[Applause] [Music]
okay meaning of whatever after a
okay meaning of whatever after a stabbing attack typically these events
stabbing attack typically these events
stabbing attack typically these events are aspects of my life story which is
are aspects of my life story which is
are aspects of my life story which is foreign to lens through which I make
foreign to lens through which I make
foreign to lens through which I make sense of the world
sense of the world
sense of the world so although each of these individual
so although each of these individual
so although each of these individual words sectarian heartbreak terror are
words sectarian heartbreak terror are
words sectarian heartbreak terror are used every day from political discourse
used every day from political discourse
used every day from political discourse to casual conversation
to casual conversation
to casual conversation they are also key aspects of my identity
they are also key aspects of my identity
they are also key aspects of my identity and you see stories are incredibly
and you see stories are incredibly
and you see stories are incredibly important to us as humans we’re really
important to us as humans we’re really
important to us as humans we’re really story telling story making creatures who
story telling story making creatures who
story telling story making creatures who use stories to express aspects of our
use stories to express aspects of our
use stories to express aspects of our collective and individual identities and
collective and individual identities and
collective and individual identities and from childhood through to adulthood we
from childhood through to adulthood we
from childhood through to adulthood we use simplistic black and white
use simplistic black and white
use simplistic black and white narratives to make sense of the world
narratives to make sense of the world
narratives to make sense of the world and so you can see from fairy tales to
and so you can see from fairy tales to
and so you can see from fairy tales to the news media how these simplistic
the news media how these simplistic
the news media how these simplistic black-and-white narratives can create
black-and-white narratives can create
black-and-white narratives can create ideological mental and sometimes
ideological mental and sometimes
ideological mental and sometimes physical barriers between groups
physical barriers between groups
physical barriers between groups let me demonstrate how that happens put
let me demonstrate how that happens put
let me demonstrate how that happens put your hand up if you have ever unfollowed
your hand up if you have ever unfollowed
your hand up if you have ever unfollowed unfriended or block someone on social
unfriended or block someone on social
unfriended or block someone on social media because you didn’t want to see
media because you didn’t want to see
media because you didn’t want to see their views on your timeline a lot of us
their views on your timeline a lot of us
their views on your timeline a lot of us have done it and we’re not the only ones
have done it and we’re not the only ones
have done it and we’re not the only ones impact in 2016 just 31 percent of social
impact in 2016 just 31 percent of social
impact in 2016 just 31 percent of social media users believe that they interacted
media users believe that they interacted
media users believe that they interacted with diverse views online but why are we
with diverse views online but why are we
with diverse views online but why are we so afraid of seeing these views and how
so afraid of seeing these views and how
so afraid of seeing these views and how does stories contribute this black and
does stories contribute this black and
does stories contribute this black and white dichotomy the truth of the matter
white dichotomy the truth of the matter
white dichotomy the truth of the matter is that the way we perceive the world
is that the way we perceive the world
is that the way we perceive the world isn’t based on rational action
isn’t based on rational action
isn’t based on rational action dictionary definitions of terms like who
dictionary definitions of terms like who
dictionary definitions of terms like who might like to think they are the way we
might like to think they are the way we
might like to think they are the way we view the world is constructed
view the world is constructed
view the world is constructed – through events throughout our lives so
– through events throughout our lives so
– through events throughout our lives so what we’re really afraid of is that our
what we’re really afraid of is that our
what we’re really afraid of is that our view of the world will be power focused
view of the world will be power focused
view of the world will be power focused in other words we’re afraid of debate
in other words we’re afraid of debate
in other words we’re afraid of debate and disagreement because we don’t want
and disagreement because we don’t want
and disagreement because we don’t want to challenge how we be reality and all
to challenge how we be reality and all
to challenge how we be reality and all these things I’m talking about
these things I’m talking about
these things I’m talking about viewpoints lenses perspective they
viewpoints lenses perspective they
viewpoints lenses perspective they differ from person to person like
differ from person to person like
differ from person to person like eyesight you know I was recently back
eyesight you know I was recently back
eyesight you know I was recently back home and it was time for me to get my
home and it was time for me to get my
