Gaza is not the most beautiful city its shores is not the most beautiful on the
shores is not the most beautiful on the
shores is not the most beautiful on the Mediterranean bases its oranges are not
Mediterranean bases its oranges are not
Mediterranean bases its oranges are not the most beautiful Gaza is not the
the most beautiful Gaza is not the
the most beautiful Gaza is not the richest city it’s not the most elegant
richest city it’s not the most elegant
richest city it’s not the most elegant nor is it the biggest but it equals the
nor is it the biggest but it equals the
nor is it the biggest but it equals the history of an entire homeland because
history of an entire homeland because
history of an entire homeland because it’s more ugly impoverished and
it’s more ugly impoverished and
it’s more ugly impoverished and miserable in the eyes of its enemies
miserable in the eyes of its enemies
miserable in the eyes of its enemies because it’s the most capable among us
because it’s the most capable among us
because it’s the most capable among us of disturbing the enemy’s mood and his
of disturbing the enemy’s mood and his
of disturbing the enemy’s mood and his comfort because it says nightmare
comfort because it says nightmare
comfort because it says nightmare because its mind oranges children
because its mind oranges children
because its mind oranges children without childhood old men without old
without childhood old men without old
without childhood old men without old age woman without desires because of all
age woman without desires because of all
age woman without desires because of all of this it’s the most la it’s the most
of this it’s the most la it’s the most
of this it’s the most la it’s the most elegant and beautiful and the one most
elegant and beautiful and the one most
elegant and beautiful and the one most worthy of love this poem is the lamb
worthy of love this poem is the lamb
worthy of love this poem is the lamb platter by our beloved Palestinian poet
platter by our beloved Palestinian poet
platter by our beloved Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish that take me back to
Mahmoud Darwish that take me back to
Mahmoud Darwish that take me back to Gaza Palestine a place I tried so hard
Gaza Palestine a place I tried so hard
Gaza Palestine a place I tried so hard to let go of and yet when I try when I
to let go of and yet when I try when I
to let go of and yet when I try when I managed to leave her she still won’t let
managed to leave her she still won’t let
managed to leave her she still won’t let me go the talk I intended to give today
me go the talk I intended to give today
me go the talk I intended to give today the Bob is about positivity and how to
the Bob is about positivity and how to
the Bob is about positivity and how to escape negativity even in dark times
escape negativity even in dark times
escape negativity even in dark times having lived through three words in my
having lived through three words in my
having lived through three words in my 17 years I thought I knew something
17 years I thought I knew something
17 years I thought I knew something about this staying positive stuff but
about this staying positive stuff but
about this staying positive stuff but the more I thought about it I felt yani
the more I thought about it I felt yani
the more I thought about it I felt yani not very positive at all I found myself
not very positive at all I found myself
not very positive at all I found myself remembering Gaza and my people and her
remembering Gaza and my people and her
remembering Gaza and my people and her people my people and wondering is it
people my people and wondering is it
people my people and wondering is it free to expect this of Gaza is it fair
free to expect this of Gaza is it fair
free to expect this of Gaza is it fair to expect us to be positive in spite of
to expect us to be positive in spite of
to expect us to be positive in spite of the ingoing siege which has literary
the ingoing siege which has literary
the ingoing siege which has literary turned a dignified people into our
turned a dignified people into our
turned a dignified people into our biggest to the word for the most basic
biggest to the word for the most basic
biggest to the word for the most basic human rights is it fair to expect us to
human rights is it fair to expect us to
human rights is it fair to expect us to be positive in spite of the siege which
be positive in spite of the siege which
be positive in spite of the siege which not only feels Gaza from every direction
not only feels Gaza from every direction
not only feels Gaza from every direction but also test the capacity of her over
but also test the capacity of her over
but also test the capacity of her over inhabitants by denying six percent of
inhabitants by denying six percent of
inhabitants by denying six percent of drinkable water less than six hours of
drinkable water less than six hours of
drinkable water less than six hours of electricity per days and denies basic
electricity per days and denies basic
electricity per days and denies basic medicines each time somebody finds out
medicines each time somebody finds out
medicines each time somebody finds out them from Gaza Palestine the questions I
them from Gaza Palestine the questions I
them from Gaza Palestine the questions I get the most ass or what is it like to
get the most ass or what is it like to
get the most ass or what is it like to live in Gaza how is it like to live
live in Gaza how is it like to live
