[Music] where are you from everybody picture it
where are you from everybody picture it
where are you from everybody picture it dredge up your past conjure the smells
dredge up your past conjure the smells
dredge up your past conjure the smells and the laughs and the stories conjure
and the laughs and the stories conjure
and the laughs and the stories conjure your best friend’s voice conjure sea
your best friend’s voice conjure sea
your best friend’s voice conjure sea salt or oil fumes or birdsong give it a
salt or oil fumes or birdsong give it a
salt or oil fumes or birdsong give it a name and allow me to ask how many words
name and allow me to ask how many words
name and allow me to ask how many words does it take you if you can count the
does it take you if you can count the
does it take you if you can count the number on your fingers raise your hand
more or less okay
more or less okay think about everyone who just raised
think about everyone who just raised
think about everyone who just raised their hand think about what you’ve just
their hand think about what you’ve just
their hand think about what you’ve just done you’ve accomplished an
done you’ve accomplished an
done you’ve accomplished an extraordinary act of synthesis
extraordinary act of synthesis
extraordinary act of synthesis you’ve managed to sum up your entire
you’ve managed to sum up your entire
you’ve managed to sum up your entire identity all of your memories every
identity all of your memories every
identity all of your memories every tradition every cultural card that you
tradition every cultural card that you
tradition every cultural card that you hold in a word or two or six everybody
hold in a word or two or six everybody
hold in a word or two or six everybody who can’t everybody who is sitting there
who can’t everybody who is sitting there
who can’t everybody who is sitting there brows furrowed murmuring softly awash in
brows furrowed murmuring softly awash in
brows furrowed murmuring softly awash in a doubt as old as their lives raise your
a doubt as old as their lives raise your
a doubt as old as their lives raise your hand
let’s see Italy
let’s see Italy Puerto Rico Japan Sweden Germany nice
Puerto Rico Japan Sweden Germany nice
Puerto Rico Japan Sweden Germany nice Chicago Ohio Portland Louisiana too many
Chicago Ohio Portland Louisiana too many
Chicago Ohio Portland Louisiana too many what you did that active synthesis is
what you did that active synthesis is
what you did that active synthesis is something that we the tribe of wanders
something that we the tribe of wanders
something that we the tribe of wanders the tribe of people who can’t perform
the tribe of people who can’t perform
the tribe of people who can’t perform that act have been trying and failing to
that act have been trying and failing to
that act have been trying and failing to do our whole lives the idea of being
do our whole lives the idea of being
do our whole lives the idea of being able to do that is something we find
able to do that is something we find
able to do that is something we find both wonderful and terrifying you want
both wonderful and terrifying you want
both wonderful and terrifying you want to know why think back to every time you
to know why think back to every time you
to know why think back to every time you meet someone a whole new human being
meet someone a whole new human being
meet someone a whole new human being that you need to at least attempt to
that you need to at least attempt to
that you need to at least attempt to interact with replay the conversation in
interact with replay the conversation in
interact with replay the conversation in your mind hello hi I’m John Smith Luca
your mind hello hi I’m John Smith Luca
your mind hello hi I’m John Smith Luca Cesare Leopoldo Duvalier Vasquez
Cesare Leopoldo Duvalier Vasquez
Cesare Leopoldo Duvalier Vasquez pleasure huh that’s an interesting name
pleasure huh that’s an interesting name
pleasure huh that’s an interesting name where are you from
there it is folks I have the luxury as
there it is folks I have the luxury as still being a teenager
still being a teenager
still being a teenager but I won’t be one forever sooner or
but I won’t be one forever sooner or
but I won’t be one forever sooner or later I am going to leave home and when
later I am going to leave home and when
later I am going to leave home and when I do I’m going to wander and I will have
I do I’m going to wander and I will have
I do I’m going to wander and I will have to face that conversation every single
to face that conversation every single
to face that conversation every single day why why is this such an important
day why why is this such an important
day why why is this such an important question well look around observe the
question well look around observe the
question well look around observe the words that characterize the TV screen
words that characterize the TV screen
words that characterize the TV screen that we see every morning observe the
that we see every morning observe the
that we see every morning observe the words that float across the mass media
words that float across the mass media
words that float across the mass media in your pockets violence terrorism
in your pockets violence terrorism
in your pockets violence terrorism racism
racism
racism bigotry immigration crisis xenophobia
bigotry immigration crisis xenophobia
bigotry immigration crisis xenophobia homophobia transphobia ego phobia phobia
homophobia transphobia ego phobia phobia
homophobia transphobia ego phobia phobia phobia phobia fear people fear what they
phobia phobia fear people fear what they
phobia phobia fear people fear what they do not know who they do not know as
do not know who they do not know as
do not know who they do not know as American writer Orson Scott Card’s so
American writer Orson Scott Card’s so
