreams aspirations desires and a family could
aspirations desires and a family could
aspirations desires and a family could be me could be you could be my parents
be me could be you could be my parents
be me could be you could be my parents could be a brother an uncle
could be a brother an uncle
could be a brother an uncle and what about of their work you know if
and what about of their work you know if
and what about of their work you know if it were you how would you feel about a
it were you how would you feel about a
it were you how would you feel about a group of people coming in to help you
group of people coming in to help you
group of people coming in to help you without being a hundred percent crystal
without being a hundred percent crystal
without being a hundred percent crystal clear on what you need help with or if
clear on what you need help with or if
clear on what you need help with or if you need help with at all and everything
you need help with at all and everything
you need help with at all and everything I was taught in Western culture
I was taught in Western culture
I was taught in Western culture backfired and I asked myself so is
backfired and I asked myself so is
backfired and I asked myself so is helping alone is not the answer
helping alone is not the answer
helping alone is not the answer to moving past this us and then
to moving past this us and then
to moving past this us and then mentality then what is and I’m trying to
mentality then what is and I’m trying to
mentality then what is and I’m trying to wrap my head around this I’d often
wrap my head around this I’d often
wrap my head around this I’d often wonder well how did people in the past
wonder well how did people in the past
wonder well how did people in the past managed to solve issues or division is
managed to solve issues or division is
managed to solve issues or division is so prevalent like it is now and I think
so prevalent like it is now and I think
so prevalent like it is now and I think we’ve actually had the answer for a
we’ve actually had the answer for a
we’ve actually had the answer for a pretty long time and it’s really a
pretty long time and it’s really a
pretty long time and it’s really a simple one but first I know I had to do
simple one but first I know I had to do
simple one but first I know I had to do some soul-searching and that part of my
some soul-searching and that part of my
some soul-searching and that part of my identity are my cultural roots and go to
identity are my cultural roots and go to
identity are my cultural roots and go to my ancestors identity are three
my ancestors identity are three
my ancestors identity are three cornerstones which they called the three
cornerstones which they called the three
cornerstones which they called the three cornerstones of the Inca law and in
cornerstones of the Inca law and in
cornerstones of the Inca law and in Quechua that goes like this
Quechua that goes like this
Quechua that goes like this I’m a sua I’m a que ya am i you yeah
I’m a sua I’m a que ya am i you yeah
I’m a sua I’m a que ya am i you yeah which translated to English means do not
which translated to English means do not
which translated to English means do not steal do not lie and do not be lazy and
steal do not lie and do not be lazy and
steal do not lie and do not be lazy and I’m here to propose these three things
I’m here to propose these three things
I’m here to propose these three things but with the twist number one do not
but with the twist number one do not
but with the twist number one do not steal don’t steal from others the
steal don’t steal from others the
steal don’t steal from others the opportunity of getting to know you like
opportunity of getting to know you like
opportunity of getting to know you like the 12 year old boy from Cusco talked to
the 12 year old boy from Cusco talked to
the 12 year old boy from Cusco talked to others interact respect and socialise in
others interact respect and socialise in
others interact respect and socialise in communities that are different than
communities that are different than
communities that are different than yours where you can engage in reciprocal
yours where you can engage in reciprocal
yours where you can engage in reciprocal learning because that is key and perhaps
learning because that is key and perhaps
learning because that is key and perhaps one of the things you learn and this
one of the things you learn and this
one of the things you learn and this might sound totally crazy is that a
might sound totally crazy is that a
might sound totally crazy is that a refugee camp is not a zoo and that a
refugee camp is not a zoo and that a
refugee camp is not a zoo and that a migrants experience goes beyond then
migrants experience goes beyond then
migrants experience goes beyond then that documentary you watched on Netflix
that documentary you watched on Netflix
that documentary you watched on Netflix the other day number two it’s not lie
the other day number two it’s not lie
the other day number two it’s not lie don’t lie about what you don’t know
don’t lie about what you don’t know
don’t lie about what you don’t know anybody you’ll ever meet like this man
anybody you’ll ever meet like this man
anybody you’ll ever meet like this man from Syria knows something that you
from Syria knows something that you
from Syria knows something that you don’t and taking that from a humbling
don’t and taking that from a humbling
don’t and taking that from a humbling starting point but rather than saying oh
starting point but rather than saying oh
starting point but rather than saying oh I I know a whole lot because I’ve taken
I I know a whole lot because I’ve taken
I I know a whole lot because I’ve taken this very intensive class or I’ve read
this very intensive class or I’ve read
this very intensive class or I’ve read this really good book or even I’m super
this really good book or even I’m super
this really good book or even I’m super active on this particular issue on
active on this particular issue on
active on this particular issue on Facebook this was a shocker oh I want a
Facebook this was a shocker oh I want a
Facebook this was a shocker oh I want a broad no you come from a place of