live in Gaza how is it like to live through the
through the
through the last war in Gaza because even though
last war in Gaza because even though
last war in Gaza because even though right to flee was not there it was seen
right to flee was not there it was seen
right to flee was not there it was seen from every direction no place was held
from every direction no place was held
from every direction no place was held suckered by one of the most powerful
suckered by one of the most powerful
suckered by one of the most powerful armies Israel not our homes not our
armies Israel not our homes not our
armies Israel not our homes not our hospital not not our schools not our
hospital not not our schools not our
hospital not not our schools not our graveyards and so I started thinking
graveyards and so I started thinking
graveyards and so I started thinking what would these thoughts mean for that
what would these thoughts mean for that
what would these thoughts mean for that which is the platform to share ideas and
which is the platform to share ideas and
which is the platform to share ideas and I found myself remembering something I
I found myself remembering something I
I found myself remembering something I was told by a mentor you through every
was told by a mentor you through every
was told by a mentor you through every good idea every good answer comes from
good idea every good answer comes from
good idea every good answer comes from good question now i have my questions
good question now i have my questions
good question now i have my questions but i’m not sure if they’re good and
but i’m not sure if they’re good and
but i’m not sure if they’re good and they won’t go away and i hope by the end
they won’t go away and i hope by the end
they won’t go away and i hope by the end of this we can explore them together i’m
of this we can explore them together i’m
of this we can explore them together i’m staying positive i’d like to say that
staying positive i’d like to say that
staying positive i’d like to say that I’m not unique in this attempt effort
I’m not unique in this attempt effort
I’m not unique in this attempt effort and in fact there are many people in
and in fact there are many people in
and in fact there are many people in Gaza and in the word who faced many
Gaza and in the word who faced many
Gaza and in the word who faced many brutal consequences because of war
brutal consequences because of war
brutal consequences because of war including some in my extended family I
tried to think about what is it that
tried to think about what is it that make people in Gaza get up in the
make people in Gaza get up in the
make people in Gaza get up in the morning and live with hope in spite of
morning and live with hope in spite of
morning and live with hope in spite of the strong feeling of hopelessness it’s
the strong feeling of hopelessness it’s
the strong feeling of hopelessness it’s actually faith it’s faith alone I’m a
actually faith it’s faith alone I’m a
actually faith it’s faith alone I’m a Muslim and I’m obligated to accept my
Muslim and I’m obligated to accept my
Muslim and I’m obligated to accept my fate that doesn’t mean I should not try
fate that doesn’t mean I should not try
fate that doesn’t mean I should not try to accept my that doesn’t mean I should
to accept my that doesn’t mean I should
to accept my that doesn’t mean I should not try to change my circumstances but
not try to change my circumstances but
not try to change my circumstances but when the situation is bigger than what I
when the situation is bigger than what I
when the situation is bigger than what I can offer to it it’s my obligation to
can offer to it it’s my obligation to
can offer to it it’s my obligation to accept it with peace and dignity because
accept it with peace and dignity because
accept it with peace and dignity because suffering is a test and in this test
suffering is a test and in this test
suffering is a test and in this test there’s a reward even if I cannot see it
there’s a reward even if I cannot see it
there’s a reward even if I cannot see it but I should accept it
there’s a saying of here people in North
there’s a saying of here people in North America use when life gives you lemons
America use when life gives you lemons
America use when life gives you lemons make lemonade now I would like to share
make lemonade now I would like to share
make lemonade now I would like to share with you some of ghazals best lemonade
with you some of ghazals best lemonade
with you some of ghazals best lemonade makers
this is salim saudi with his daughter
this is salim saudi with his daughter and niece due to the blockade in gaza
and niece due to the blockade in gaza
and niece due to the blockade in gaza restriction materials are not allowed to
restriction materials are not allowed to
restriction materials are not allowed to get in this is a moment of beautiful
get in this is a moment of beautiful
get in this is a moment of beautiful tenderness and act of love something
tenderness and act of love something
tenderness and act of love something positive in the negative lemons into the
positive in the negative lemons into the
positive in the negative lemons into the lemonade now meet this couple a war zone
lemonade now meet this couple a war zone
lemonade now meet this couple a war zone a war zone wedding were invited were
a war zone wedding were invited were
a war zone wedding were invited were uninvited death and destruction were
uninvited death and destruction were
uninvited death and destruction were present there this is not only attempt