American writer Orson Scott Card’s so choice Lee puts it if the other fellow
choice Lee puts it if the other fellow
choice Lee puts it if the other fellow can’t tell you his story you can never
can’t tell you his story you can never
can’t tell you his story you can never be sure he isn’t trying to kill you it
be sure he isn’t trying to kill you it
be sure he isn’t trying to kill you it sounds dramatic I know and hey maybe
sounds dramatic I know and hey maybe
sounds dramatic I know and hey maybe it’s not oh is that extreme but
it’s not oh is that extreme but
it’s not oh is that extreme but somewhere in every one of you there is a
somewhere in every one of you there is a
somewhere in every one of you there is a voice the primal animal side
voice the primal animal side
voice the primal animal side whispering stranger fear distrust
whispering stranger fear distrust
whispering stranger fear distrust unknown danger to quiet that voice in
unknown danger to quiet that voice in
unknown danger to quiet that voice in another person you must stop being the
another person you must stop being the
another person you must stop being the stranger you must tell your story it’s
stranger you must tell your story it’s
stranger you must tell your story it’s always been like that that this way for
always been like that that this way for
always been like that that this way for humans and for hundreds of years it’s
humans and for hundreds of years it’s
humans and for hundreds of years it’s worked except the world has changed
worked except the world has changed
worked except the world has changed today we still leave home of course we
today we still leave home of course we
today we still leave home of course we still wander but we no longer go to the
still wander but we no longer go to the
still wander but we no longer go to the next town or the next Valley over no
next town or the next Valley over no
next town or the next Valley over no nowadays we have the world on our
nowadays we have the world on our
nowadays we have the world on our horizon and every person that uproots
horizon and every person that uproots
horizon and every person that uproots their lives to cross an ocean becomes
their lives to cross an ocean becomes
their lives to cross an ocean becomes suddenly part of an ever-growing tribe a
suddenly part of an ever-growing tribe a
suddenly part of an ever-growing tribe a tribe of people who can’t quite tell
tribe of people who can’t quite tell
tribe of people who can’t quite tell their stories in a handful of words if
their stories in a handful of words if
their stories in a handful of words if you turn on your television and flip to
you turn on your television and flip to
you turn on your television and flip to the news not 20 minutes go by that you
the news not 20 minutes go by that you
the news not 20 minutes go by that you start hearing about an immigration
start hearing about an immigration
start hearing about an immigration crisis immigration crisis said like that
crisis immigration crisis said like that
crisis immigration crisis said like that all big and important and faceless it’s
all big and important and faceless it’s
all big and important and faceless it’s daunting it’s terrifying so let’s break
daunting it’s terrifying so let’s break
daunting it’s terrifying so let’s break it down
it down
it down every one of those immigrants that your
every one of those immigrants that your
every one of those immigrants that your TV is talking about could tell you of
TV is talking about could tell you of
TV is talking about could tell you of two places a place from the past a place
two places a place from the past a place
two places a place from the past a place they were and a place from the present
they were and a place from the present
they were and a place from the present the place they are which makes two
the place they are which makes two
the place they are which makes two simple right except say they meet
simple right except say they meet
simple right except say they meet someone and fall in love with someone
someone and fall in love with someone
someone and fall in love with someone that also knows to their children
that also knows to their children
that also knows to their children wouldn’t know four and say one of those
wouldn’t know four and say one of those
wouldn’t know four and say one of those children also meets someone like them
children also meets someone like them
children also meets someone like them who knows four and they get married
who knows four and they get married
who knows four and they get married their children well know eight and it
their children well know eight and it
their children well know eight and it goes on like this cultural
goes on like this cultural
goes on like this cultural multiplication doubling and tripling
multiplication doubling and tripling
multiplication doubling and tripling across the generations until this world
across the generations until this world
across the generations until this world is facing a very different kind of
is facing a very different kind of
is facing a very different kind of crisis because how can you trust us if
crisis because how can you trust us if
crisis because how can you trust us if we can’t tell you our stories and we
we can’t tell you our stories and we
we can’t tell you our stories and we really can’t because we have no single
really can’t because we have no single
really can’t because we have no single story to tell
story to tell
story to tell rather we have too many as you can
rather we have too many as you can
rather we have too many as you can probably tell this is something I’ve
probably tell this is something I’ve
probably tell this is something I’ve thought about a lot and it’s a problem
thought about a lot and it’s a problem
thought about a lot and it’s a problem that’s been persecuting us too strong a
