right now in America we are spending an awful lot of our time fighting with each
awful lot of our time fighting with each
awful lot of our time fighting with each other we fight on Facebook and on
other we fight on Facebook and on
other we fight on Facebook and on Twitter we fight in the streets of our
Twitter we fight in the streets of our
Twitter we fight in the streets of our cities and on our college campuses and
cities and on our college campuses and
cities and on our college campuses and all of this fighting with each other
all of this fighting with each other
all of this fighting with each other would be bad enough if it simply made
would be bad enough if it simply made
would be bad enough if it simply made people miserable or if it spilled over
people miserable or if it spilled over
people miserable or if it spilled over into occasional violence as it does but
into occasional violence as it does but
into occasional violence as it does but the reason it’s a crisis we need to face
the reason it’s a crisis we need to face
the reason it’s a crisis we need to face is because from our local communities to
is because from our local communities to
is because from our local communities to the halls of Congress all of this
the halls of Congress all of this
the halls of Congress all of this fighting is preventing us from meeting
fighting is preventing us from meeting
fighting is preventing us from meeting the real challenges that face us
the real challenges that face us
the real challenges that face us and the challenges are not waiting
and the challenges are not waiting
and the challenges are not waiting around for us storms of increasing
around for us storms of increasing
around for us storms of increasing intensity threaten our coastal cities
intensity threaten our coastal cities
intensity threaten our coastal cities wildfire sweep across northern
wildfire sweep across northern
wildfire sweep across northern California and the Pacific Northwest
California and the Pacific Northwest
California and the Pacific Northwest destroying crops and homes and
destroying crops and homes and
destroying crops and homes and businesses opioid addiction has brought
businesses opioid addiction has brought
businesses opioid addiction has brought communities in West Virginia and
communities in West Virginia and
communities in West Virginia and Kentucky and Ohio and across the United
Kentucky and Ohio and across the United
Kentucky and Ohio and across the United States to their knees the challenges are
States to their knees the challenges are
States to their knees the challenges are ongoing we are fighting with each other
ongoing we are fighting with each other
ongoing we are fighting with each other and we need to come to terms with that
and we need to come to terms with that
and we need to come to terms with that reality I don’t have a silver bullet
reality I don’t have a silver bullet
reality I don’t have a silver bullet that will solve this problem I don’t
that will solve this problem I don’t
that will solve this problem I don’t think anybody does
think anybody does
think anybody does but what I want to share with you is a
but what I want to share with you is a
but what I want to share with you is a way of thinking about our relationships
way of thinking about our relationships
way of thinking about our relationships with each other that can give us the
with each other that can give us the
with each other that can give us the opportunity to move forward out of the
opportunity to move forward out of the
opportunity to move forward out of the current morass in which we said and to
current morass in which we said and to
current morass in which we said and to do that I want to share with you a story
do that I want to share with you a story
do that I want to share with you a story from my own family about a conversation
from my own family about a conversation
from my own family about a conversation many years ago with my father and then I
many years ago with my father and then I
many years ago with my father and then I want to talk a little bit about what I
want to talk a little bit about what I
want to talk a little bit about what I think we can derive from that story and
think we can derive from that story and
think we can derive from that story and then say a bit about how that can give
then say a bit about how that can give
then say a bit about how that can give us a way of thinking differently about
us a way of thinking differently about
us a way of thinking differently about how we connect with other people now and
how we connect with other people now and
how we connect with other people now and into the future so please allow me to
into the future so please allow me to
into the future so please allow me to head back about 40 years to the summer
head back about 40 years to the summer
head back about 40 years to the summer of 1979 I was an 11 year old boy and I
of 1979 I was an 11 year old boy and I
of 1979 I was an 11 year old boy and I was headed off for a four-day kayaking
was headed off for a four-day kayaking
was headed off for a four-day kayaking adventure with my father we were headed
adventure with my father we were headed
adventure with my father we were headed to the Delaware River on the border
to the Delaware River on the border
to the Delaware River on the border between New York and Pennsylvania to
between New York and Pennsylvania to
between New York and Pennsylvania to spend four days together and I was
