[Applause] so fourth grade was the Native Americans
so fourth grade was the Native Americans
so fourth grade was the Native Americans were killed by Spanish settlers and
were killed by Spanish settlers and
were killed by Spanish settlers and fifth grade was Native Americans were
fifth grade was Native Americans were
fifth grade was Native Americans were killed by English settlers and sixth
killed by English settlers and sixth
killed by English settlers and sixth grade was slavery and seventh grade with
grade was slavery and seventh grade with
grade was slavery and seventh grade with Yellow Peril in eighth grade was
Yellow Peril in eighth grade was
Yellow Peril in eighth grade was Jefferson raped his slaves and Lincoln
Jefferson raped his slaves and Lincoln
Jefferson raped his slaves and Lincoln was a racist and Jim Crow and KKK and
was a racist and Jim Crow and KKK and
was a racist and Jim Crow and KKK and police raids on Stonewall and interment
police raids on Stonewall and interment
police raids on Stonewall and interment camps and nuclear bombs so this is the
camps and nuclear bombs so this is the
camps and nuclear bombs so this is the same my elementary education did not
same my elementary education did not
same my elementary education did not glorify the United States right but this
glorify the United States right but this
glorify the United States right but this is also to say that instead of being
is also to say that instead of being
is also to say that instead of being disheartened by what I learned in my
disheartened by what I learned in my
disheartened by what I learned in my American history classes I somehow
American history classes I somehow
American history classes I somehow emerge from eighth grade I was 13 years
emerge from eighth grade I was 13 years
emerge from eighth grade I was 13 years old thinking I love this subject so much
old thinking I love this subject so much
old thinking I love this subject so much I want to be teaching it someday this is
I want to be teaching it someday this is
I want to be teaching it someday this is true now I’ve heard few people of my
true now I’ve heard few people of my
true now I’ve heard few people of my generation expressed similar sentiment a
generation expressed similar sentiment a
generation expressed similar sentiment a similar degree of love for United States
similar degree of love for United States
similar degree of love for United States as I’ve said education has not spared us
as I’ve said education has not spared us
as I’ve said education has not spared us the details of past atrocities right so
the details of past atrocities right so
the details of past atrocities right so we’re well aware of those and we were
we’re well aware of those and we were
we’re well aware of those and we were able to view the current events that are
able to view the current events that are
able to view the current events that are going on in a raw and often politically
going on in a raw and often politically
going on in a raw and often politically liberal light right so as we see this
liberal light right so as we see this
liberal light right so as we see this prevailing inequality and we see it kept
prevailing inequality and we see it kept
prevailing inequality and we see it kept in place by social norms and crass
in place by social norms and crass
in place by social norms and crass political administrations it would seem
political administrations it would seem
political administrations it would seem almost ignorant to showcase American
almost ignorant to showcase American
almost ignorant to showcase American pride and this has led me to wonder in
pride and this has led me to wonder in
pride and this has led me to wonder in the crudest terms
the crudest terms
the crudest terms is it possible today for a
is it possible today for a
is it possible today for a self-respecting not Trump supporting
self-respecting not Trump supporting
self-respecting not Trump supporting person to say they love America
person to say they love America
person to say they love America now the short answer is yes right
now the short answer is yes right
now the short answer is yes right exhibit a being myself but the longer
exhibit a being myself but the longer
exhibit a being myself but the longer answer is that as this post 9/11 trump
answer is that as this post 9/11 trump
answer is that as this post 9/11 trump era version of American nationalism
era version of American nationalism
era version of American nationalism picks up steam it becomes less and less
picks up steam it becomes less and less
picks up steam it becomes less and less possible to identify as a strong
possible to identify as a strong
possible to identify as a strong believer in American ideals without also
believer in American ideals without also
believer in American ideals without also implying you support a movement
implying you support a movement
implying you support a movement synonymous with bigotry and chaos right
synonymous with bigotry and chaos right
synonymous with bigotry and chaos right and as I’ve said in the San Francisco
and as I’ve said in the San Francisco
and as I’ve said in the San Francisco Bay Area which is where I’ve lived my
Bay Area which is where I’ve lived my
Bay Area which is where I’ve lived my whole life my peers realized that the
whole life my peers realized that the
whole life my peers realized that the America that nationalists Revere is one
America that nationalists Revere is one
America that nationalists Revere is one that glosses over the country’s crimes
that glosses over the country’s crimes
that glosses over the country’s crimes one that promotes an agenda for the
one that promotes an agenda for the
one that promotes an agenda for the white majority so we end up grappling
white majority so we end up grappling