that’s been persecuting us too strong a
that’s been persecuting us too strong a word
word
word it’s been following me around in the
it’s been following me around in the
it’s been following me around in the back of my mind my whole life and when I
back of my mind my whole life and when I
back of my mind my whole life and when I have a problem I cannot solve I turn to
have a problem I cannot solve I turn to
have a problem I cannot solve I turn to the community around me and when I first
the community around me and when I first
the community around me and when I first told my friends that I couldn’t really
told my friends that I couldn’t really
told my friends that I couldn’t really figure out what home was for me they
figure out what home was for me they
figure out what home was for me they gave me this funny look and they said
gave me this funny look and they said
gave me this funny look and they said well where do you live
well where do you live
well where do you live isn’t that home for you and of course I
isn’t that home for you and of course I
isn’t that home for you and of course I live in Italy and so they were asking
live in Italy and so they were asking
live in Italy and so they were asking Italian and they’re using the Italian
Italian and they’re using the Italian
Italian and they’re using the Italian word Casa because in Italy house and
word Casa because in Italy house and
word Casa because in Italy house and home are synonymous
home are synonymous
home are synonymous the average Italian lives not far from
the average Italian lives not far from
the average Italian lives not far from where they grew up and they feel their
where they grew up and they feel their
where they grew up and they feel their cultural identity in their roots in
cultural identity in their roots in
cultural identity in their roots in their family name in their genetics
their family name in their genetics
their family name in their genetics right down to the level of a
right down to the level of a
right down to the level of a neighborhood
I chose English for this talk
I chose English for this talk however partly because it’s my mother
however partly because it’s my mother
however partly because it’s my mother tongue yes but partly because it bears
tongue yes but partly because it bears
tongue yes but partly because it bears an important distinction a distinction I
an important distinction a distinction I
an important distinction a distinction I grew up with there’s the house a
grew up with there’s the house a
grew up with there’s the house a building a place nothing more a roof
building a place nothing more a roof
building a place nothing more a roof four walls some ugly carpets maybe but
four walls some ugly carpets maybe but
four walls some ugly carpets maybe but home home is different home is the place
home home is different home is the place
home home is different home is the place you come but you can be yourself in home
you come but you can be yourself in home
you come but you can be yourself in home as the dwelling of the soul well
as the dwelling of the soul well
as the dwelling of the soul well researching this talk I discovered an
researching this talk I discovered an
researching this talk I discovered an fact that I’d like to share with you
fact that I’d like to share with you
fact that I’d like to share with you guys there existed in a few hundred
guys there existed in a few hundred
guys there existed in a few hundred years ago possibly as part of Canada’s
years ago possibly as part of Canada’s
years ago possibly as part of Canada’s first peoples a people called the Nootka
first peoples a people called the Nootka
first peoples a people called the Nootka who lived on Vancouver Island and wanaka
who lived on Vancouver Island and wanaka
who lived on Vancouver Island and wanaka traditionally lived in large plank
traditionally lived in large plank
traditionally lived in large plank houses made of wood that could be
houses made of wood that could be
houses made of wood that could be assembled somewhere and then maybe the
assembled somewhere and then maybe the
assembled somewhere and then maybe the next day maybe the next months maybe the
next day maybe the next months maybe the
next day maybe the next months maybe the next season when there was a storm or
next season when there was a storm or
next season when there was a storm or when the animals moved somewhere else
when the animals moved somewhere else
when the animals moved somewhere else they could be disassembled and moved
they could be disassembled and moved
they could be disassembled and moved somewhere else for the Nootka and
somewhere else for the Nootka and
somewhere else for the Nootka and because of this in the new calanque
because of this in the new calanque
because of this in the new calanque home doesn’t exist as a noun but as a
home doesn’t exist as a noun but as a
home doesn’t exist as a noun but as a verb one homes or a house occurs home as
verb one homes or a house occurs home as
verb one homes or a house occurs home as something that’s here today gone
something that’s here today gone
something that’s here today gone tomorrow is built into the language
tomorrow is built into the language
tomorrow is built into the language itself that kind of impermanence that’s
itself that kind of impermanence that’s
itself that kind of impermanence that’s something I couldn’t relate to a little
something I couldn’t relate to a little
something I couldn’t relate to a little more but I can’t exactly deliver a
more but I can’t exactly deliver a
more but I can’t exactly deliver a lecture on the linguistic patterns of
lecture on the linguistic patterns of
lecture on the linguistic patterns of the Nootka people every time home comes
the Nootka people every time home comes
the Nootka people every time home comes up in conversation can I think of when
