it’s great to feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself so give
something bigger than yourself so give
something bigger than yourself so give yourself a round of applause please
so two things
so two things first I must explain this hat I bought
first I must explain this hat I bought
first I must explain this hat I bought this has to embarrass my children and
this has to embarrass my children and
this has to embarrass my children and but it’s turned into a magical hat
but it’s turned into a magical hat
but it’s turned into a magical hat because wherever I wear it wherever I go
because wherever I wear it wherever I go
because wherever I wear it wherever I go in the world it appears to be an
in the world it appears to be an
in the world it appears to be an invitation to a conversation people stop
invitation to a conversation people stop
invitation to a conversation people stop and say amazing hat and then I talked to
and say amazing hat and then I talked to
and say amazing hat and then I talked to them and I found out how amazing they
them and I found out how amazing they
them and I found out how amazing they are but I’ll put it down here so as to
are but I’ll put it down here so as to
are but I’ll put it down here so as to not distract us the second thing I want
not distract us the second thing I want
not distract us the second thing I want to point out is that he made it sound
to point out is that he made it sound
to point out is that he made it sound heroic that I came here by boat sailed
heroic that I came here by boat sailed
heroic that I came here by boat sailed here by boat I think he said no I came
here by boat I think he said no I came
here by boat I think he said no I came on a cruise ship
on a cruise ship
on a cruise ship in luxury and and then I came by train
in luxury and and then I came by train
in luxury and and then I came by train from Hamburg to here and that was an
from Hamburg to here and that was an
from Hamburg to here and that was an expiring as experience because nobody
expiring as experience because nobody
expiring as experience because nobody stopped me and nobody asked me who I was
stopped me and nobody asked me who I was
stopped me and nobody asked me who I was or while is there and yet a mere 13
or while is there and yet a mere 13
or while is there and yet a mere 13 years before I was born coming by train
years before I was born coming by train
years before I was born coming by train to Poland meant something very different
to Poland meant something very different
to Poland meant something very different for you
for you
for you and for the people on the train and in
and for the people on the train and in
and for the people on the train and in fact in September when that happened my
fact in September when that happened my
fact in September when that happened my mother who was born in the United States
mother who was born in the United States
mother who was born in the United States and a naturalized American at you know
and a naturalized American at you know
and a naturalized American at you know born American citizen and her father who
born American citizen and her father who
born American citizen and her father who is a German American escaped from Italy
is a German American escaped from Italy
is a German American escaped from Italy on the last plane out of Rome and to
Portugal where they sailed on the last
Portugal where they sailed on the last boat before the u-boat u-boat started
boat before the u-boat u-boat started
boat before the u-boat u-boat started sinking them and when they arrived in
sinking them and when they arrived in
sinking them and when they arrived in New York City and presented their
New York City and presented their
New York City and presented their passports they said welcome home
so sit down and relax and close your
so sit down and relax and close your eyes and imagine you’re at home and it’s
eyes and imagine you’re at home and it’s
eyes and imagine you’re at home and it’s cold out but there’s a warm fire and
cold out but there’s a warm fire and
cold out but there’s a warm fire and you’re a father and your only son has
you’re a father and your only son has
you’re a father and your only son has been called to fight in a war that you
been called to fight in a war that you
been called to fight in a war that you consider illegal immoral and unwinnable
my father was that father I was that son
my father was that father I was that son and the war was the Vietnam War it’s the
and the war was the Vietnam War it’s the
and the war was the Vietnam War it’s the middle of January 1973 and I’ve received
middle of January 1973 and I’ve received
middle of January 1973 and I’ve received notice I’m to report to the Army on the
notice I’m to report to the Army on the
notice I’m to report to the Army on the last day of that month and my father
last day of that month and my father
last day of that month and my father sits me down at our dining room table
sits me down at our dining room table
sits me down at our dining room table and he says now it is time to talk about
and he says now it is time to talk about
and he says now it is time to talk about war
war
war he says war does things to you that can