white majority so we end up grappling with how we can live in a country of
with how we can live in a country of
with how we can live in a country of numerous sins
numerous sins
numerous sins among these people these nationalists
among these people these nationalists
among these people these nationalists who attempt to ignore them now observed
who attempt to ignore them now observed
who attempt to ignore them now observed illness accumulates into kind of a
illness accumulates into kind of a
illness accumulates into kind of a verbal backlash against America by my
verbal backlash against America by my
verbal backlash against America by my generation in the form of kind of a
generation in the form of kind of a
generation in the form of kind of a spoken disassociation with American
spoken disassociation with American
spoken disassociation with American history with a current American culture
history with a current American culture
history with a current American culture discernible during class discussions
discernible during class discussions
discernible during class discussions which from my experience can go like
which from my experience can go like
which from my experience can go like this so a person will say like the
this so a person will say like the
this so a person will say like the founding fathers are racists or America
founding fathers are racists or America
founding fathers are racists or America always a presence minorities are like
always a presence minorities are like
always a presence minorities are like white people what are they doing like I
white people what are they doing like I
white people what are they doing like I don’t I don’t get it and the person kind
don’t I don’t get it and the person kind
don’t I don’t get it and the person kind of sits back in his or her chair like
of sits back in his or her chair like
of sits back in his or her chair like the discussion has been started and
the discussion has been started and
the discussion has been started and wrapped up in a single comment and
wrapped up in a single comment and
wrapped up in a single comment and fellow classmates like not in general
fellow classmates like not in general
fellow classmates like not in general consensus not like yeah like this is why
consensus not like yeah like this is why
consensus not like yeah like this is why I come to school these are the
I come to school these are the
I come to school these are the conversations that no no right and too
conversations that no no right and too
conversations that no no right and too often have I listened to my classmates
often have I listened to my classmates
often have I listened to my classmates denounced the United States in 30
denounced the United States in 30
denounced the United States in 30 seconds and too often have I been one of
seconds and too often have I been one of
seconds and too often have I been one of those contributing voices because the
those contributing voices because the
those contributing voices because the way I see it is that the amount of
way I see it is that the amount of
way I see it is that the amount of terrible things that happened in our
terrible things that happened in our
terrible things that happened in our past it’s daunting right but the
past it’s daunting right but the
past it’s daunting right but the matter-of-fact way in which we can say
matter-of-fact way in which we can say
matter-of-fact way in which we can say Oh founding fathers are racist or
Oh founding fathers are racist or
Oh founding fathers are racist or America always oppresses minorities
America always oppresses minorities
America always oppresses minorities reflects a massive degree of flippancy
reflects a massive degree of flippancy
reflects a massive degree of flippancy for both the legitimacy of the claim
for both the legitimacy of the claim
for both the legitimacy of the claim being made and anything positive the
being made and anything positive the
being made and anything positive the country could stand for right and I get
country could stand for right and I get
country could stand for right and I get why we do this with nationalists
why we do this with nationalists
why we do this with nationalists preaching America’s and culturally
preaching America’s and culturally
preaching America’s and culturally superior Haven for white people my
superior Haven for white people my
superior Haven for white people my generation seeks to shoot off in the
generation seeks to shoot off in the
generation seeks to shoot off in the opposite direction right but to prove we
opposite direction right but to prove we
opposite direction right but to prove we don’t agree with bigotry is not to be
don’t agree with bigotry is not to be
don’t agree with bigotry is not to be absolved of responsibility using blanket
absolved of responsibility using blanket
absolved of responsibility using blanket condemnation to disassociate ourselves
condemnation to disassociate ourselves
condemnation to disassociate ourselves with fundamental American flaws does not
with fundamental American flaws does not
with fundamental American flaws does not make up for the fact that fundamental
make up for the fact that fundamental
make up for the fact that fundamental problems still exist so real quick I
problems still exist so real quick I
problems still exist so real quick I corroborated this tendency to
corroborated this tendency to
corroborated this tendency to disassociate with an informal poll so I
disassociate with an informal poll so I
disassociate with an informal poll so I pulled 200-mile View High School
pulled 200-mile View High School
pulled 200-mile View High School students with a survey that I made based
students with a survey that I made based
students with a survey that I made based on a study by two professors from
on a study by two professors from