present there this is not only attempt
present there this is not only attempt at being positive this is a real love
at being positive this is a real love
at being positive this is a real love letter to the world now we now meet the
letter to the world now we now meet the
letter to the world now we now meet the future lemonade makers these children
future lemonade makers these children
future lemonade makers these children are making their own games adorable due
are making their own games adorable due
are making their own games adorable due to the blockade on Gaza electricity
to the blockade on Gaza electricity
to the blockade on Gaza electricity comes forth for no longer than six hours
comes forth for no longer than six hours
comes forth for no longer than six hours per day this is this an attempt to study
per day this is this an attempt to study
per day this is this an attempt to study against all odds something I personally
against all odds something I personally
against all odds something I personally experienced turning lemons into the
experienced turning lemons into the
experienced turning lemons into the lemonade and yet in spite of the
lemonade and yet in spite of the
lemonade and yet in spite of the academic achievement that powerful words
academic achievement that powerful words
academic achievement that powerful words of poets and dreamers and the
of poets and dreamers and the
of poets and dreamers and the neverending causes and indeed the world
neverending causes and indeed the world
neverending causes and indeed the world best lemonade my way lemonade makers I
best lemonade my way lemonade makers I
best lemonade my way lemonade makers I find myself asking another question do I
find myself asking another question do I
find myself asking another question do I have the right to fall apart do people
have the right to fall apart do people
have the right to fall apart do people in Gaza have the right to fall apart to
in Gaza have the right to fall apart to
in Gaza have the right to fall apart to lose hope to lose faith what if lemonade
lose hope to lose faith what if lemonade
lose hope to lose faith what if lemonade makers run out of sugar in Gaza this is
makers run out of sugar in Gaza this is
makers run out of sugar in Gaza this is not only a metaphor such basic supplies
not only a metaphor such basic supplies
not only a metaphor such basic supplies are luxury for so many at so many times
are luxury for so many at so many times
are luxury for so many at so many times recently i was in toronto canada where
recently i was in toronto canada where
recently i was in toronto canada where my brother who currently lives in
my brother who currently lives in
my brother who currently lives in seattle sent me to stay with a friend he
seattle sent me to stay with a friend he
seattle sent me to stay with a friend he know over the holidays he wanted me to
know over the holidays he wanted me to
know over the holidays he wanted me to feel alone he wanted me to feel home not
feel alone he wanted me to feel home not
feel alone he wanted me to feel home not to feel alone i’d like to tell you
to feel alone i’d like to tell you
to feel alone i’d like to tell you something the last time I saw my brother
something the last time I saw my brother
something the last time I saw my brother I was 9 years old I’m 17 now I remember
I was 9 years old I’m 17 now I remember
I was 9 years old I’m 17 now I remember the day he left I remember the extreme
the day he left I remember the extreme
the day he left I remember the extreme emotions of my mom because he was her
emotions of my mom because he was her
emotions of my mom because he was her only child here only as the way in my
only child here only as the way in my
only child here only as the way in my culture let’s say that my sister and I
culture let’s say that my sister and I
culture let’s say that my sister and I were not valid but he was
were not valid but he was
were not valid but he was the only other man of the house and this
the only other man of the house and this
the only other man of the house and this trend was leaving while we were sad we
trend was leaving while we were sad we
trend was leaving while we were sad we were so proud of him and we thought that
were so proud of him and we thought that
were so proud of him and we thought that he would at least have a better life for
he would at least have a better life for
he would at least have a better life for a short time level little did we know
a short time level little did we know
a short time level little did we know that Anna’s would do so well to receive
that Anna’s would do so well to receive
that Anna’s would do so well to receive so many offers to stay little did we
so many offers to stay little did we
so many offers to stay little did we know that he would stay and finish his
know that he would stay and finish his
know that he would stay and finish his undergraduate studies graduate studies
undergraduate studies graduate studies
undergraduate studies graduate studies and you step in a carrier little did we
and you step in a carrier little did we
and you step in a carrier little did we know that this opportunity meant not
know that this opportunity meant not
know that this opportunity meant not seeing Anna’s for years to come the day
seeing Anna’s for years to come the day
seeing Anna’s for years to come the day came when I two looked for opportunities
came when I two looked for opportunities
came when I two looked for opportunities and little did I know that this