home and it was time for me to get my eyes tested with my parents were glasses
eyes tested with my parents were glasses
eyes tested with my parents were glasses and sometimes I struggled to read the
and sometimes I struggled to read the
and sometimes I struggled to read the board in class so I figured it was time
board in class so I figured it was time
board in class so I figured it was time for me to get glasses as well
for me to get glasses as well
for me to get glasses as well I’d even borrowed some of my friends
I’d even borrowed some of my friends
I’d even borrowed some of my friends glasses to see what they look like on my
glasses to see what they look like on my
glasses to see what they look like on my face so I go to local opticians and get
face so I go to local opticians and get
face so I go to local opticians and get an eye test you know how it goes they
an eye test you know how it goes they
an eye test you know how it goes they put that weird lens thing I’m trying to
put that weird lens thing I’m trying to
put that weird lens thing I’m trying to be praised and but letters up in the
be praised and but letters up in the
be praised and but letters up in the screen you’re told
screen you’re told
screen you’re told read out the letters get give us
read out the letters get give us
read out the letters get give us feedback on the lenses and after a while
feedback on the lenses and after a while
feedback on the lenses and after a while I just started guessing when they asked
I just started guessing when they asked
I just started guessing when they asked which one was better I just got so used
which one was better I just got so used
which one was better I just got so used to having a lens in front of my eyes
to having a lens in front of my eyes
to having a lens in front of my eyes altering what I was seeing and
altering what I was seeing and
altering what I was seeing and obstructing my view that I couldn’t tell
obstructing my view that I couldn’t tell
obstructing my view that I couldn’t tell what was clear and unclear when it came
what was clear and unclear when it came
what was clear and unclear when it came to reading letters off the board to the
to reading letters off the board to the
to reading letters off the board to the test sends the optician takes me aside
test sends the optician takes me aside
test sends the optician takes me aside and he looks me directly in the eye
and he looks me directly in the eye
and he looks me directly in the eye because that’s his job and he declared I
because that’s his job and he declared I
because that’s his job and he declared I was this is no word of a lie
was this is no word of a lie
was this is no word of a lie direct quote boringly healthy he said
direct quote boringly healthy he said
direct quote boringly healthy he said the entire eye test was a waste of his
the entire eye test was a waste of his
the entire eye test was a waste of his time and my time as I was most boring
time and my time as I was most boring
time and my time as I was most boring patient he’d seen in quite a while my
patient he’d seen in quite a while my
patient he’d seen in quite a while my eyes are fine and don’t worry I’m not
eyes are fine and don’t worry I’m not
eyes are fine and don’t worry I’m not here to boast about my eyesight or
here to boast about my eyesight or
here to boast about my eyesight or comment on how weird his comments were
comment on how weird his comments were
comment on how weird his comments were or though they were really strange and
or though they were really strange and
or though they were really strange and also he charged me like 30 pounds for
also he charged me like 30 pounds for
also he charged me like 30 pounds for the pleasure of that test whoever but I
the pleasure of that test whoever but I
the pleasure of that test whoever but I did get me to think about how we all
did get me to think about how we all
did get me to think about how we all perceive things from our own point of
perceive things from our own point of
perceive things from our own point of view
view
view cuz you see from my point of view it was
cuz you see from my point of view it was
cuz you see from my point of view it was time for me to get glasses my finest
time for me to get glasses my finest
time for me to get glasses my finest person to go see if I get
person to go see if I get
person to go see if I get just makes me 519 us when it came to an
just makes me 519 us when it came to an
just makes me 519 us when it came to an expert analyzing the commentary I was
expert analyzing the commentary I was
expert analyzing the commentary I was providing him with I was proven to be
providing him with I was proven to be
providing him with I was proven to be very wrong and so I got to thinking what
very wrong and so I got to thinking what
very wrong and so I got to thinking what else if I proceed to be wrong in my own
else if I proceed to be wrong in my own
else if I proceed to be wrong in my own life according to the lens I haven’t put
life according to the lens I haven’t put
life according to the lens I haven’t put on my eyes and you see I studying
on my eyes and you see I studying
on my eyes and you see I studying religious studies here Admiral and
religious studies here Admiral and
religious studies here Admiral and something that I’ve always found
something that I’ve always found
something that I’ve always found fascinating is how over so many years so
fascinating is how over so many years so
fascinating is how over so many years so many different people can come to the
many different people can come to the
