I love you not what you were expecting right but I mean it as I say it I love
right but I mean it as I say it I love
right but I mean it as I say it I love you not you the audience I mean you and
you not you the audience I mean you and
you not you the audience I mean you and you and you each of you individually I
you and you each of you individually I
you and you each of you individually I love you you are beautiful you are
love you you are beautiful you are
love you you are beautiful you are remarkable you are of immense worth of
remarkable you are of immense worth of
remarkable you are of immense worth of course I love you by now there’s a
course I love you by now there’s a
course I love you by now there’s a chance I’m making you little
chance I’m making you little
chance I’m making you little uncomfortable those are words you’re
uncomfortable those are words you’re
uncomfortable those are words you’re used to hearing from a spouse or from
used to hearing from a spouse or from
used to hearing from a spouse or from your family perhaps from a close friend
your family perhaps from a close friend
your family perhaps from a close friend but certainly not from a stranger much
but certainly not from a stranger much
but certainly not from a stranger much less a buttoned-up 30-something former
less a buttoned-up 30-something former
less a buttoned-up 30-something former tax attorney from Georgia
tax attorney from Georgia
tax attorney from Georgia But Here I am in the flesh saying it
But Here I am in the flesh saying it
But Here I am in the flesh saying it again to you I love you in a sense it’s
again to you I love you in a sense it’s
again to you I love you in a sense it’s my job to love you I am a professional
my job to love you I am a professional
my job to love you I am a professional philanthropist and that word
philanthropist and that word
philanthropist and that word philanthropist comes from two words in
philanthropist comes from two words in
philanthropist comes from two words in ancient greek philia meaning love and
ancient greek philia meaning love and
ancient greek philia meaning love and and throw posts meaning human or
and throw posts meaning human or
and throw posts meaning human or humanity but I don’t love you because
humanity but I don’t love you because
humanity but I don’t love you because it’s my job I love you because of my
it’s my job I love you because of my
it’s my job I love you because of my values values that I have inherited from
values values that I have inherited from
values values that I have inherited from a man who I know loved me very much this
a man who I know loved me very much this
a man who I know loved me very much this man this is daddy Rae or at least that’s
man this is daddy Rae or at least that’s
man this is daddy Rae or at least that’s what I called him
what I called him
what I called him he was my grandfather others would call
he was my grandfather others would call
he was my grandfather others would call him Rae or mr. Anderson and Rae was the
him Rae or mr. Anderson and Rae was the
him Rae or mr. Anderson and Rae was the founder of interface Inc the world’s
founder of interface Inc the world’s
founder of interface Inc the world’s largest carpet tile manufacturing
largest carpet tile manufacturing
largest carpet tile manufacturing company and in 1994 when Ray was 60
company and in 1994 when Ray was 60
company and in 1994 when Ray was 60 years old he read a book the book was
years old he read a book the book was
years old he read a book the book was called the ecology of Commerce
called the ecology of Commerce
called the ecology of Commerce in the book charged business and
in the book charged business and
in the book charged business and industry companies just like raised as
industry companies just like raised as
industry companies just like raised as the culprit for the vast majority of
the culprit for the vast majority of
the culprit for the vast majority of environmental degradation that our
environmental degradation that our
environmental degradation that our society is witnessing but the book also
society is witnessing but the book also
society is witnessing but the book also said that business and industry is the
said that business and industry is the
said that business and industry is the only sector large enough well enough
only sector large enough well enough
only sector large enough well enough organized well enough capitalized to
organized well enough capitalized to
organized well enough capitalized to lead us out of this mess for a reading
lead us out of this mess for a reading
lead us out of this mess for a reading this book was an emotional experience he
this book was an emotional experience he
this book was an emotional experience he went on to call it his spear in the
went on to call it his spear in the
went on to call it his spear in the chest moment when he was convicted as a
chest moment when he was convicted as a
chest moment when he was convicted as a plunderer of the earth and he spent the
plunderer of the earth and he spent the
plunderer of the earth and he spent the last 17 years of his life trying to make
last 17 years of his life trying to make
last 17 years of his life trying to make his company as environmentally
his company as environmentally
his company as environmentally sustainable as possible now in doing so
sustainable as possible now in doing so
sustainable as possible now in doing so he changed the culture at interface and
he changed the culture at interface and
he changed the culture at interface and he had his entire company working with
he had his entire company working with
he had his entire company working with him to show what would be a new way of
him to show what would be a new way of
him to show what would be a new way of doing business and they proved that when
doing business and they proved that when
doing business and they proved that when done right environmental sustainability
done right environmental sustainability
done right environmental sustainability can be very good for business
can be very good for business
can be very good for business they saved hundreds of millions of
they saved hundreds of millions of
they saved hundreds of millions of dollars compared to the old way that
dollars compared to the old way that
dollars compared to the old way that they did their business all while
they did their business all while
they did their business all while pursuing the goal of having a