and little did I know that this
and little did I know that this opportunity would bring me to Vancouver
opportunity would bring me to Vancouver
opportunity would bring me to Vancouver Island a few hours drive from my brother
Island a few hours drive from my brother
Island a few hours drive from my brother in Seattle after so many years I thought
in Seattle after so many years I thought
in Seattle after so many years I thought finally faith had brought us together
finally faith had brought us together
finally faith had brought us together together so I applied for a visa my visa
together so I applied for a visa my visa
together so I applied for a visa my visa was denied and Anna’s does not have the
was denied and Anna’s does not have the
was denied and Anna’s does not have the ability to leave the US my time on
ability to leave the US my time on
ability to leave the US my time on Toronto was everything I had hoped for
Toronto was everything I had hoped for
Toronto was everything I had hoped for and more but there was this one time
and more but there was this one time
and more but there was this one time when I was walking my with my friend
when I was walking my with my friend
when I was walking my with my friend Mona in the mall I felt really sick my
Mona in the mall I felt really sick my
Mona in the mall I felt really sick my heart was racing feeling hot and cold
heart was racing feeling hot and cold
heart was racing feeling hot and cold Mona took me to sit down and as she
Mona took me to sit down and as she
Mona took me to sit down and as she guided me through deep breath she asked
guided me through deep breath she asked
guided me through deep breath she asked me if this happen often I said yes and
me if this happen often I said yes and
me if this happen often I said yes and with headaches we then discussed the
with headaches we then discussed the
with headaches we then discussed the last year of my life when they started
last year of my life when they started
last year of my life when they started happening until that moment until
happening until that moment until
happening until that moment until someone took the time to ask me I never
someone took the time to ask me I never
someone took the time to ask me I never realized how much I was keeping inside
realized how much I was keeping inside
realized how much I was keeping inside and the effort just to stay positive I
and the effort just to stay positive I
and the effort just to stay positive I left Gaza to attend a one-week summer
left Gaza to attend a one-week summer
left Gaza to attend a one-week summer program in Ireland with the idea that I
program in Ireland with the idea that I
program in Ireland with the idea that I would return home I made the decision
would return home I made the decision
would return home I made the decision not to return home because going back to
not to return home because going back to
not to return home because going back to my family to say goodbye meant that
my family to say goodbye meant that
my family to say goodbye meant that helped with it the chance that I won’t
helped with it the chance that I won’t
helped with it the chance that I won’t be here in pierson college sometimes
be here in pierson college sometimes
be here in pierson college sometimes luck lets you out luck lets you out but
luck lets you out luck lets you out but
luck lets you out luck lets you out but more often the occupation locks you in
more often the occupation locks you in
more often the occupation locks you in this is the injustice against Gaza which
this is the injustice against Gaza which
this is the injustice against Gaza which keeps people apart and turns basic
keeps people apart and turns basic
keeps people apart and turns basic rights into dreams
she said that this might explain the
she said that this might explain the feelings I was struggling with and the
feelings I was struggling with and the
feelings I was struggling with and the truth is after that day knowing I
truth is after that day knowing I
truth is after that day knowing I shouldn’t accept the abnormal as normal
shouldn’t accept the abnormal as normal
shouldn’t accept the abnormal as normal has made me feel a lot better the truth
has made me feel a lot better the truth
has made me feel a lot better the truth is I’m not often positive and I’m not
is I’m not often positive and I’m not
is I’m not often positive and I’m not often strong and sometimes I am so
often strong and sometimes I am so
often strong and sometimes I am so sometimes I often find myself asking why
sometimes I often find myself asking why
sometimes I often find myself asking why do I have so to be so positive why do we
do I have so to be so positive why do we
do I have so to be so positive why do we I have why do I have to be so strong
I have why do I have to be so strong
I have why do I have to be so strong about condition that’s so seemingly
about condition that’s so seemingly
about condition that’s so seemingly unjust memories of my beloved Gaza are
unjust memories of my beloved Gaza are
unjust memories of my beloved Gaza are better sweet and I’m reminded just to
better sweet and I’m reminded just to
better sweet and I’m reminded just to talk about positivity would be unfair to
talk about positivity would be unfair to
talk about positivity would be unfair to my own memories Gaza has seen so many
my own memories Gaza has seen so many
my own memories Gaza has seen so many brutal wars and I have lived through
brutal wars and I have lived through