spend four days together and I was
spend four days together and I was really excited about it my father built
really excited about it my father built
really excited about it my father built it up I was the youngest of four kids
it up I was the youngest of four kids
it up I was the youngest of four kids this was a chance for just the two of us
this was a chance for just the two of us
this was a chance for just the two of us to spend some time too
to spend some time too
to spend some time too and he talked about how we would camp by
and he talked about how we would camp by
and he talked about how we would camp by the side of the river and cook our own
the side of the river and cook our own
the side of the river and cook our own food and live off the land and I was
food and live off the land and I was
food and live off the land and I was excited about it and we headed up in the
excited about it and we headed up in the
excited about it and we headed up in the first stop on a trip like that is at the
first stop on a trip like that is at the
first stop on a trip like that is at the outfitter shop and you go there and
outfitter shop and you go there and
outfitter shop and you go there and that’s where you rent your boat and you
that’s where you rent your boat and you
that’s where you rent your boat and you get yourself a map and for the younger
get yourself a map and for the younger
get yourself a map and for the younger members of our audience a map is a
members of our audience a map is a
members of our audience a map is a picture of the earth stamped on a dead
picture of the earth stamped on a dead
picture of the earth stamped on a dead tree if you haven’t thought of inventing
tree if you haven’t thought of inventing
tree if you haven’t thought of inventing Google Maps yet that’s what you have to
Google Maps yet that’s what you have to
Google Maps yet that’s what you have to use so we got that equipment we got that
use so we got that equipment we got that
use so we got that equipment we got that gear we put it all on the Outfitters
gear we put it all on the Outfitters
gear we put it all on the Outfitters truck and he drove us about 60 miles up
truck and he drove us about 60 miles up
truck and he drove us about 60 miles up the river and the outfitter was a guy
the river and the outfitter was a guy
the river and the outfitter was a guy about 10 or 15 years older than my
about 10 or 15 years older than my
about 10 or 15 years older than my father an immigrant from Germany and
father an immigrant from Germany and
father an immigrant from Germany and they spoke together in German a little
they spoke together in German a little
they spoke together in German a little bit and then they switched back to
bit and then they switched back to
bit and then they switched back to English so that I wouldn’t be left out
English so that I wouldn’t be left out
English so that I wouldn’t be left out of the conversation and we spent about
of the conversation and we spent about
of the conversation and we spent about two hours with this guy all told
two hours with this guy all told
two hours with this guy all told including that 60 mile drive and the
including that 60 mile drive and the
including that 60 mile drive and the whole time my father was chatting in a
whole time my father was chatting in a
whole time my father was chatting in a very friendly way with him engaging him
very friendly way with him engaging him
very friendly way with him engaging him and and I could see knowing my father
and and I could see knowing my father
and and I could see knowing my father well that he was really working to make
well that he was really working to make
well that he was really working to make a connection so that this guy felt
a connection so that this guy felt
a connection so that this guy felt comfortable with these two strangers
comfortable with these two strangers
comfortable with these two strangers hanging out in his shop in his car for a
hanging out in his shop in his car for a
hanging out in his shop in his car for a couple of hours and the whole time I was
couple of hours and the whole time I was
couple of hours and the whole time I was baffled and to explain why I was so
baffled and to explain why I was so
baffled and to explain why I was so confused I need to tell you a little bit
confused I need to tell you a little bit
confused I need to tell you a little bit about my father’s story so he was born
about my father’s story so he was born
about my father’s story so he was born in 1926 in Berlin and the first part of
in 1926 in Berlin and the first part of
in 1926 in Berlin and the first part of his childhood was very happy he was from
his childhood was very happy he was from
his childhood was very happy he was from a very prosperous family his father was
a very prosperous family his father was
a very prosperous family his father was a successful attorney and his early
a successful attorney and his early
a successful attorney and his early childhood was full of happy memories and
childhood was full of happy memories and
childhood was full of happy memories and in 1933 with the rise of the Nazi regime
in 1933 with the rise of the Nazi regime
in 1933 with the rise of the Nazi regime everything was turned on its head for
everything was turned on its head for
everything was turned on its head for his family and all the members of the
his family and all the members of the