pursuing the goal of having a
pursuing the goal of having a manufacturing company with zero waste
manufacturing company with zero waste
manufacturing company with zero waste powered entirely by renewable energy
powered entirely by renewable energy
powered entirely by renewable energy with completely benign emissions and a
with completely benign emissions and a
with completely benign emissions and a closed-loop manufacturing process such
closed-loop manufacturing process such
closed-loop manufacturing process such that old carpet can be recycled and
that old carpet can be recycled and
that old carpet can be recycled and turned into new carpet with no waste
turned into new carpet with no waste
turned into new carpet with no waste lost in the system the company continues
lost in the system the company continues
lost in the system the company continues that climb because of the work of my
that climb because of the work of my
that climb because of the work of my grandfather but for Ray it wasn’t just
grandfather but for Ray it wasn’t just
grandfather but for Ray it wasn’t just about a better way of doing business for
about a better way of doing business for
about a better way of doing business for him environmental sustainability was a
him environmental sustainability was a
him environmental sustainability was a moral imperative it was an act of love
moral imperative it was an act of love
moral imperative it was an act of love love not just for all of us everyone on
love not just for all of us everyone on
love not just for all of us everyone on the planet today but really love for the
the planet today but really love for the
the planet today but really love for the generations of people who have yet to
generations of people who have yet to
generations of people who have yet to come to Planet Earth people who will be
come to Planet Earth people who will be
come to Planet Earth people who will be just as dependent upon healthy
just as dependent upon healthy
just as dependent upon healthy functioning natural systems as we are
functioning natural systems as we are
functioning natural systems as we are today this is the legacy I have
today this is the legacy I have
today this is the legacy I have inherited and I am so very honored that
inherited and I am so very honored that
inherited and I am so very honored that I get to do the work of advancing that
I get to do the work of advancing that
I get to do the work of advancing that legacy right along with my
legacy right along with my
legacy right along with my family at the RACI anderson foundation
family at the RACI anderson foundation
family at the RACI anderson foundation it is fulfilling and we are so very
it is fulfilling and we are so very
it is fulfilling and we are so very proud of what we have accomplished but
proud of what we have accomplished but
proud of what we have accomplished but we have more work to do and recently
we have more work to do and recently
we have more work to do and recently we’ve been considering what difference
we’ve been considering what difference
we’ve been considering what difference can we make on what we consider the most
can we make on what we consider the most
can we make on what we consider the most pressing challenge facing humanity the
pressing challenge facing humanity the
pressing challenge facing humanity the issue of climate change and in learning
issue of climate change and in learning
issue of climate change and in learning all that I possibly can about climate
all that I possibly can about climate
all that I possibly can about climate change over the last couple of years
change over the last couple of years
change over the last couple of years I’ve noticed a trend and how it is
I’ve noticed a trend and how it is
I’ve noticed a trend and how it is commonly described in society we see
commonly described in society we see
commonly described in society we see lots of phrases like these take action
lots of phrases like these take action
lots of phrases like these take action now to fight climate change we can win
now to fight climate change we can win
now to fight climate change we can win the war on warming we are under attack
the war on warming we are under attack
the war on warming we are under attack from climate change how to defeat
from climate change how to defeat
from climate change how to defeat climate change solving climate change
climate change solving climate change
climate change solving climate change will be like mobilizing for war hmm
will be like mobilizing for war hmm
will be like mobilizing for war hmm sounds kind of violent it got me
sounds kind of violent it got me
sounds kind of violent it got me thinking what other social causes that
thinking what other social causes that
thinking what other social causes that we care about that we work on are
we care about that we work on are
we care about that we work on are similarly described in such militaristic
similarly described in such militaristic
similarly described in such militaristic terms the failed war on drugs join the
terms the failed war on drugs join the
terms the failed war on drugs join the battle for net neutrality and the war on
battle for net neutrality and the war on
battle for net neutrality and the war on women immunotherapy is the newest weapon
women immunotherapy is the newest weapon
women immunotherapy is the newest weapon in the fight against cancer
in the fight against cancer
in the fight against cancer hashtag resist mobilize against malaria
hashtag resist mobilize against malaria
hashtag resist mobilize against malaria the war on Christmas now to be very
the war on Christmas now to be very
the war on Christmas now to be very clear I am NOT casting judgment on any
clear I am NOT casting judgment on any
clear I am NOT casting judgment on any of these causes I would love to see a
of these causes I would love to see a
of these causes I would love to see a cure for cancer developed and women
cure for cancer developed and women
cure for cancer developed and women everywhere deserve to be treated with
everywhere deserve to be treated with
everywhere deserve to be treated with respect dignity and fairness always what
respect dignity and fairness always what
respect dignity and fairness always what I am trying to point out is that this
I am trying to point out is that this
I am trying to point out is that this language has become so very common if
language has become so very common if