many different people can come to the same piece of scripture and interpret it
same piece of scripture and interpret it
same piece of scripture and interpret it in completely different ways and I don’t
in completely different ways and I don’t
in completely different ways and I don’t worry I’m not going to preach that as a
worry I’m not going to preach that as a
worry I’m not going to preach that as a 100 cent not my job but when you study
100 cent not my job but when you study
100 cent not my job but when you study religion you do encounter some
religion you do encounter some
religion you do encounter some incredible stories for example the story
incredible stories for example the story
incredible stories for example the story of Jacob and easy the grandsons of
of Jacob and easy the grandsons of
of Jacob and easy the grandsons of Abraham the patriarch of Islam Judaism
Abraham the patriarch of Islam Judaism
Abraham the patriarch of Islam Judaism and Christianity now the story of these
and Christianity now the story of these
and Christianity now the story of these two brothers Jacob a zoo is complex and
two brothers Jacob a zoo is complex and
two brothers Jacob a zoo is complex and it continues to be studied today as a
it continues to be studied today as a
it continues to be studied today as a framework of peace building and
framework of peace building and
framework of peace building and reconciliation but for the purpose of
reconciliation but for the purpose of
reconciliation but for the purpose of this talk what you need to know is these
this talk what you need to know is these
this talk what you need to know is these two brothers fall out and eventually
two brothers fall out and eventually
two brothers fall out and eventually reunite reconcile embrace and weep
reunite reconcile embrace and weep
reunite reconcile embrace and weep beautiful story of brotherly love right
beautiful story of brotherly love right
beautiful story of brotherly love right except in this one interpretation that I
except in this one interpretation that I
except in this one interpretation that I came across which was written by a third
came across which was written by a third
came across which was written by a third century Jewish sage so Hebrew you know
century Jewish sage so Hebrew you know
century Jewish sage so Hebrew you know the brothers fell out and they did
the brothers fell out and they did
the brothers fell out and they did reunite when it came to a whole
reunite when it came to a whole
reunite when it came to a whole reconciliation thing what happened was
reconciliation thing what happened was
reconciliation thing what happened was eases neck turned to marble when Jacob
eases neck turned to marble when Jacob
eases neck turned to marble when Jacob tried to kiss him and so Jacobs teeth
tried to kiss him and so Jacobs teeth
tried to kiss him and so Jacobs teeth were shattered on his neck and so when
were shattered on his neck and so when
were shattered on his neck and so when it says they embraced and wet one
it says they embraced and wet one
it says they embraced and wet one brother was crying because all of a
brother was crying because all of a
brother was crying because all of a sudden its necklace made of marble like
sudden its necklace made of marble like
sudden its necklace made of marble like what’s over that and the other brother
what’s over that and the other brother
what’s over that and the other brother was crying because he has this
was crying because he has this
was crying because he has this irreparable dental trauma which I’m sure
irreparable dental trauma which I’m sure
irreparable dental trauma which I’m sure costs a lot more in biblical times than
costs a lot more in biblical times than
costs a lot more in biblical times than my eye test a couple of months ago and
my eye test a couple of months ago and
my eye test a couple of months ago and that sounds pretty crazy right I mean
that sounds pretty crazy right I mean
that sounds pretty crazy right I mean that’s not what the text explicitly says
that’s not what the text explicitly says
that’s not what the text explicitly says but the text merely lays out the actions
but the text merely lays out the actions
but the text merely lays out the actions of the brothers it doesn’t say anything
of the brothers it doesn’t say anything
of the brothers it doesn’t say anything about their thoughts or feelings and so
about their thoughts or feelings and so
about their thoughts or feelings and so over time interpretations have developed
over time interpretations have developed
over time interpretations have developed with the life stories of the
with the life stories of the
with the life stories of the interpreters with their experiences
interpreters with their experiences
interpreters with their experiences of trauma lost heartbreak peace
of trauma lost heartbreak peace
of trauma lost heartbreak peace reconciliation fear forming a lens
reconciliation fear forming a lens
reconciliation fear forming a lens through which the text is viewed and you
through which the text is viewed and you
through which the text is viewed and you know the baggage of her own history
know the baggage of her own history
know the baggage of her own history often blinds us from seeing the reality
often blinds us from seeing the reality
often blinds us from seeing the reality that is written plainly in front of us
that is written plainly in front of us
that is written plainly in front of us and often we really just take commentary
and often we really just take commentary
and often we really just take commentary as fact we’re too likely to take the