his family and all the members of the German Jewish community and from then on
German Jewish community and from then on
German Jewish community and from then on life became a nightmare and he and his
life became a nightmare and he and his
life became a nightmare and he and his mother and his sister eventually escaped
mother and his sister eventually escaped
mother and his sister eventually escaped came to the United States his father did
came to the United States his father did
came to the United States his father did not get out and ended up dying in a Nazi
not get out and ended up dying in a Nazi
not get out and ended up dying in a Nazi camp and I knew all of this history and
camp and I knew all of this history and
camp and I knew all of this history and I could not understand how my father
I could not understand how my father
I could not understand how my father there with a man who was precisely of
there with a man who was precisely of
there with a man who was precisely of the age where he could have been
the age where he could have been
the age where he could have been directly involved in those events I
directly involved in those events I
directly involved in those events I could not understand how my father could
could not understand how my father could
could not understand how my father could be so friendly could be working to make
be so friendly could be working to make
be so friendly could be working to make a connection with him to make him feel
a connection with him to make him feel
a connection with him to make him feel comfortable with us as we spent time
comfortable with us as we spent time
comfortable with us as we spent time together and I knew also that my father
together and I knew also that my father
together and I knew also that my father did not like to talk
did not like to talk
did not like to talk about this time in his life it was as
about this time in his life it was as
about this time in his life it was as you can imagine quite painful and so I
you can imagine quite painful and so I
you can imagine quite painful and so I really didn’t want to ask him about it
really didn’t want to ask him about it
really didn’t want to ask him about it but you spend four days together in a
but you spend four days together in a
but you spend four days together in a boat on a river and just about every
boat on a river and just about every
boat on a river and just about every thought that enters your head will leave
thought that enters your head will leave
thought that enters your head will leave through your mouth and so I finally
through your mouth and so I finally
through your mouth and so I finally asked my father about this
asked my father about this
asked my father about this how could he have reached out in this
how could he have reached out in this
how could he have reached out in this way to this man and my father did what
way to this man and my father did what
way to this man and my father did what he often did which was he answered my
he often did which was he answered my
he often did which was he answered my question with a story and so he took me
question with a story and so he took me
question with a story and so he took me back another 40 years to November of
back another 40 years to November of
back another 40 years to November of 1938 a night that we all now know as
1938 a night that we all now know as
1938 a night that we all now know as crystal nacht and for those of you not
crystal nacht and for those of you not
crystal nacht and for those of you not familiar with the history on that night
familiar with the history on that night
familiar with the history on that night Nazi troopers and paramilitaries and
Nazi troopers and paramilitaries and
Nazi troopers and paramilitaries and thugs set out in cities across Austria
thugs set out in cities across Austria
thugs set out in cities across Austria and Germany to torment the German Jewish
and Germany to torment the German Jewish
and Germany to torment the German Jewish community they smashed the windows of
community they smashed the windows of
community they smashed the windows of Jewish owned shops they torched
Jewish owned shops they torched
Jewish owned shops they torched synagogues they attacked Jews and
synagogues they attacked Jews and
synagogues they attacked Jews and rounded them up hundreds died that night
rounded them up hundreds died that night
rounded them up hundreds died that night and hundreds more died later from the
and hundreds more died later from the
and hundreds more died later from the consequences of that night and my father
consequences of that night and my father
consequences of that night and my father said on that night he was at home with
said on that night he was at home with
said on that night he was at home with his mother and his sister his father was
his mother and his sister his father was
his mother and his sister his father was out of the country on business and the
out of the country on business and the
out of the country on business and the phone began to ring and most of the
phone began to ring and most of the
phone began to ring and most of the calls came from other members of the
calls came from other members of the
calls came from other members of the Jewish community friends neighbors
Jewish community friends neighbors
Jewish community friends neighbors checking on each other seeing how people
checking on each other seeing how people
checking on each other seeing how people in their community were doing but he