on a study by two professors from Harvard and NYU and pretty much with
Harvard and NYU and pretty much with
Harvard and NYU and pretty much with those professors
those professors
those professors they analyze data from the General
they analyze data from the General
they analyze data from the General Social Survey which is a widely
Social Survey which is a widely
Social Survey which is a widely referenced sociological survey and they
referenced sociological survey and they
referenced sociological survey and they separated respondents into four
separated respondents into four
separated respondents into four categories now these four categories had
categories now these four categories had
categories now these four categories had to do with the relationship and
to do with the relationship and
to do with the relationship and individual can have to the United States
individual can have to the United States
individual can have to the United States and they range from our net nationalists
and they range from our net nationalists
and they range from our net nationalists to disengaged
to disengaged
to disengaged now the ardent nationalist exhibited the
now the ardent nationalist exhibited the
now the ardent nationalist exhibited the characteristics you would probably
characteristics you would probably
characteristics you would probably associate with nationalism which would
associate with nationalism which would
associate with nationalism which would be high amounts of pride and being
be high amounts of pride and being
be high amounts of pride and being American and a very strict criteria for
American and a very strict criteria for
American and a very strict criteria for who else can be considered American and
who else can be considered American and
who else can be considered American and will see the disengaged exhibited the
will see the disengaged exhibited the
will see the disengaged exhibited the opposite now I predicted based on my
opposite now I predicted based on my
opposite now I predicted based on my classroom observations that the
classroom observations that the
classroom observations that the responses of my peers would reveal their
responses of my peers would reveal their
responses of my peers would reveal their views to be most closely similar to the
views to be most closely similar to the
views to be most closely similar to the disengaged
disengaged
disengaged end of the spectrum and we’ll see this
end of the spectrum and we’ll see this
end of the spectrum and we’ll see this proved true we can see this in a couple
proved true we can see this in a couple
proved true we can see this in a couple ways one is that my peers respondents
ways one is that my peers respondents
ways one is that my peers respondents very few of them felt very close to the
very few of them felt very close to the
very few of them felt very close to the United States and just like how the
United States and just like how the
United States and just like how the Nationalists felt this is the
Nationalists felt this is the
Nationalists felt this is the demographics of the nationalist or sorry
demographics of the nationalist or sorry
demographics of the nationalist or sorry the disengaged and Mountview high school
the disengaged and Mountview high school
the disengaged and Mountview high school respondents are much more similar than
respondents are much more similar than
respondents are much more similar than either of them are to the other end of
either of them are to the other end of
either of them are to the other end of the spectrum and also very few of my
the spectrum and also very few of my
the spectrum and also very few of my respondents believed in any statements
respondents believed in any statements
respondents believed in any statements that show strict membership criteria so
that show strict membership criteria so
that show strict membership criteria so this would be something like to be a
this would be something like to be a
this would be something like to be a true American you need to have been born
true American you need to have been born
true American you need to have been born in the United States you need to be a US
in the United States you need to be a US
in the United States you need to be a US citizen and things like this and I bring
citizen and things like this and I bring
citizen and things like this and I bring up these statistics just to draw a
up these statistics just to draw a
up these statistics just to draw a similarity between the disengaged and my
similarity between the disengaged and my
similarity between the disengaged and my Mountain View High School respondents
Mountain View High School respondents
Mountain View High School respondents and I draw the similarity because if we
and I draw the similarity because if we
and I draw the similarity because if we look back on the professor’s study the
look back on the professor’s study the
look back on the professor’s study the disengaged respondents while claiming
disengaged respondents while claiming
disengaged respondents while claiming the lowest amount of pride in America
the lowest amount of pride in America
the lowest amount of pride in America and lowest identity with America also
and lowest identity with America also
and lowest identity with America also reported the highest support for
reported the highest support for
reported the highest support for principles like immigration for legal
principles like immigration for legal
principles like immigration for legal protection for minorities for these
protection for minorities for these
protection for minorities for these principles that are increasingly talked
principles that are increasingly talked
principles that are increasingly talked about that I feel like generally my
about that I feel like generally my
about that I feel like generally my generation here would support and these