as fact we’re too likely to take the
as fact we’re too likely to take the interpretation of a situation as the
interpretation of a situation as the
interpretation of a situation as the reality of the situation so imagine if I
reality of the situation so imagine if I
reality of the situation so imagine if I told you that story of Jacob and easy
told you that story of Jacob and easy
told you that story of Jacob and easy just from their perspective of the
just from their perspective of the
just from their perspective of the marble Mecca interpretation you’d never
marble Mecca interpretation you’d never
marble Mecca interpretation you’d never really know if that was a story that was
really know if that was a story that was
really know if that was a story that was motivated by desire for peace or a
motivated by desire for peace or a
motivated by desire for peace or a desire for complex and I think that this
desire for complex and I think that this
desire for complex and I think that this reflects how as a society we don’t
reflects how as a society we don’t
reflects how as a society we don’t really know how to disagree healthily I
really know how to disagree healthily I
really know how to disagree healthily I mean our whole idea of debate implies
mean our whole idea of debate implies
mean our whole idea of debate implies that there must be a right perspective
that there must be a right perspective
that there must be a right perspective and a wrong perspective that
and a wrong perspective that
and a wrong perspective that everything’s black and white and these
everything’s black and white and these
everything’s black and white and these protectors need to clash against each
protectors need to clash against each
protectors need to clash against each other but when it comes to looking at
other but when it comes to looking at
other but when it comes to looking at something like a religious text you
something like a religious text you
something like a religious text you can’t just take one interpretation to be
can’t just take one interpretation to be
can’t just take one interpretation to be fact that’s why some theologians believe
fact that’s why some theologians believe
fact that’s why some theologians believe that when you’re looking at malicious
that when you’re looking at malicious
that when you’re looking at malicious law what you need to do is argue your
law what you need to do is argue your
law what you need to do is argue your point 49 ways your own way and then be
point 49 ways your own way and then be
point 49 ways your own way and then be able to argue it 49 ways the completely
able to argue it 49 ways the completely
able to argue it 49 ways the completely different other way and that way you
different other way and that way you
different other way and that way you promote a culture of healthy
promote a culture of healthy
promote a culture of healthy disagreement because yes you’re still
disagreement because yes you’re still
disagreement because yes you’re still arguing your point but you’re also
arguing your point but you’re also
arguing your point but you’re also maintaining respect and curiosity for
maintaining respect and curiosity for
maintaining respect and curiosity for the opposing view so I was recently on
the opposing view so I was recently on
the opposing view so I was recently on Facebook and I came across this status
Facebook and I came across this status
Facebook and I came across this status from a friend who lives in the Middle
from a friend who lives in the Middle
from a friend who lives in the Middle East we can see from the status how our
East we can see from the status how our
East we can see from the status how our own view often blinds us leading to
own view often blinds us leading to
own view often blinds us leading to groups living in parallel realities
groups living in parallel realities
groups living in parallel realities apparently having to choose between
apparently having to choose between
apparently having to choose between seeing the world beautifully or
seeing the world beautifully or
seeing the world beautifully or realistically but I think if we created
realistically but I think if we created
realistically but I think if we created some kind of culture of healthy
some kind of culture of healthy
some kind of culture of healthy disagreement we don’t have to choose
disagreement we don’t have to choose
disagreement we don’t have to choose between these two perspectives and you
between these two perspectives and you
between these two perspectives and you know sometimes what I think we really
know sometimes what I think we really
know sometimes what I think we really need is some form of identity translator
need is some form of identity translator
need is some form of identity translator which allows us to step back and take
which allows us to step back and take
which allows us to step back and take into consideration our own stories that
into consideration our own stories that
into consideration our own stories that form our view as
form our view as
form our view as the stories of those who disagree with
the stories of those who disagree with
the stories of those who disagree with us and I want to share a story with you
us and I want to share a story with you
us and I want to share a story with you today of how I ended up doing this in my
today of how I ended up doing this in my
today of how I ended up doing this in my own life I took this picture this summer
own life I took this picture this summer
own life I took this picture this summer just a few kilometres beyond the
just a few kilometres beyond the