in their community were doing but he
in their community were doing but he said some of the calls that night came
said some of the calls that night came
said some of the calls that night came from non-jews from clients of my
from non-jews from clients of my
from non-jews from clients of my grandfather and business associates who
grandfather and business associates who
grandfather and business associates who were reaching out to find out how the
were reaching out to find out how the
were reaching out to find out how the family was doing and to ask whether
family was doing and to ask whether
family was doing and to ask whether there was anything they could do to help
there was anything they could do to help
there was anything they could do to help and my father said I know that most
and my father said I know that most
and my father said I know that most Germans at that time were supportive of
Germans at that time were supportive of
Germans at that time were supportive of the Nazi regime either actively or
the Nazi regime either actively or
the Nazi regime either actively or tacitly others were just not
tacitly others were just not
tacitly others were just not sufficiently concerned about their
sufficiently concerned about their
sufficiently concerned about their neighbors to bother to reach out but he
neighbors to bother to reach out but he
neighbors to bother to reach out but he said I also know that some German
said I also know that some German
said I also know that some German non-jews reached out to us at great
non-jews reached out to us at great
non-jews reached out to us at great potential risk to themselves and their
potential risk to themselves and their
potential risk to themselves and their families to offer help and he said when
families to offer help and he said when
families to offer help and he said when I meet an individual German if I don’t
I meet an individual German if I don’t
I meet an individual German if I don’t know anything about their story I have
know anything about their story I have
know anything about their story I have to assume that they’re among the people
to assume that they’re among the people
to assume that they’re among the people who did the right thing because if I
who did the right thing because if I
who did the right thing because if I believe that we are all truly equal and
believe that we are all truly equal and
believe that we are all truly equal and I would expect that treatment from them
I would expect that treatment from them
I would expect that treatment from them that assumption that I am innocent until
that assumption that I am innocent until
that assumption that I am innocent until proved
proved
proved otherwise then I have to offer that
otherwise then I have to offer that
otherwise then I have to offer that presumption to them so at 11 years old
presumption to them so at 11 years old
presumption to them so at 11 years old that was a lot for me to take in and
that was a lot for me to take in and
that was a lot for me to take in and frankly I have spent the last 4 decades
frankly I have spent the last 4 decades
frankly I have spent the last 4 decades trying to make full sense of everything
trying to make full sense of everything
trying to make full sense of everything that’s packed into that story and so
that’s packed into that story and so
that’s packed into that story and so what I want to do right now is just
what I want to do right now is just
what I want to do right now is just unpack a little bit of what’s in there
unpack a little bit of what’s in there
unpack a little bit of what’s in there and talk about how I think it helps us
and talk about how I think it helps us
and talk about how I think it helps us find a way forward so the first thing is
find a way forward so the first thing is
find a way forward so the first thing is I want to say that I was left with an
I want to say that I was left with an
I want to say that I was left with an understanding that we have an obligation
understanding that we have an obligation
understanding that we have an obligation active obligation to treat others as if
active obligation to treat others as if
active obligation to treat others as if we really believe that we are all equal
we really believe that we are all equal
we really believe that we are all equal and I want to call that the Walter
and I want to call that the Walter
and I want to call that the Walter Seligson principle the idea that this
Seligson principle the idea that this
Seligson principle the idea that this isn’t just an idea we repeat but
isn’t just an idea we repeat but
isn’t just an idea we repeat but something that has to shape the way we
something that has to shape the way we
something that has to shape the way we treat others around us all the time so
treat others around us all the time so
treat others around us all the time so if we take that seriously if we take
if we take that seriously if we take
if we take that seriously if we take that principle seriously what does it
that principle seriously what does it
that principle seriously what does it mean the first thing I think it means is
mean the first thing I think it means is
mean the first thing I think it means is that we have an obligation to ask
that we have an obligation to ask
that we have an obligation to ask whether all the other people around us
whether all the other people around us
whether all the other people around us have an equal opportunity to shape the