he says war does things to you that can
he says war does things to you that can never be undone
never be undone
never be undone he says dying is the easy part
he says dying is the easy part
he says dying is the easy part because then for you the war is over
because then for you the war is over
because then for you the war is over he says worse is seeing a buddy die and
he says worse is seeing a buddy die and
he says worse is seeing a buddy die and worse still is to see a buddy die and
worse still is to see a buddy die and
worse still is to see a buddy die and know you could have prevented it but the
know you could have prevented it but the
know you could have prevented it but the worst thing of all he says is to look
worst thing of all he says is to look
worst thing of all he says is to look through your gun sight at someone’s
through your gun sight at someone’s
through your gun sight at someone’s father someone’s son someone’s brother
father someone’s son someone’s brother
father someone’s son someone’s brother and someone’s husband and know you’re
and someone’s husband and know you’re
and someone’s husband and know you’re about to execute a man for the crime of
about to execute a man for the crime of
about to execute a man for the crime of one thing to kill you as much as you
one thing to kill you as much as you
one thing to kill you as much as you want to kill him he says that is when
want to kill him he says that is when
want to kill him he says that is when you see evil in your own soul he says in
you see evil in your own soul he says in
you see evil in your own soul he says in world war ii when he was fighting the
world war ii when he was fighting the
world war ii when he was fighting the japanese he was not fighting to oppress
japanese he was not fighting to oppress
japanese he was not fighting to oppress the Japanese or the Germans but to
the Japanese or the Germans but to
the Japanese or the Germans but to liberate them from tyranny and that war
liberate them from tyranny and that war
liberate them from tyranny and that war would not be over until the Japanese and
would not be over until the Japanese and
would not be over until the Japanese and the Germans were glad that we had won he
the Germans were glad that we had won he
the Germans were glad that we had won he says when you look through your gunsight
says when you look through your gunsight
says when you look through your gunsight at a soldier in Vietnam you should know
at a soldier in Vietnam you should know
at a soldier in Vietnam you should know why he wants to kill you he’s defending
why he wants to kill you he’s defending
why he wants to kill you he’s defending his home but you must ask yourself do
his home but you must ask yourself do
his home but you must ask yourself do you know why you want to kill him he
you know why you want to kill him he
you know why you want to kill him he says you have two choices if you believe
says you have two choices if you believe
says you have two choices if you believe your country is under a credible threat
your country is under a credible threat
your country is under a credible threat you must heed the call to war and join
you must heed the call to war and join
you must heed the call to war and join or if you’re if you feel your country
or if you’re if you feel your country
or if you’re if you feel your country needs you to speak with a dissenting
needs you to speak with a dissenting
needs you to speak with a dissenting voice then you must not go and go to
voice then you must not go and go to
voice then you must not go and go to jail and speak from there
he says both those choices are honorable
he says both those choices are honorable and I’ll be proud of you and they’re
and I’ll be proud of you and they’re
and I’ll be proud of you and they’re both patriotic and then he bursts into
both patriotic and then he bursts into
both patriotic and then he bursts into tears and he says I asked why and he
tears and he says I asked why and he
tears and he says I asked why and he says well I can’t stand the thought of
says well I can’t stand the thought of
says well I can’t stand the thought of losing you to a war
losing you to a war
losing you to a war I consider immoral illegal and
I consider immoral illegal and
I consider immoral illegal and unwinnable and I’m thinking about
unwinnable and I’m thinking about
unwinnable and I’m thinking about suggesting you sneak into Canada and and
suggesting you sneak into Canada and and
suggesting you sneak into Canada and and I consider that shameful and unpatriotic
I consider that shameful and unpatriotic
I consider that shameful and unpatriotic because it’s abandoning your country and
because it’s abandoning your country and
because it’s abandoning your country and time of need and give me a second I’ve
time of need and give me a second I’ve
time of need and give me a second I’ve thought a lot recently about what it
thought a lot recently about what it
thought a lot recently about what it means to be an American because I’ve
means to be an American because I’ve
means to be an American because I’ve been ashamed of our electoral politics
been ashamed of our electoral politics