broad no you come from a place of
broad no you come from a place of learning where you are at the edge of
learning where you are at the edge of
learning where you are at the edge of your seat not because you’re winning an
your seat not because you’re winning an
your seat not because you’re winning an argument but because your mind has
argument but because your mind has
argument but because your mind has opened up to so much more and number
opened up to so much more and number
opened up to so much more and number three don’t be lazy don’t be lazy with
three don’t be lazy don’t be lazy with
three don’t be lazy don’t be lazy with your everyday language just being a
your everyday language just being a
your everyday language just being a little more intentional about how you
little more intentional about how you
little more intentional about how you first introduce someone with their full
first introduce someone with their full
first introduce someone with their full name prefer gender pronoun story or
name prefer gender pronoun story or
name prefer gender pronoun story or strength that you admire from that
strength that you admire from that
strength that you admire from that person makes a huge difference
person makes a huge difference
person makes a huge difference like the organizations in khakis dead
like the organizations in khakis dead
like the organizations in khakis dead have you ever wondered why you often
have you ever wondered why you often
have you ever wondered why you often hear refugee child refugee parent maybe
hear refugee child refugee parent maybe
hear refugee child refugee parent maybe on the media from another person rather
on the media from another person rather
on the media from another person rather than hearing child’s with refugee status
than hearing child’s with refugee status
than hearing child’s with refugee status or parent with refugee background
or parent with refugee background
or parent with refugee background there’s a big difference between the two
there’s a big difference between the two
there’s a big difference between the two because the term refugee itself is not
because the term refugee itself is not
because the term refugee itself is not someone’s full identity it’s an
someone’s full identity it’s an
someone’s full identity it’s an experience in circumstance in the moment
experience in circumstance in the moment
experience in circumstance in the moment like it is for many other identities and
like it is for many other identities and
like it is for many other identities and I’m a sua I’m a gay yeah I’m a you yeah
I’m a sua I’m a gay yeah I’m a you yeah
I’m a sua I’m a gay yeah I’m a you yeah or three things you can easily easily
or three things you can easily easily
or three things you can easily easily put into practice today and can go a
put into practice today and can go a
put into practice today and can go a long way and they were three principles
long way and they were three principles
long way and they were three principles that my dad as a boy called true – and
that my dad as a boy called true – and
that my dad as a boy called true – and even though coming to the United States
even though coming to the United States
even though coming to the United States was not all unicorns and rainbows I know
was not all unicorns and rainbows I know
was not all unicorns and rainbows I know that some of his and my whole family’s
that some of his and my whole family’s
that some of his and my whole family’s most cherished memories in this country
most cherished memories in this country
most cherished memories in this country has been when we felt included and part
has been when we felt included and part
has been when we felt included and part of something bigger and even though this
of something bigger and even though this
of something bigger and even though this will us-and-them
will us-and-them
will us-and-them rhetoric and mentality might feel like
rhetoric and mentality might feel like
rhetoric and mentality might feel like ripping off a band-aid because it is
ripping off a band-aid because it is
ripping off a band-aid because it is painful it is complicated
painful it is complicated
painful it is complicated we shouldn’t get rid of it because it
we shouldn’t get rid of it because it
we shouldn’t get rid of it because it would be nearly impossible to do no we
would be nearly impossible to do no we
would be nearly impossible to do no we should move past it and cherish it
should move past it and cherish it
should move past it and cherish it because there is no other we are all the
because there is no other we are all the
because there is no other we are all the other I promise you unexpected
other I promise you unexpected
other I promise you unexpected opportunities will present themselves in
opportunities will present themselves in
opportunities will present themselves in your lives where you will be able to
your lives where you will be able to
your lives where you will be able to steer away from stealing lying and
steer away from stealing lying and
steer away from stealing lying and laziness in that process let those know
laziness in that process let those know
laziness in that process let those know in your circles that we are in it
in your circles that we are in it
in your circles that we are in it together that we are on the same side
together that we are on the same side
together that we are on the same side the side of solidarity equity and
the side of solidarity equity and
the side of solidarity equity and compassion for others a close mentor of
compassion for others a close mentor of
compassion for others a close mentor of mine once said but the migrant crisis is
mine once said but the migrant crisis is
mine once said but the migrant crisis is our generations civil rights movement
our generations civil rights movement
our generations civil rights movement and so I say let’s start focusing on
and so I say let’s start focusing on
and so I say let’s start focusing on what unites us rather than on what is
what unites us rather than on what is
what unites us rather than on what is dividing us thank you
dividing us thank you
dividing us thank you [Applause]
”
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