have an equal opportunity to shape the
have an equal opportunity to shape the future of our communities if we believe
future of our communities if we believe
future of our communities if we believe that each of us comes into the world
that each of us comes into the world
that each of us comes into the world know better than anyone else with no
know better than anyone else with no
know better than anyone else with no more right to rule or lead or decide
more right to rule or lead or decide
more right to rule or lead or decide than anyone else then we have to be
than anyone else then we have to be
than anyone else then we have to be asking whether the other people around
asking whether the other people around
asking whether the other people around us are really in a position to have an
us are really in a position to have an
us are really in a position to have an equal opportunity to shape the future of
equal opportunity to shape the future of
equal opportunity to shape the future of our community the non-jews who reached
our community the non-jews who reached
our community the non-jews who reached out to my family were saying that they
out to my family were saying that they
out to my family were saying that they weren’t going to accept that others
weren’t going to accept that others
weren’t going to accept that others around them were denied that equality so
around them were denied that equality so
around them were denied that equality so we have an obligation to think about
we have an obligation to think about
we have an obligation to think about that and once we dwell on that for just
that and once we dwell on that for just
that and once we dwell on that for just a moment we realize that’s just another
a moment we realize that’s just another
a moment we realize that’s just another way of describing democracy the idea
way of describing democracy the idea
way of describing democracy the idea that each of us ought to have an equal
that each of us ought to have an equal
that each of us ought to have an equal share in shaping the future of our
share in shaping the future of our
share in shaping the future of our community so that’s an active obligation
community so that’s an active obligation
community so that’s an active obligation we have and once we recognize and accept
we have and once we recognize and accept
we have and once we recognize and accept that obligation then we see that we also
that obligation then we see that we also
that obligation then we see that we also have to start asking what are the
have to start asking what are the
have to start asking what are the barriers that others around us might
barriers that others around us might
barriers that others around us might face to really assuming that equal share
face to really assuming that equal share
face to really assuming that equal share in shaping the future of our communities
in shaping the future of our communities
in shaping the future of our communities so for example if I know that there are
so for example if I know that there are
so for example if I know that there are children right now growing up in
children right now growing up in
children right now growing up in communities across the country that are
communities across the country that are
communities across the country that are because of opioid addiction in a
because of opioid addiction in a
because of opioid addiction in a position where children are not getting
position where children are not getting
position where children are not getting the care they need the nurturing they
the care they need the nurturing they
the care they need the nurturing they need the educational opportunities they
need the educational opportunities they
need the educational opportunities they need that is some
need that is some
need that is some I have to take account of if I know
I have to take account of if I know
I have to take account of if I know there are children living in cities
there are children living in cities
there are children living in cities where due to old water systems their
where due to old water systems their
where due to old water systems their likelihood of it being exposed to toxic
likelihood of it being exposed to toxic
likelihood of it being exposed to toxic levels of lead as children with all of
levels of lead as children with all of
levels of lead as children with all of the cognitive and emotional consequences
the cognitive and emotional consequences
the cognitive and emotional consequences they’ll likelihood that they won’t
they’ll likelihood that they won’t
they’ll likelihood that they won’t graduate school and instead will end up
graduate school and instead will end up
graduate school and instead will end up in prison
in prison
in prison if I know that I have an active
if I know that I have an active
if I know that I have an active obligation to address it we live in a
obligation to address it we live in a
obligation to address it we live in a world where we are aware of these
world where we are aware of these
world where we are aware of these challenges these realities that prevent
challenges these realities that prevent
challenges these realities that prevent others from share for sharing equally in
others from share for sharing equally in
others from share for sharing equally in the opportunity to shape their
the opportunity to shape their
the opportunity to shape their communities we have an obligation to
communities we have an obligation to