up in conversation can I think of when
up in conversation can I think of when you meet someone think of that
you meet someone think of that
you meet someone think of that conversation you tell you ask where
conversation you tell you ask where
conversation you tell you ask where you’re from you’re asking for a story
think about the language we use a moment
think about the language we use a moment to describe stories we tell Mary yarns
to describe stories we tell Mary yarns
to describe stories we tell Mary yarns we talk about story lines and plot holes
we talk about story lines and plot holes
we talk about story lines and plot holes we talk about how character arcs tie
we talk about how character arcs tie
we talk about how character arcs tie into each other we describe stories the
into each other we describe stories the
into each other we describe stories the way we talk about fabric cloth and here
way we talk about fabric cloth and here
way we talk about fabric cloth and here again the English language reaches its
again the English language reaches its
again the English language reaches its limits because we’re so obsessed with
limits because we’re so obsessed with
limits because we’re so obsessed with putting things in boxes we have a
putting things in boxes we have a
putting things in boxes we have a washcloth for washing tablecloths for
washcloth for washing tablecloths for
washcloth for washing tablecloths for eating on shirts and tunics for wearing
eating on shirts and tunics for wearing
eating on shirts and tunics for wearing a word for everything every word with
a word for everything every word with
a word for everything every word with its place
its place
its place what about across the world I have
what about across the world I have
what about across the world I have family in Japan and when my parents and
family in Japan and when my parents and
family in Japan and when my parents and sister and I first visited we were
sister and I first visited we were
sister and I first visited we were gifted furoshiki and what a furoshiki is
gifted furoshiki and what a furoshiki is
gifted furoshiki and what a furoshiki is is a rectangular cloth it can be of any
is a rectangular cloth it can be of any
is a rectangular cloth it can be of any color any size and any purpose and I
color any size and any purpose and I
color any size and any purpose and I asked my obaasan my grandmother at the
asked my obaasan my grandmother at the
asked my obaasan my grandmother at the time is this napkin washcloth is it a
time is this napkin washcloth is it a
time is this napkin washcloth is it a garment and she smiled and she shook her
garment and she smiled and she shook her
garment and she smiled and she shook her head and told me that it was a furoshiki
ah furoshiki has no set pattern no set
ah furoshiki has no set pattern no set color no set size and neither does the
color no set size and neither does the
color no set size and neither does the tapestry of a human life
tapestry of a human life
tapestry of a human life so if we can apply this variability of
so if we can apply this variability of
so if we can apply this variability of definition this flexibility to fabric
definition this flexibility to fabric
definition this flexibility to fabric why not apply the same flexibility to a
why not apply the same flexibility to a
why not apply the same flexibility to a human story to a human life
human story to a human life
human story to a human life those are after all so much more complex
those are after all so much more complex
those are after all so much more complex and valuable than cloth this isn’t the
and valuable than cloth this isn’t the
and valuable than cloth this isn’t the first time I’ve given this talk I’ve
first time I’ve given this talk I’ve
first time I’ve given this talk I’ve given it before in front of many many
given it before in front of many many
given it before in front of many many people wiser than myself and each of
people wiser than myself and each of
people wiser than myself and each of them has considered it carefully and
them has considered it carefully and
them has considered it carefully and then looked at me and asked but well you
then looked at me and asked but well you
then looked at me and asked but well you are from somewhere right back to the
are from somewhere right back to the
are from somewhere right back to the question it’s a great question it really
question it’s a great question it really
question it’s a great question it really is it’s full of history and human spirit
is it’s full of history and human spirit
is it’s full of history and human spirit tradition culture the problem with it is
tradition culture the problem with it is
tradition culture the problem with it is that we treat it as the end of a
that we treat it as the end of a
that we treat it as the end of a conversation and not the beginning of
conversation and not the beginning of
conversation and not the beginning of one where are you from where am i from
one where are you from where am i from
one where are you from where am i from it’s a question that I’ve been asking
it’s a question that I’ve been asking
it’s a question that I’ve been asking myself my whole life and today is the
myself my whole life and today is the
myself my whole life and today is the day I stop looking because we have
day I stop looking because we have
day I stop looking because we have something more interesting I have
something more interesting I have
something more interesting I have something more interesting to give we
something more interesting to give we
something more interesting to give we all do because here’s the thing when you
all do because here’s the thing when you
all do because here’s the thing when you strike up a conversation when you meet
strike up a conversation when you meet