been ashamed of our electoral politics and because now our elected leaders are
and because now our elected leaders are
and because now our elected leaders are asking us to make America great again so
asking us to make America great again so
asking us to make America great again so it would seem reasonable I know what
it would seem reasonable I know what
it would seem reasonable I know what that means and so I started asking my
that means and so I started asking my
that means and so I started asking my fellow Americans and they said they’re
fellow Americans and they said they’re
fellow Americans and they said they’re surprisingly the majority refused to
surprisingly the majority refused to
surprisingly the majority refused to answer so I thought back to how I was
answer so I thought back to how I was
answer so I thought back to how I was raised and what I was raised every day
raised and what I was raised every day
raised and what I was raised every day in school we were asked to stand and to
in school we were asked to stand and to
in school we were asked to stand and to recite this the pledge of allegiance to
recite this the pledge of allegiance to
recite this the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
the flag of the United States of America
the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands
and to the Republic for which it stands
and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with
one nation under God indivisible with
one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all except that
liberty and justice for all except that
liberty and justice for all except that I stopped saying under God because it
I stopped saying under God because it
I stopped saying under God because it seems arrogant and not like liberty and
seems arrogant and not like liberty and
seems arrogant and not like liberty and justice for all and later during the
justice for all and later during the
justice for all and later during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
Vietnam War some people said the war was wrong and
some people said the war was wrong and
some people said the war was wrong and other people said my country right or
other people said my country right or
other people said my country right or wrong but I was raised to believe that
wrong but I was raised to believe that
wrong but I was raised to believe that the that the protestor and the platoon
the that the protestor and the platoon
the that the protestor and the platoon leader were both Patriots so I stopped
leader were both Patriots so I stopped
leader were both Patriots so I stopped saying I played I stopped pledging
saying I played I stopped pledging
saying I played I stopped pledging allegiance the United States of America
allegiance the United States of America
allegiance the United States of America but only to Republican form of
but only to Republican form of
but only to Republican form of government and to liberty and justice
government and to liberty and justice
government and to liberty and justice for all
for all
for all and I was free to do that you don’t have
and I was free to do that you don’t have
and I was free to do that you don’t have to say that play
to say that play
to say that play now little about the history that I was
now little about the history that I was
now little about the history that I was taught oh I’m sorry
taught oh I’m sorry
taught oh I’m sorry the Pledge as it turns out I have
the Pledge as it turns out I have
the Pledge as it turns out I have returned to the pledges it was
returned to the pledges it was
returned to the pledges it was originally penned in 1892 by a minister
originally penned in 1892 by a minister
originally penned in 1892 by a minister named Francis Bellamy I pledge
named Francis Bellamy I pledge
named Francis Bellamy I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the
allegiance to my flag and to the
allegiance to my flag and to the Republic for which it stands one nation
Republic for which it stands one nation
Republic for which it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for
indivisible with liberty and justice for
indivisible with liberty and justice for all and he did not write that for the
all and he did not write that for the
all and he did not write that for the United States but for peoples of all
United States but for peoples of all
United States but for peoples of all countries who believed in
countries who believed in
countries who believed in self-government and in liberty and
self-government and in liberty and
self-government and in liberty and justice for all
justice for all
justice for all so they could remind themselves of what
so they could remind themselves of what
so they could remind themselves of what they stood for and it was in the 1920s
they stood for and it was in the 1920s
they stood for and it was in the 1920s that we added the United States of
that we added the United States of
that we added the United States of America and only twelve days before I
America and only twelve days before I
America and only twelve days before I was born in 1952 we added under God to
was born in 1952 we added under God to
was born in 1952 we added under God to distinguish ourselves from godless