communities we have an obligation to address it once we recognize that
address it once we recognize that
address it once we recognize that obligation we can start to think about
obligation we can start to think about
obligation we can start to think about how we have to interact differently with
how we have to interact differently with
how we have to interact differently with our fellow citizens so for example I
our fellow citizens so for example I
our fellow citizens so for example I know an awful lot about the barriers
know an awful lot about the barriers
know an awful lot about the barriers that I have faced in my life I know an
that I have faced in my life I know an
that I have faced in my life I know an awful lot about those faced by my
awful lot about those faced by my
awful lot about those faced by my friends and my family by people whose
friends and my family by people whose
friends and my family by people whose lives are pretty much like mine but I
lives are pretty much like mine but I
lives are pretty much like mine but I know very little unless they do some
know very little unless they do some
know very little unless they do some work about the actual barriers in the
work about the actual barriers in the
work about the actual barriers in the lives of people who are not like me who
lives of people who are not like me who
lives of people who are not like me who are living in different circumstances
are living in different circumstances
are living in different circumstances different parts of the country who have
different parts of the country who have
different parts of the country who have different backgrounds different belief
different backgrounds different belief
different backgrounds different belief systems the only way I can actually
systems the only way I can actually
systems the only way I can actually undertake my obligation to ensure that
undertake my obligation to ensure that
undertake my obligation to ensure that all of us have an equal opportunity to
all of us have an equal opportunity to
all of us have an equal opportunity to shape the future of our communities in
shape the future of our communities in
shape the future of our communities in our country is by listening to others
our country is by listening to others
our country is by listening to others with different experiences not seeking
with different experiences not seeking
with different experiences not seeking to engage them so I can persuade them of
to engage them so I can persuade them of
to engage them so I can persuade them of my point of view but learning about what
my point of view but learning about what
my point of view but learning about what their realities are what they face on a
their realities are what they face on a
their realities are what they face on a daily basis what their family situations
daily basis what their family situations
daily basis what their family situations are like what it means for them to live
are like what it means for them to live
are like what it means for them to live in their communities I may hear things
in their communities I may hear things
in their communities I may hear things that are unfamiliar to me that are even
that are unfamiliar to me that are even
that are unfamiliar to me that are even unpleasant to me but I can’t really
unpleasant to me but I can’t really
unpleasant to me but I can’t really think I am undertaking my obligation to
think I am undertaking my obligation to
think I am undertaking my obligation to treat others equally if I am NOT doing
treat others equally if I am NOT doing
treat others equally if I am NOT doing that work and once we recognize that
that work and once we recognize that
that work and once we recognize that that we need to start listening to
that we need to start listening to
that we need to start listening to others in different ways
others in different ways
others in different ways we also recognize that we have an
we also recognize that we have an
we also recognize that we have an obligation to take the comfortable ideas
obligation to take the comfortable ideas
obligation to take the comfortable ideas that we have sat with for years
that we have sat with for years
that we have sat with for years the political parties we belong to the
the political parties we belong to the
the political parties we belong to the political perspectives we bring the
political perspectives we bring the
political perspectives we bring the ideologies that sound right to us and
ideologies that sound right to us and
ideologies that sound right to us and always have we have to be willing to
always have we have to be willing to
always have we have to be willing to subject those to question if I’m
subject those to question if I’m
subject those to question if I’m listening to others and learning
listening to others and learning
listening to others and learning something about their experiences
something about their experiences
something about their experiences but just clinging to the ideas I brought
but just clinging to the ideas I brought
but just clinging to the ideas I brought in in the first place then the exercise
in in the first place then the exercise
in in the first place then the exercise is pointless and I am not actually
is pointless and I am not actually
is pointless and I am not actually respecting their full equality their
respecting their full equality their
respecting their full equality their full dignity I have to be willing to say