language has become so very common if you turn on the news if you follow
you turn on the news if you follow
you turn on the news if you follow social media heck if you just have a
social media heck if you just have a
social media heck if you just have a conversation you’ve probably heard this
conversation you’ve probably heard this
conversation you’ve probably heard this and if I had to bet you didn’t even
and if I had to bet you didn’t even
and if I had to bet you didn’t even notice we have become numb
notice we have become numb
notice we have become numb to this language which I find
to this language which I find
to this language which I find unfortunate certainly conflict violence
unfortunate certainly conflict violence
unfortunate certainly conflict violence that exists in our world but certainly
that exists in our world but certainly
that exists in our world but certainly it is the worst aspect of what it is to
it is the worst aspect of what it is to
it is the worst aspect of what it is to be human our capacity to harm one
be human our capacity to harm one
be human our capacity to harm one another how sad then that this is the
another how sad then that this is the
another how sad then that this is the language that we’ve grown comfortable
language that we’ve grown comfortable
language that we’ve grown comfortable with we can compare that to the first
with we can compare that to the first
with we can compare that to the first three words that I shared with you
three words that I shared with you
three words that I shared with you remember how unexpected that was how
remember how unexpected that was how
remember how unexpected that was how uncomfortable that felt and I would
uncomfortable that felt and I would
uncomfortable that felt and I would argue that our capacity to love is the
argue that our capacity to love is the
argue that our capacity to love is the best aspect of being human the stories
best aspect of being human the stories
best aspect of being human the stories that I celebrate the most are the ones
that I celebrate the most are the ones
that I celebrate the most are the ones that talk of altruism self-sacrifice and
that talk of altruism self-sacrifice and
that talk of altruism self-sacrifice and generosity this is what we teach our
generosity this is what we teach our
generosity this is what we teach our children isn’t that what we should be
children isn’t that what we should be
children isn’t that what we should be striving for why then is this the
striving for why then is this the
striving for why then is this the language that feels uncomfortable
language that feels uncomfortable
language that feels uncomfortable there’s an alternative to fighting for
there’s an alternative to fighting for
there’s an alternative to fighting for the causes that we believe in we can
the causes that we believe in we can
the causes that we believe in we can work on them work is fulfilling it is
work on them work is fulfilling it is
work on them work is fulfilling it is uplifting it is rewarding in some
uplifting it is rewarding in some
uplifting it is rewarding in some cultures work can be holy when we fight
cultures work can be holy when we fight
cultures work can be holy when we fight for our causes we encounter enemies if
for our causes we encounter enemies if
for our causes we encounter enemies if we work towards them we can encounter
we work towards them we can encounter
we work towards them we can encounter friends working on something invites
friends working on something invites
friends working on something invites others to join in but warring over a
others to join in but warring over a
others to join in but warring over a cause draws a line in the sand between
cause draws a line in the sand between
cause draws a line in the sand between us and others ultimately language
us and others ultimately language
us and others ultimately language matters whether or not a cause is a
matters whether or not a cause is a
matters whether or not a cause is a crusade or a collaboration it depends on
crusade or a collaboration it depends on
crusade or a collaboration it depends on the language that we use and I believe
the language that we use and I believe
the language that we use and I believe that collaborations create more and
that collaborations create more and
that collaborations create more and better change in our societies so it is
better change in our societies so it is
better change in our societies so it is my hope that after hearing me today you
my hope that after hearing me today you
my hope that after hearing me today you are sensitive to the language that you
are sensitive to the language that you
are sensitive to the language that you hear out in the world that you’re
hear out in the world that you’re
hear out in the world that you’re sensitive to the language that you use I
sensitive to the language that you use I
sensitive to the language that you use I hope that phrases like the ones I’ve
hope that phrases like the ones I’ve
hope that phrases like the ones I’ve just shared with you leave you
just shared with you leave you
just shared with you leave you feeling uncomfortable and that what does
feeling uncomfortable and that what does
feeling uncomfortable and that what does leave you feeling comfortable are words
leave you feeling comfortable are words
leave you feeling comfortable are words like these dedication gentleness
like these dedication gentleness
like these dedication gentleness kindness generosity humility caring
kindness generosity humility caring
kindness generosity humility caring honesty peaceful tenderness committed
honesty peaceful tenderness committed
honesty peaceful tenderness committed devotion work decency tolerance
devotion work decency tolerance
devotion work decency tolerance considerate sympathy altruism
considerate sympathy altruism
considerate sympathy altruism collaboration self-sacrifice and I hope
collaboration self-sacrifice and I hope
collaboration self-sacrifice and I hope that we can all agree there are any
that we can all agree there are any
that we can all agree there are any words that feel good and right and
words that feel good and right and
words that feel good and right and normal there are these three words I
normal there are these three words I
normal there are these three words I love you thank you
love you thank you
love you thank you [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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