strike up a conversation when you meet someone new you’re asking for a story
someone new you’re asking for a story
someone new you’re asking for a story for a fiddle Shiki think of the
for a fiddle Shiki think of the
for a fiddle Shiki think of the flexibility of a furoshiki we are born
flexibility of a furoshiki we are born
flexibility of a furoshiki we are born with with a set of cultural cards in our
with with a set of cultural cards in our
with with a set of cultural cards in our hand but those cards are given there
hand but those cards are given there
hand but those cards are given there they just happen there from be given by
they just happen there from be given by
they just happen there from be given by a destiny fate luck circumstance and
a destiny fate luck circumstance and
a destiny fate luck circumstance and happenstance but they are not the
happenstance but they are not the
happenstance but they are not the stories they are not our identities
stories they are not our identities
stories they are not our identities they’re just places scenic background
they’re just places scenic background
they’re just places scenic background cultural background of our lives
back to stories think about stories as
back to stories think about stories as well you read them for the ending you
well you read them for the ending you
well you read them for the ending you read them to know what happens you don’t
read them to know what happens you don’t
read them to know what happens you don’t buy a book to look at its cover you buy
buy a book to look at its cover you buy
buy a book to look at its cover you buy it to know what happens along the
it to know what happens along the
it to know what happens along the journey to know what happens at the end
since we were little they’ve always told
since we were little they’ve always told us don’t judge a book by it’s cover
us don’t judge a book by it’s cover
us don’t judge a book by it’s cover don’t judge a book by its cover and I
don’t judge a book by its cover and I
don’t judge a book by its cover and I don’t think anyone does this and I don’t
don’t think anyone does this and I don’t
don’t think anyone does this and I don’t think any of you will judge a book by
think any of you will judge a book by
think any of you will judge a book by its publisher or its author either so
its publisher or its author either so
its publisher or its author either so why would you do the same to human life
why would you do the same to human life
why would you do the same to human life why would you judge someone by their
why would you judge someone by their
why would you judge someone by their birthplace or their family name or the
birthplace or their family name or the
birthplace or their family name or the place where you happen to meet them or
place where you happen to meet them or
place where you happen to meet them or the place where they were they happens
the place where they were they happens
the place where they were they happens to be born I mean I don’t know about you
to be born I mean I don’t know about you
to be born I mean I don’t know about you but I’m much more interested in the
but I’m much more interested in the
but I’m much more interested in the story that they’re writing with every
story that they’re writing with every
story that they’re writing with every waking breath so next time you meet a
waking breath so next time you meet a
waking breath so next time you meet a fellow stranger along the road pause for
fellow stranger along the road pause for
fellow stranger along the road pause for just a moment because you’re striking up
just a moment because you’re striking up
just a moment because you’re striking up a conversation and what’s a conversation
a conversation and what’s a conversation
a conversation and what’s a conversation when you really think about it isn’t it
when you really think about it isn’t it
when you really think about it isn’t it just a series of questions and stories
just a series of questions and stories
just a series of questions and stories and answer call and response like from
and answer call and response like from
and answer call and response like from when we were children you asked me a
when we were children you asked me a
when we were children you asked me a question I tell you a story I ask you a
question I tell you a story I ask you a
question I tell you a story I ask you a question you tell me a story
now most people some people in
now most people some people in conversation ask about birthplace ask
conversation ask about birthplace ask
conversation ask about birthplace ask about geography and that’s all they’re
about geography and that’s all they’re
about geography and that’s all they’re curious about that’s all they’ve ever
curious about that’s all they’ve ever
curious about that’s all they’ve ever wanted and that’s fine but next time if
wanted and that’s fine but next time if
wanted and that’s fine but next time if you ever wanted something more something
you ever wanted something more something
you ever wanted something more something more personal something more unique
more personal something more unique
more personal something more unique here’s my suggestion don’t ask the
here’s my suggestion don’t ask the
here’s my suggestion don’t ask the person about the cards that fate happens
person about the cards that fate happens
person about the cards that fate happens to deal ask about the story they’re
to deal ask about the story they’re
to deal ask about the story they’re writing don’t ask what the world has
writing don’t ask what the world has
writing don’t ask what the world has given them ask them what they’re doing
given them ask them what they’re doing
given them ask them what they’re doing with it thank you
with it thank you
with it thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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