full dignity I have to be willing to say
full dignity I have to be willing to say that the things I brought to the
that the things I brought to the
that the things I brought to the conversation might not survive the
conversation might not survive the
conversation might not survive the conversation then I might change through
conversation then I might change through
conversation then I might change through the interaction learn and ultimately
the interaction learn and ultimately
the interaction learn and ultimately come out with different views so that is
come out with different views so that is
come out with different views so that is putting this principle into action
putting this principle into action
putting this principle into action taking the full equality of others
taking the full equality of others
taking the full equality of others seriously it involves listening it
seriously it involves listening it
seriously it involves listening it involves work and it involves a
involves work and it involves a
involves work and it involves a willingness to suspend some of the views
willingness to suspend some of the views
willingness to suspend some of the views that we have sat with for years and that
that we have sat with for years and that
that we have sat with for years and that are deeply comfortable to us so can we
are deeply comfortable to us so can we
are deeply comfortable to us so can we really do this
really do this
really do this can we actually put this into practice
can we actually put this into practice
can we actually put this into practice does this require us to be Saints to
does this require us to be Saints to
does this require us to be Saints to live in some way that humans just cannot
live in some way that humans just cannot
live in some way that humans just cannot and I think the answer is no I think we
and I think the answer is no I think we
and I think the answer is no I think we can live this way and I say that because
can live this way and I say that because
can live this way and I say that because I’ve seen it and I’ve seen it in
I’ve seen it and I’ve seen it in
I’ve seen it and I’ve seen it in particular from young people and I just
particular from young people and I just
particular from young people and I just want to give you one example of some
want to give you one example of some
want to give you one example of some college students down at Western
college students down at Western
college students down at Western Carolina University I’ve gotten to know
Carolina University I’ve gotten to know
Carolina University I’ve gotten to know through the organization I lead Campus
through the organization I lead Campus
through the organization I lead Campus Compact these are a group of students
Compact these are a group of students
Compact these are a group of students who work together in a nonpartisan way
who work together in a nonpartisan way
who work together in a nonpartisan way to register students to vote in advance
to register students to vote in advance
to register students to vote in advance of the 2016 election they registered
of the 2016 election they registered
of the 2016 election they registered folks they led events that got people
folks they led events that got people
folks they led events that got people interested in the election they did a
interested in the election they did a
interested in the election they did a lot of turnout work in a nonpartisan way
lot of turnout work in a nonpartisan way
lot of turnout work in a nonpartisan way they were very excited because they felt
they were very excited because they felt
they were very excited because they felt like they’ve gotten many of their peers
like they’ve gotten many of their peers
like they’ve gotten many of their peers involved in the political process and
involved in the political process and
involved in the political process and the run-up to the 2016 election and I’m
the run-up to the 2016 election and I’m
the run-up to the 2016 election and I’m the day after the election they felt
the day after the election they felt
the day after the election they felt terrible because they thought this would
terrible because they thought this would
terrible because they thought this would be a happy culmination a celebration of
be a happy culmination a celebration of
be a happy culmination a celebration of our democracy and what they saw instead
our democracy and what they saw instead
our democracy and what they saw instead was that the same people who were
was that the same people who were
was that the same people who were yelling at each other before were
yelling at each other before were
yelling at each other before were yelling at each other afterward but
yelling at each other afterward but
yelling at each other afterward but instead of sitting there with their
instead of sitting there with their
instead of sitting there with their dejection they decided to work together
dejection they decided to work together
dejection they decided to work together to envision the possibility of
to envision the possibility of
to envision the possibility of continuing to make change in their
continuing to make change in their
continuing to make change in their community so these same students
community so these same students
community so these same students Democrats and Republicans they got
Democrats and Republicans they got
Democrats and Republicans they got together and they said can we identify
together and they said can we identify