generation here would support and these
generation here would support and these things that I believe should define
things that I believe should define
things that I believe should define America right but isn’t it interesting
America right but isn’t it interesting
America right but isn’t it interesting that a group of Americans who believe in
that a group of Americans who believe in
that a group of Americans who believe in following the inclusive values that have
following the inclusive values that have
following the inclusive values that have made our country so diverse is also a
made our country so diverse is also a
made our country so diverse is also a group that see
group that see
group that see relatively anti-patriotic you know would
relatively anti-patriotic you know would
relatively anti-patriotic you know would it not be contradictory to claim belief
it not be contradictory to claim belief
it not be contradictory to claim belief and some of these American values but
and some of these American values but
and some of these American values but then not claim belief in America and
then not claim belief in America and
then not claim belief in America and again I want to reiterate that why it’s
again I want to reiterate that why it’s
again I want to reiterate that why it’s understandable that we might ask
understandable that we might ask
understandable that we might ask ourselves you know why should we believe
ourselves you know why should we believe
ourselves you know why should we believe in America when we look in the past and
in America when we look in the past and
in America when we look in the past and we see this terrible things when we look
we see this terrible things when we look
we see this terrible things when we look in the present and we see these terrible
in the present and we see these terrible
in the present and we see these terrible things but I would argue that if we
things but I would argue that if we
things but I would argue that if we embrace a standard that we want for
embrace a standard that we want for
embrace a standard that we want for America you need to embrace the country
America you need to embrace the country
America you need to embrace the country as well to help it realize and reach
as well to help it realize and reach
as well to help it realize and reach that standard right people are behind
that standard right people are behind
that standard right people are behind progress that like plot of land can’t
progress that like plot of land can’t
progress that like plot of land can’t change itself and I would say that we
change itself and I would say that we
change itself and I would say that we can set an achieve a standard because
can set an achieve a standard because
can set an achieve a standard because alongside the terrible and shameful
alongside the terrible and shameful
alongside the terrible and shameful truths I’ve learned since fourth grade I
truths I’ve learned since fourth grade I
truths I’ve learned since fourth grade I learned principles that most Americans
learned principles that most Americans
learned principles that most Americans can unemotionally recite right freedom
can unemotionally recite right freedom
can unemotionally recite right freedom of expression and democracy where all of
of expression and democracy where all of
of expression and democracy where all of aged citizens can vote hardwork leading
aged citizens can vote hardwork leading
aged citizens can vote hardwork leading to opportunity these things we take for
to opportunity these things we take for
to opportunity these things we take for granted right but really really do
granted right but really really do
granted right but really really do define America in a positive way right
define America in a positive way right
define America in a positive way right these are positive things and be in a
these are positive things and be in a
these are positive things and be in a distinct way even if we’re not as unique
distinct way even if we’re not as unique
distinct way even if we’re not as unique as some nationalists would have us
as some nationalists would have us
as some nationalists would have us believe right so I feel like we need to
believe right so I feel like we need to
believe right so I feel like we need to realize that there is a way to reject
realize that there is a way to reject
realize that there is a way to reject the beliefs of bigoted nationalism and
the beliefs of bigoted nationalism and
the beliefs of bigoted nationalism and still express love for a country right
still express love for a country right
still express love for a country right love for a country that’s imperfect but
love for a country that’s imperfect but
love for a country that’s imperfect but has a good foundation you know I saw
has a good foundation you know I saw
has a good foundation you know I saw legal institutions that rejected
legal institutions that rejected
legal institutions that rejected progress at one point in time but later
progress at one point in time but later
progress at one point in time but later turns such as in the case of same-sex
turns such as in the case of same-sex
turns such as in the case of same-sex marriage I saw a constitution that was
marriage I saw a constitution that was
marriage I saw a constitution that was written by slaveholding white men yes
written by slaveholding white men yes
written by slaveholding white men yes but slaveholding white men who are now
but slaveholding white men who are now
but slaveholding white men who are now less important and less alive than this
less important and less alive than this
less important and less alive than this population right and no matter who wrote
population right and no matter who wrote
population right and no matter who wrote the Constitution no matter what