distinguish ourselves from godless
distinguish ourselves from godless communists and it worked but it made us
communists and it worked but it made us
communists and it worked but it made us less one nation and more divisible now a
less one nation and more divisible now a
less one nation and more divisible now a bit about our nation this is the
bit about our nation this is the
bit about our nation this is the battlefield at Gettysburg in our most
battlefield at Gettysburg in our most
battlefield at Gettysburg in our most bloody civil war over what it means to
bloody civil war over what it means to
bloody civil war over what it means to be an American and who gets liberty and
be an American and who gets liberty and
be an American and who gets liberty and justice for all
justice for all
justice for all does it include slaves and at that field
does it include slaves and at that field
does it include slaves and at that field our President Abraham Lincoln said these
our President Abraham Lincoln said these
our President Abraham Lincoln said these people must not have died in vain but
people must not have died in vain but
people must not have died in vain but rather so that our nation can have a
rather so that our nation can have a
rather so that our nation can have a rebirth and freedom and so that
rebirth and freedom and so that
rebirth and freedom and so that government of the people by the people
government of the people by the people
government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from
and for the people shall not perish from
and for the people shall not perish from this earth and the world needed that to
this earth and the world needed that to
this earth and the world needed that to not perish from this earth because other
not perish from this earth because other
not perish from this earth because other countries were having problems take
countries were having problems take
countries were having problems take France for example they had a problem
France for example they had a problem
France for example they had a problem the problem was Napoleon the third
the problem was Napoleon the third
the problem was Napoleon the third Napoleon the first nephew was elected in
Napoleon the first nephew was elected in
Napoleon the first nephew was elected in 1848 democratically as head of the
1848 democratically as head of the
1848 democratically as head of the second French Republic were republic 2.0
second French Republic were republic 2.0
second French Republic were republic 2.0 but he proved to be less of a Republican
but he proved to be less of a Republican
but he proved to be less of a Republican more than and more of a sales salesman
more than and more of a sales salesman
more than and more of a sales salesman and he established the Second Empire and
and he established the Second Empire and
and he established the Second Empire and made himself M
made himself M
made himself M in a bid to make France great again and
in a bid to make France great again and
in a bid to make France great again and it was during that time that the French
it was during that time that the French
it was during that time that the French people decided to give us a heroic
people decided to give us a heroic
people decided to give us a heroic statue this statue it’s a tourist
statue this statue it’s a tourist
statue this statue it’s a tourist attraction in New York Harbor but they
attraction in New York Harbor but they
attraction in New York Harbor but they did not give it to us to attract
did not give it to us to attract
did not give it to us to attract tourists they gave it to us to remind
tourists they gave it to us to remind
tourists they gave it to us to remind themselves and they called it Liberty
themselves and they called it Liberty
themselves and they called it Liberty enlightening in the world and in the
enlightening in the world and in the
enlightening in the world and in the crook of her right I’m sorry in the in
crook of her right I’m sorry in the in
crook of her right I’m sorry in the in her right arm she holds a flame
her right arm she holds a flame
her right arm she holds a flame representing Liberty and in the crook of
representing Liberty and in the crook of
representing Liberty and in the crook of her left arm are the laws that are
her left arm are the laws that are
her left arm are the laws that are necessary if there’s to be liberty and
necessary if there’s to be liberty and
necessary if there’s to be liberty and justice for all
now two days ago I had an unexpected
now two days ago I had an unexpected experience who here has heard of that
experience who here has heard of that
experience who here has heard of that something called couchsurfing okay so
something called couchsurfing okay so
something called couchsurfing okay so more than half this audience the rest of
more than half this audience the rest of
more than half this audience the rest of you asked them it’s an organization of
you asked them it’s an organization of
you asked them it’s an organization of over 7 million people so the size of the
over 7 million people so the size of the
over 7 million people so the size of the large city earth or a small country and