together and they said can we identify an issue that we can agree on enough to
an issue that we can agree on enough to
an issue that we can agree on enough to continue our work and they hit on an
continue our work and they hit on an
continue our work and they hit on an unlikely one which was the incarceration
unlikely one which was the incarceration
unlikely one which was the incarceration of juveniles based on being tried as
of juveniles based on being tried as
of juveniles based on being tried as adults in the court system and they
adults in the court system and they
adults in the court system and they found that the conservative students
found that the conservative students
found that the conservative students didn’t like that idea because they
didn’t like that idea because they
didn’t like that idea because they thought it was government overreach
thought it was government overreach
thought it was government overreach they thought that where families and
they thought that where families and
they thought that where families and churches and communities should be
churches and communities should be
churches and communities should be helping to set young people back on the
helping to set young people back on the
helping to set young people back on the right course now this was the government
right course now this was the government
right course now this was the government stepping in and taking on that role
stepping in and taking on that role
stepping in and taking on that role liberal students saw the mass
liberal students saw the mass
liberal students saw the mass incarceration state at work and they saw
incarceration state at work and they saw
incarceration state at work and they saw racial injustice they came at it from
racial injustice they came at it from
racial injustice they came at it from different perspectives but by listening
different perspectives but by listening
different perspectives but by listening to each other they discovered they
to each other they discovered they
to each other they discovered they shared a common concern they went out
shared a common concern they went out
shared a common concern they went out and they started to reach out to
and they started to reach out to
and they started to reach out to legislators they recruited a Republican
legislators they recruited a Republican
legislators they recruited a Republican member of the state legislature to
member of the state legislature to
member of the state legislature to co-sponsor a bill that bill made it
co-sponsor a bill that bill made it
co-sponsor a bill that bill made it successfully through the Republican
successfully through the Republican
successfully through the Republican legislature in North Carolina was signed
legislature in North Carolina was signed
legislature in North Carolina was signed into law by the Democratic governor and
into law by the Democratic governor and
into law by the Democratic governor and there are now young people in North
there are now young people in North
there are now young people in North Carolina whose life chances are enormous
Carolina whose life chances are enormous
Carolina whose life chances are enormous Lee better because those students and
Lee better because those students and
Lee better because those students and others who agreed with them worked to
others who agreed with them worked to
others who agreed with them worked to make change they did it not on the basis
make change they did it not on the basis
make change they did it not on the basis of already agreeing with each other but
of already agreeing with each other but
of already agreeing with each other but on the basis of a willingness to find
on the basis of a willingness to find
on the basis of a willingness to find agreement discover common ground not
agreement discover common ground not
agreement discover common ground not seek to change the views of everyone
seek to change the views of everyone
seek to change the views of everyone else based on their own but to learn
else based on their own but to learn
else based on their own but to learn where they had opportunities to move
where they had opportunities to move
where they had opportunities to move forward can we really live like that I
forward can we really live like that I
forward can we really live like that I think if my father could look in the
think if my father could look in the
think if my father could look in the eyes of a person who he knew might have
eyes of a person who he knew might have
eyes of a person who he knew might have been involved in the murder of his
been involved in the murder of his
been involved in the murder of his father or millions of others and treat
father or millions of others and treat
father or millions of others and treat him with dignity and respect as a fully
him with dignity and respect as a fully
him with dignity and respect as a fully equal human being I think we can get it
equal human being I think we can get it
equal human being I think we can get it together to listen to each other to work
together to listen to each other to work
together to listen to each other to work together and to find common solutions to
together and to find common solutions to
together and to find common solutions to our shared challenges thank you very
our shared challenges thank you very
our shared challenges thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
”
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