the Constitution no matter what
the Constitution no matter what prejudices they held if we today wanted
prejudices they held if we today wanted
prejudices they held if we today wanted to argue that America inherently
to argue that America inherently
to argue that America inherently supports equality our founding documents
supports equality our founding documents
supports equality our founding documents would support us on equivocally right
would support us on equivocally right
would support us on equivocally right while disavowing those who would argue
while disavowing those who would argue
while disavowing those who would argue that the United States is only open to a
that the United States is only open to a
that the United States is only open to a space
space
space thick-set of people and something I like
thick-set of people and something I like
thick-set of people and something I like to think about when I am discouraged by
to think about when I am discouraged by
to think about when I am discouraged by the nationalist movement when I feel
the nationalist movement when I feel
the nationalist movement when I feel like if I’m discouraged then immigrants
like if I’m discouraged then immigrants
like if I’m discouraged then immigrants hoping for better lives must surely be
hoping for better lives must surely be
hoping for better lives must surely be discouraged is I think of ghosts our
discouraged is I think of ghosts our
discouraged is I think of ghosts our Father Kizer Khan and what he says to
Father Kizer Khan and what he says to
Father Kizer Khan and what he says to these conflicted Muslim immigrants is
these conflicted Muslim immigrants is
these conflicted Muslim immigrants is show me where in the Constitution the
show me where in the Constitution the
show me where in the Constitution the United States is against Islam and then
United States is against Islam and then
United States is against Islam and then he says that such a clause doesn’t exist
he says that such a clause doesn’t exist
he says that such a clause doesn’t exist because these discriminatory nativist
because these discriminatory nativist
because these discriminatory nativist and nationalists they don’t have
and nationalists they don’t have
and nationalists they don’t have leverage right the things they advocate
leverage right the things they advocate
leverage right the things they advocate for are not written into these American
for are not written into these American
for are not written into these American doctrines and of course the country is
doctrines and of course the country is
doctrines and of course the country is composed of more than value stated on
composed of more than value stated on
composed of more than value stated on paper but I would say that the fact that
paper but I would say that the fact that
paper but I would say that the fact that most much in my generation can find
most much in my generation can find
most much in my generation can find issue with nationalism already shows
issue with nationalism already shows
issue with nationalism already shows that there is hope for a more tolerant
that there is hope for a more tolerant
that there is hope for a more tolerant future right but I think we need to take
future right but I think we need to take
future right but I think we need to take the next step as I said realize that
the next step as I said realize that
the next step as I said realize that there’s a way to reject the beliefs of
there’s a way to reject the beliefs of
there’s a way to reject the beliefs of bigoted nationalism and still express
bigoted nationalism and still express
bigoted nationalism and still express love for a country right and if you want
love for a country right and if you want
love for a country right and if you want a definition for non nationalistic pride
a definition for non nationalistic pride
a definition for non nationalistic pride you can take Dan Rather’s definition of
you can take Dan Rather’s definition of
you can take Dan Rather’s definition of patriotism which is patriotism it’s a
patriotism which is patriotism it’s a
patriotism which is patriotism it’s a dialogue about what you love about your
dialogue about what you love about your
dialogue about what you love about your country but also about how it can be
country but also about how it can be
country but also about how it can be improved a big part of being a young
improved a big part of being a young
improved a big part of being a young person and I speak specifically to
person and I speak specifically to
person and I speak specifically to self-respecting non Trump supporters in
self-respecting non Trump supporters in
self-respecting non Trump supporters in my in this area I feel like is realizing
my in this area I feel like is realizing
my in this area I feel like is realizing the United States is not finished you
the United States is not finished you
the United States is not finished you know we don’t need to make it great
know we don’t need to make it great
know we don’t need to make it great again because we need to make it great
again because we need to make it great
again because we need to make it great for the future right it’s the American
for the future right it’s the American
for the future right it’s the American experiment because it’s not over yet and
experiment because it’s not over yet and
experiment because it’s not over yet and we can realize that when we commit to
we can realize that when we commit to
we can realize that when we commit to being American we’re not committing to
being American we’re not committing to
being American we’re not committing to defending the founding fathers hypocricy
defending the founding fathers hypocricy
defending the founding fathers hypocricy we’re not committing to defending our