just a few kilometres beyond the barriers and walls of the city of
barriers and walls of the city of
barriers and walls of the city of Jerusalem in the West Bank in this
Jerusalem in the West Bank in this
Jerusalem in the West Bank in this picture I’m sitting with a Palestinian
picture I’m sitting with a Palestinian
picture I’m sitting with a Palestinian family and you can see the woman
family and you can see the woman
family and you can see the woman harvesting sage leaves for tea against
harvesting sage leaves for tea against
harvesting sage leaves for tea against the glow of an Israeli settlement black
the glow of an Israeli settlement black
the glow of an Israeli settlement black and white right I was taken here by a
and white right I was taken here by a
and white right I was taken here by a mutual friend and actually it’s the guy
mutual friend and actually it’s the guy
mutual friend and actually it’s the guy who wrote the Facebook status that I
who wrote the Facebook status that I
who wrote the Facebook status that I showed you earlier we were driving
showed you earlier we were driving
showed you earlier we were driving around conducting interviews when his
around conducting interviews when his
around conducting interviews when his friends this Palestinian family stopped
friends this Palestinian family stopped
friends this Palestinian family stopped the car and insisted that we joined them
the car and insisted that we joined them
the car and insisted that we joined them we sat and we drank Arabic coffee and we
we sat and we drank Arabic coffee and we
we sat and we drank Arabic coffee and we laughed and we shared stories they
laughed and we shared stories they
laughed and we shared stories they expertly navigate between Arabic Hebrew
expertly navigate between Arabic Hebrew
expertly navigate between Arabic Hebrew and English and made fun of me for only
and English and made fun of me for only
and English and made fun of me for only speaking English and as hard as I tried
speaking English and as hard as I tried
speaking English and as hard as I tried they did not understand then my 14 years
they did not understand then my 14 years
they did not understand then my 14 years of education Northern Ireland Arabic and
of education Northern Ireland Arabic and
of education Northern Ireland Arabic and Hebrew did not make it on the curriculum
Hebrew did not make it on the curriculum
Hebrew did not make it on the curriculum and together we set to work or at least
and together we set to work or at least
and together we set to work or at least tried to a Palestinian family confined
tried to a Palestinian family confined
tried to a Palestinian family confined to the West Bank an Israeli settler
to the West Bank an Israeli settler
to the West Bank an Israeli settler originally from Minnesota
originally from Minnesota
originally from Minnesota a Northern Irish girl who sometimes
a Northern Irish girl who sometimes
a Northern Irish girl who sometimes lives in Edinburgh we set to work
lives in Edinburgh we set to work
lives in Edinburgh we set to work together to try and get a permit so that
together to try and get a permit so that
together to try and get a permit so that one of the Palestinian men could visit a
one of the Palestinian men could visit a
one of the Palestinian men could visit a friend in an Israeli Hospital and you
friend in an Israeli Hospital and you
friend in an Israeli Hospital and you see in theory this evening should have
see in theory this evening should have
see in theory this evening should have happened and to be completely honest
happened and to be completely honest
happened and to be completely honest with you my life would be so much easier
with you my life would be so much easier
with you my life would be so much easier if I didn’t know this had happened if I
if I didn’t know this had happened if I
if I didn’t know this had happened if I just continue to see the situation in
just continue to see the situation in
just continue to see the situation in Jerusalem as black and white aligning my
Jerusalem as black and white aligning my
Jerusalem as black and white aligning my views of the accepted narrative that one
views of the accepted narrative that one
views of the accepted narrative that one sided right and the other is wrong and
sided right and the other is wrong and
sided right and the other is wrong and honestly before this experience I did
honestly before this experience I did
honestly before this experience I did see the situation Jerusalem is black and
see the situation Jerusalem is black and
see the situation Jerusalem is black and white I was completely unaware at the
white I was completely unaware at the
white I was completely unaware at the lens I had before my eyes completely
lens I had before my eyes completely
lens I had before my eyes completely unaware of my own internal bias but it
unaware of my own internal bias but it
unaware of my own internal bias but it took being vulnerable admitting my
took being vulnerable admitting my
took being vulnerable admitting my ignorance and traveling both physically
ignorance and traveling both physically
ignorance and traveling both physically and mentally to challenge myself that
and mentally to challenge myself that
and mentally to challenge myself that enabled me to see why we see things
enabled me to see why we see things
enabled me to see why we see things from such different points of views and
from such different points of views and
from such different points of views and also why this isn’t always necessarily a
also why this isn’t always necessarily a