brutal wars and I have lived through three of them but war is not unique and
three of them but war is not unique and
three of them but war is not unique and as I’m giving this talk where is
as I’m giving this talk where is
as I’m giving this talk where is happening and tearing families apart in
happening and tearing families apart in
happening and tearing families apart in Afghanistan Syria Iraq and elsewhere I
Afghanistan Syria Iraq and elsewhere I
Afghanistan Syria Iraq and elsewhere I recently saw something in the news it’s
recently saw something in the news it’s
recently saw something in the news it’s called invisible once it’s about
called invisible once it’s about
called invisible once it’s about Canadian soldiers struggling to cope
Canadian soldiers struggling to cope
Canadian soldiers struggling to cope after they have after they were in the
after they have after they were in the
after they have after they were in the war it made me think about all the
war it made me think about all the
war it made me think about all the people who go through what even if they
people who go through what even if they
people who go through what even if they don’t want to be part of it I feel like
don’t want to be part of it I feel like
don’t want to be part of it I feel like what’s often expected of me especially
what’s often expected of me especially
what’s often expected of me especially being from a culture that so
being from a culture that so
being from a culture that so misunderstood is to be positive no
misunderstood is to be positive no
misunderstood is to be positive no matter what
if you’re silent about your pain they
if you’re silent about your pain they will kill you and say you enjoyed it my
will kill you and say you enjoyed it my
will kill you and say you enjoyed it my friend Mona has recently shared this
friend Mona has recently shared this
friend Mona has recently shared this caught with me and it hit me really hard
caught with me and it hit me really hard
caught with me and it hit me really hard one of the things that are most known
one of the things that are most known
one of the things that are most known for is smiling now I don’t want you to
for is smiling now I don’t want you to
for is smiling now I don’t want you to walk out of this room and think that the
walk out of this room and think that the
walk out of this room and think that the next time in smiling I don’t really mean
next time in smiling I don’t really mean
next time in smiling I don’t really mean it but in North America avoid another
it but in North America avoid another
it but in North America avoid another saying fake it until you make it and I
saying fake it until you make it and I
saying fake it until you make it and I hope one day that my insides and
hope one day that my insides and
hope one day that my insides and outsides will begin to much more often
outsides will begin to much more often
outsides will begin to much more often but still some days it doesn’t I’m just
but still some days it doesn’t I’m just
but still some days it doesn’t I’m just starting this conversation with myself
starting this conversation with myself
starting this conversation with myself and I have that and I hope that you now
and I have that and I hope that you now
and I have that and I hope that you now might be able to share your thoughts
might be able to share your thoughts
might be able to share your thoughts with me maybe you could start a movement
with me maybe you could start a movement
with me maybe you could start a movement that makes falling apart I protected the
that makes falling apart I protected the
that makes falling apart I protected the human right so when people fail to be
human right so when people fail to be
human right so when people fail to be positive we could show compassion and
positive we could show compassion and
positive we could show compassion and love instead of fear and anger that is
love instead of fear and anger that is
love instead of fear and anger that is about sharing ideas I would like to
about sharing ideas I would like to
about sharing ideas I would like to share with you the idea that if we could
share with you the idea that if we could
share with you the idea that if we could guarantee this right and give it places
guarantee this right and give it places
guarantee this right and give it places less people would struggle with mental
less people would struggle with mental
less people would struggle with mental health if we understood that not
health if we understood that not
health if we understood that not everyone knows the recipe of making
everyone knows the recipe of making
everyone knows the recipe of making lemonade maybe we would be better
lemonade maybe we would be better
lemonade maybe we would be better supporting those who struggle silently
supporting those who struggle silently
supporting those who struggle silently my name is your shelf era I love my
my name is your shelf era I love my
my name is your shelf era I love my homeland i miss my country some days I’m
homeland i miss my country some days I’m
homeland i miss my country some days I’m positive other days I’m not maybe we
positive other days I’m not maybe we
positive other days I’m not maybe we could fall apart some time together if
could fall apart some time together if
could fall apart some time together if you just prefer a glass of lemonade
you just prefer a glass of lemonade
you just prefer a glass of lemonade thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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