large city earth or a small country and
large city earth or a small country and these are people who will host the
these are people who will host the
these are people who will host the stranger when they travel and I got six
stranger when they travel and I got six
stranger when they travel and I got six of them together
of them together
of them together one American three poles one Ukrainian
one American three poles one Ukrainian
one American three poles one Ukrainian and I’d agreed it treated them to dinner
and I’d agreed it treated them to dinner
and I’d agreed it treated them to dinner sex including me and I treated them to
sex including me and I treated them to
sex including me and I treated them to dinner and I asked them what does it
dinner and I asked them what does it
dinner and I asked them what does it mean to you to be American and the
mean to you to be American and the
mean to you to be American and the American says I don’t know I think of
American says I don’t know I think of
American says I don’t know I think of myself as a human first
myself as a human first
myself as a human first and a woman second and I’m embarrassed
and a woman second and I’m embarrassed
and a woman second and I’m embarrassed to think of myself as a woman because I
to think of myself as a woman because I
to think of myself as a woman because I don’t see that separates me from men and
don’t see that separates me from men and
don’t see that separates me from men and and and the poll said I don’t know and
and and the poll said I don’t know and
and and the poll said I don’t know and and the Ukrainians said I think I know
and the Ukrainians said I think I know
and the Ukrainians said I think I know and I’m ashamed of it because he was
and I’m ashamed of it because he was
and I’m ashamed of it because he was running from his draft he said because
running from his draft he said because
running from his draft he said because he’s being asked to fight either on the
he’s being asked to fight either on the
he’s being asked to fight either on the side of crux or on the side of tyrants
side of crux or on the side of tyrants
side of crux or on the side of tyrants and he wants to have nothing to do with
and he wants to have nothing to do with
and he wants to have nothing to do with that so then I asked him what it means
that so then I asked him what it means
that so then I asked him what it means to be a couch surfer and they exploded
to be a couch surfer and they exploded
to be a couch surfer and they exploded and they explained what that was and
and they explained what that was and
and they explained what that was and then I remember I received a letter I
then I remember I received a letter I
then I remember I received a letter I asked the woman a young woman in Vietnam
asked the woman a young woman in Vietnam
asked the woman a young woman in Vietnam well actually I asked a friend of
well actually I asked a friend of
well actually I asked a friend of – 75 year-old the Vietnam War veteran
– 75 year-old the Vietnam War veteran
– 75 year-old the Vietnam War veteran was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and
was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and
was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and now a couch surfer and he’s been to
now a couch surfer and he’s been to
now a couch surfer and he’s been to Vietnam seven times building libraries
Vietnam seven times building libraries
Vietnam seven times building libraries in rural parts of Vietnam so I asked him
in rural parts of Vietnam so I asked him
in rural parts of Vietnam so I asked him what it meant to him and he forwarded it
what it meant to him and he forwarded it
what it meant to him and he forwarded it to his young friends in Hanoi and this
to his young friends in Hanoi and this
to his young friends in Hanoi and this is what I got back less than 20 minutes
is what I got back less than 20 minutes
is what I got back less than 20 minutes later let me read it says couch surfing
later let me read it says couch surfing
later let me read it says couch surfing brings me friendship and joys and
brings me friendship and joys and
brings me friendship and joys and chances as a starter I have a good pen
chances as a starter I have a good pen
chances as a starter I have a good pen pal in Spain it says I bring close
pal in Spain it says I bring close
pal in Spain it says I bring close friends that and I know I can be welcome
friends that and I know I can be welcome
friends that and I know I can be welcome anywhere I go and as a result I had a
anywhere I go and as a result I had a
anywhere I go and as a result I had a couchsurfing community in Hawaii and we
couchsurfing community in Hawaii and we
couchsurfing community in Hawaii and we often do voluntary work with orphans so
often do voluntary work with orphans so
often do voluntary work with orphans so couchsurfing is not really in its
couchsurfing is not really in its
couchsurfing is not really in its black-and-white meaning finding a couch
black-and-white meaning finding a couch
black-and-white meaning finding a couch for the homeless above that it is where
for the homeless above that it is where
for the homeless above that it is where people share their love hobbies
people share their love hobbies
people share their love hobbies community we’re only the greatest people
community we’re only the greatest people
community we’re only the greatest people exist where no wars happen where the
exist where no wars happen where the
exist where no wars happen where the safety and laughter exist couchsurfing
safety and laughter exist couchsurfing
safety and laughter exist couchsurfing saves people from the uncertainty and
saves people from the uncertainty and
saves people from the uncertainty and loneliness excuse me all from
loneliness excuse me all from
loneliness excuse me all from couchsurfing we start to get to know
couchsurfing we start to get to know
couchsurfing we start to get to know friends of our beloved couch surfers
friends of our beloved couch surfers
friends of our beloved couch surfers besides me besides laughter it has
besides me besides laughter it has
besides me besides laughter it has brought me love there and best friends I
brought me love there and best friends I
brought me love there and best friends I think it can speak for all the community
think it can speak for all the community
think it can speak for all the community of Celt surfers that we consider our
of Celt surfers that we consider our
of Celt surfers that we consider our couchsurfing as home and I think about
couchsurfing as home and I think about
couchsurfing as home and I think about my mom being invited home and I think
my mom being invited home and I think
my mom being invited home and I think about when I was teaching at university
about when I was teaching at university
about when I was teaching at university I had a student who is a recovering
I had a student who is a recovering
I had a student who is a recovering heroin act addict and I said why you’re
heroin act addict and I said why you’re
heroin act addict and I said why you’re smart why would you take heroin and he
smart why would you take heroin and he
smart why would you take heroin and he said because it feels like home he says
said because it feels like home he says
said because it feels like home he says when you know what it feels like to be
when you know what it feels like to be
when you know what it feels like to be home you will do anything for that
home you will do anything for that
home you will do anything for that feeling so let’s try another thought
feeling so let’s try another thought
feeling so let’s try another thought experiment hey get comfortable close
experiment hey get comfortable close
experiment hey get comfortable close your eyes relax
let your brain go to sleep and go down
let your brain go to sleep and go down into your heart and then past your heart
into your heart and then past your heart
into your heart and then past your heart go to your soul and notice that there’s
go to your soul and notice that there’s
go to your soul and notice that there’s evil there lurking behind fear which is
evil there lurking behind fear which is
evil there lurking behind fear which is what Stokes evil and then turn to the
what Stokes evil and then turn to the
what Stokes evil and then turn to the light and see love and feel it in
light and see love and feel it in
light and see love and feel it in yourself and reflect it and all the
yourself and reflect it and all the
yourself and reflect it and all the people around you and then know with
people around you and then know with
people around you and then know with your heart did everyone in this room and
your heart did everyone in this room and
your heart did everyone in this room and has your back right now come back up
has your back right now come back up
has your back right now come back up from your soul through your heart to
from your soul through your heart to
from your soul through your heart to your head and open your eyes and with
your head and open your eyes and with
your head and open your eyes and with your brain know that everyone in this
your brain know that everyone in this
your brain know that everyone in this room has your back
welcome home that’s what it feels like
welcome home that’s what it feels like so I thought about what I would pledge
so I thought about what I would pledge
so I thought about what I would pledge my allegiance to and I decided to write
my allegiance to and I decided to write
my allegiance to and I decided to write my own pledge not to a country but to an
my own pledge not to a country but to an
my own pledge not to a country but to an idea and a dream that was Napoleon the
idea and a dream that was Napoleon the
idea and a dream that was Napoleon the third he’s not my dream and this is why
third he’s not my dream and this is why
third he’s not my dream and this is why I hadn’t thought about what it means to
I hadn’t thought about what it means to
I hadn’t thought about what it means to be American since January 28 1973 when
be American since January 28 1973 when
be American since January 28 1973 when this was the headline two days before I
this was the headline two days before I
this was the headline two days before I was due to report to the Army Peace
was due to report to the Army Peace
was due to report to the Army Peace signed draft ended and I was told I
signed draft ended and I was told I
signed draft ended and I was told I didn’t have to go so I stopped thinking
didn’t have to go so I stopped thinking
didn’t have to go so I stopped thinking about what it means to be an American
about what it means to be an American
about what it means to be an American until recently and I realized what I
until recently and I realized what I
until recently and I realized what I have to think about is what it means to
have to think about is what it means to
have to think about is what it means to be me so what do I pledge my allegiance
be me so what do I pledge my allegiance
be me so what do I pledge my allegiance to so I pledged my allegiance to an idea
to so I pledged my allegiance to an idea
to so I pledged my allegiance to an idea that all people have an equal right to
that all people have an equal right to
that all people have an equal right to liberty and justice and to the dream
liberty and justice and to the dream
liberty and justice and to the dream the government of the people by the
the government of the people by the
the government of the people by the people and for the people shall not
people and for the people shall not
people and for the people shall not perish from this earth and I’d love for
perish from this earth and I’d love for
perish from this earth and I’d love for you perhaps silently or out loud if you
you perhaps silently or out loud if you
you perhaps silently or out loud if you wish and a few minutes I’ll repeat this
wish and a few minutes I’ll repeat this
wish and a few minutes I’ll repeat this and perhaps you will too you don’t need
and perhaps you will too you don’t need
and perhaps you will too you don’t need your nation or your neighbor to believe
your nation or your neighbor to believe
your nation or your neighbor to believe as you do you just have to believe it
as you do you just have to believe it
as you do you just have to believe it and you only have to believe it for this
and you only have to believe it for this
and you only have to believe it for this moment and you can change your mind
moment and you can change your mind
moment and you can change your mind tomorrow but the reason I’d like you to
tomorrow but the reason I’d like you to
tomorrow but the reason I’d like you to do it is because in my nation some
do it is because in my nation some
do it is because in my nation some people are into building walls they’re
people are into building walls they’re
people are into building walls they’re building walls between rich and poor
building walls between rich and poor
building walls between rich and poor between red and blue between me and you
between red and blue between me and you
between red and blue between me and you and I fear they will build walls so high
and I fear they will build walls so high
and I fear they will build walls so high that and so gold-plated that the
that and so gold-plated that the
that and so gold-plated that the reflected light of Lady Liberty’s torch
reflected light of Lady Liberty’s torch
reflected light of Lady Liberty’s torch will blind us into self-righteousness
will blind us into self-righteousness
will blind us into self-righteousness while extinguishing her light to God the
while extinguishing her light to God the
while extinguishing her light to God the rest of the world and one day I might
rest of the world and one day I might
rest of the world and one day I might need one of you to set up a megaphone
need one of you to set up a megaphone
need one of you to set up a megaphone outside one of our walls and shout mr.
outside one of our walls and shout mr.
outside one of our walls and shout mr. president tear down this wall and then
president tear down this wall and then
president tear down this wall and then perhaps we will find the courage to turn
perhaps we will find the courage to turn
perhaps we will find the courage to turn tear down our own walls just as happened
tear down our own walls just as happened
tear down our own walls just as happened not long ago here all over Europe so
not long ago here all over Europe so
not long ago here all over Europe so this is my pledge perhaps you’ll read it
this is my pledge perhaps you’ll read it
this is my pledge perhaps you’ll read it and you’ll hear it in your own head I
and you’ll hear it in your own head I
and you’ll hear it in your own head I pledge allegiance to an idea and it that
pledge allegiance to an idea and it that
pledge allegiance to an idea and it that all people have an equal right to
all people have an equal right to
all people have an equal right to liberty and justice and to the dream the
liberty and justice and to the dream the
liberty and justice and to the dream the government of the people by the people
government of the people by the people
government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from
and for the people shall not perish from
and for the people shall not perish from this earth
I’m just here in the spirit of Ted and
I’m just here in the spirit of Ted and hope you’ll spread my idea in my dream
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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