also why this isn’t always necessarily a bad thing you know through this entire
bad thing you know through this entire
bad thing you know through this entire experience I was able to develop my own
experience I was able to develop my own
experience I was able to develop my own idea of my den – translator within my
idea of my den – translator within my
idea of my den – translator within my own head using the kind of method of
own head using the kind of method of
own head using the kind of method of exegesis that we use in the school of
exegesis that we use in the school of
exegesis that we use in the school of divinity exegesis being the critical
divinity exegesis being the critical
divinity exegesis being the critical interpretation of a text or a scripture
interpretation of a text or a scripture
interpretation of a text or a scripture so these are the steps for exegesis and
so these are the steps for exegesis and
so these are the steps for exegesis and this is what I now do if I’m about to
this is what I now do if I’m about to
this is what I now do if I’m about to enter into your supreme salon not I
enter into your supreme salon not I
enter into your supreme salon not I intend to enter in disagreements but
intend to enter in disagreements but
intend to enter in disagreements but that includes establishing the context
that includes establishing the context
that includes establishing the context which I am expressing my identity how my
which I am expressing my identity how my
which I am expressing my identity how my identity contributes to my point of view
identity contributes to my point of view
identity contributes to my point of view and then establishing the contacts which
and then establishing the contacts which
and then establishing the contacts which disagreements happening and also
disagreements happening and also
disagreements happening and also understanding how the other person
understanding how the other person
understanding how the other person expressing their identity but the most
expressing their identity but the most
expressing their identity but the most important step in all of this but
important step in all of this but
important step in all of this but doesn’t quite happen when you’re doing X
doesn’t quite happen when you’re doing X
doesn’t quite happen when you’re doing X pieces of text is admitting your
pieces of text is admitting your
pieces of text is admitting your ignorance
ignorance
ignorance you see it’s empowering just to be
you see it’s empowering just to be
you see it’s empowering just to be vulnerable and admit your ignorance and
vulnerable and admit your ignorance and
vulnerable and admit your ignorance and through all this I’ve been able to apply
through all this I’ve been able to apply
through all this I’ve been able to apply this kind of method to different aspects
this kind of method to different aspects
this kind of method to different aspects of my life because I want you to tell me
of my life because I want you to tell me
of my life because I want you to tell me and through this I don’t do it so that I
and through this I don’t do it so that I
and through this I don’t do it so that I can agree it for everyone
can agree it for everyone
can agree it for everyone but so that I can try as hard as
but so that I can try as hard as
but so that I can try as hard as possible to take everyone’s opinion and
possible to take everyone’s opinion and
possible to take everyone’s opinion and point of view into consideration and I
point of view into consideration and I
point of view into consideration and I know you might think that I sound really
know you might think that I sound really
know you might think that I sound really idealistic here well honestly I don’t
idealistic here well honestly I don’t
idealistic here well honestly I don’t think I do because I know that clashing
think I do because I know that clashing
think I do because I know that clashing and disagreements and debates there are
and disagreements and debates there are
and disagreements and debates there are products of human interaction and they
products of human interaction and they
products of human interaction and they will always exist I know that developing
will always exist I know that developing
will always exist I know that developing your own idea of identity translation
your own idea of identity translation
your own idea of identity translation it’s not going to change the world I
it’s not going to change the world I
it’s not going to change the world I know that I’ll never really be able to
know that I’ll never really be able to
know that I’ll never really be able to smash the lenses I have in front of my
smash the lenses I have in front of my
smash the lenses I have in front of my eyes
eyes
eyes and I know that my own definitions of
and I know that my own definitions of
and I know that my own definitions of sectarianism heartbreak and terror they
sectarianism heartbreak and terror they
sectarianism heartbreak and terror they may never change but I hope if we
may never change but I hope if we
may never change but I hope if we took the time to understand our own
took the time to understand our own
took the time to understand our own stories as well as the stories of those
stories as well as the stories of those
stories as well as the stories of those who disagree with us that we’d be able
who disagree with us that we’d be able
who disagree with us that we’d be able to create or begin to create a culture
to create or begin to create a culture
to create or begin to create a culture of healthy disagreement thank you
”
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