we’re not committing to defending our
we’re not committing to defending our stiff immigration policy we’re not
stiff immigration policy we’re not
stiff immigration policy we’re not committing to defending any chauvinistic
committing to defending any chauvinistic
committing to defending any chauvinistic social norms or punitive political
social norms or punitive political
social norms or punitive political legislation right but we are committing
legislation right but we are committing
legislation right but we are committing to upholding the American dream and to
to upholding the American dream and to
to upholding the American dream and to do this through maintaining tolerance
do this through maintaining tolerance
do this through maintaining tolerance instead of condemning others when they
instead of condemning others when they
instead of condemning others when they do not they’re not cynically stating
do not they’re not cynically stating
do not they’re not cynically stating during class discussions maybe that
during class discussions maybe that
during class discussions maybe that nativist and nationalist tendency have
nativist and nationalist tendency have
nativist and nationalist tendency have wrecked opportunity through ending
wrecked opportunity through ending
wrecked opportunity through ending conversations just like
conversations just like
conversations just like casual conversations with something
casual conversations with something
casual conversations with something better than dude Americans because it’s
better than dude Americans because it’s
better than dude Americans because it’s a really easy end to a conversation I
a really easy end to a conversation I
a really easy end to a conversation I know I’ve had way too many of those and
know I’ve had way too many of those and
know I’ve had way too many of those and while acknowledging that my extreme
while acknowledging that my extreme
while acknowledging that my extreme optimism about this country has so much
optimism about this country has so much
optimism about this country has so much to do with my extreme privilege I don’t
to do with my extreme privilege I don’t
to do with my extreme privilege I don’t think it’s ignorant to believe the
think it’s ignorant to believe the
think it’s ignorant to believe the American Dream is real I think it is
American Dream is real I think it is
American Dream is real I think it is dangerous to believe that it’s not and
dangerous to believe that it’s not and
dangerous to believe that it’s not and I’m a third generation korean-american
I’m a third generation korean-american
I’m a third generation korean-american and I have been advised on several
and I have been advised on several
and I have been advised on several occasions to learn my real culture it’s
occasions to learn my real culture it’s
occasions to learn my real culture it’s not a racist dig it’s usually from my
not a racist dig it’s usually from my
not a racist dig it’s usually from my well-meaning peers but it’s sort of a
well-meaning peers but it’s sort of a
well-meaning peers but it’s sort of a way to suggest I disassociate myself
way to suggest I disassociate myself
way to suggest I disassociate myself with American culture right investing
with American culture right investing
with American culture right investing some sort of get out of jail free card
some sort of get out of jail free card
some sort of get out of jail free card so that whenever an event occurs that
so that whenever an event occurs that
so that whenever an event occurs that goes against my liberal values I can
goes against my liberal values I can
goes against my liberal values I can somehow prove that like this isn’t me
somehow prove that like this isn’t me
somehow prove that like this isn’t me but I’ve never considered doing this and
but I’ve never considered doing this and
but I’ve never considered doing this and nobody should feel I’ll ever feel
nobody should feel I’ll ever feel
nobody should feel I’ll ever feel obligated to because I would rather
obligated to because I would rather
obligated to because I would rather think of myself as a full American with
think of myself as a full American with
think of myself as a full American with all the terms fluctuating implications
all the terms fluctuating implications
all the terms fluctuating implications than to duck out right when the country
than to duck out right when the country
than to duck out right when the country doesn’t go in the direction that I wish
doesn’t go in the direction that I wish
doesn’t go in the direction that I wish for it so I’ve come to the conclusion
for it so I’ve come to the conclusion
for it so I’ve come to the conclusion that yes it is possible today for a
that yes it is possible today for a
that yes it is possible today for a self-respecting non Trump supporting
self-respecting non Trump supporting
self-respecting non Trump supporting person to say they love America we just
person to say they love America we just
person to say they love America we just have to realize that loving any country
have to realize that loving any country
have to realize that loving any country requires a degree of humility and only
requires a degree of humility and only
requires a degree of humility and only after we distinguish between what it
after we distinguish between what it
after we distinguish between what it means to be a nationalist and what it
means to be a nationalist and what it
means to be a nationalist and what it means to love a country can we choose
means to love a country can we choose
means to love a country can we choose the latter to move forward and make
the latter to move forward and make
the latter to move forward and make America truly great thank you
America truly great thank you
America truly great thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment