okay so I want to begin by asking you all a few questions
all a few questions
all a few questions the first being how many of you were
the first being how many of you were
the first being how many of you were born in a country other than the United
born in a country other than the United
born in a country other than the United States okay so a few of you how many of
States okay so a few of you how many of
States okay so a few of you how many of you have parents or grandparents that
you have parents or grandparents that
you have parents or grandparents that were born in another country okay and
were born in another country okay and
were born in another country okay and how many of you at least know someone
how many of you at least know someone
how many of you at least know someone who is born in a country other than the
who is born in a country other than the
who is born in a country other than the United States okay thank you so it seems
United States okay thank you so it seems
United States okay thank you so it seems as though almost every single person in
as though almost every single person in
as though almost every single person in this room has some sort of connection to
this room has some sort of connection to
this room has some sort of connection to an immigrant and can somewhat understand
an immigrant and can somewhat understand
an immigrant and can somewhat understand what it might feel like to be an
what it might feel like to be an
what it might feel like to be an outsider personally I am the daughter of
outsider personally I am the daughter of
outsider personally I am the daughter of I am the daughter of two immigrants my
I am the daughter of two immigrants my
I am the daughter of two immigrants my parents are right there in the crowd and
parents are right there in the crowd and
parents are right there in the crowd and they were both born in Lebanon we come
they were both born in Lebanon we come
they were both born in Lebanon we come from a small village in Lebanon called
from a small village in Lebanon called
from a small village in Lebanon called the vazhi in Bekaa Valley for those of
the vazhi in Bekaa Valley for those of
the vazhi in Bekaa Valley for those of you who don’t know
you who don’t know
you who don’t know Lebanon is an extremely tiny extremely
Lebanon is an extremely tiny extremely
Lebanon is an extremely tiny extremely poor country in the Middle East and it
poor country in the Middle East and it
poor country in the Middle East and it borders Syria to give you an idea of
borders Syria to give you an idea of
borders Syria to give you an idea of just how small Lebanon really is in
just how small Lebanon really is in
just how small Lebanon really is in terms of its population size the state
terms of its population size the state
terms of its population size the state of Ohio has a population of about 12
of Ohio has a population of about 12
of Ohio has a population of about 12 million whereas Lebanon has a population
million whereas Lebanon has a population
million whereas Lebanon has a population of about 6 million so the state of Ohio
of about 6 million so the state of Ohio
of about 6 million so the state of Ohio alone is almost double the population of
alone is almost double the population of
alone is almost double the population of Lebanon in terms of its physical size
Lebanon in terms of its physical size
Lebanon in terms of its physical size Lebanon is about four thousand miles
Lebanon is about four thousand miles
Lebanon is about four thousand miles squared and Lake Erie is about ten
squared and Lake Erie is about ten
squared and Lake Erie is about ten thousand miles squared so here’s a
thousand miles squared so here’s a
thousand miles squared so here’s a little visual of Lebanon over our area
little visual of Lebanon over our area
little visual of Lebanon over our area so while that’s pretty interesting I’m
so while that’s pretty interesting I’m
so while that’s pretty interesting I’m not here to talk to you about the size
not here to talk to you about the size
not here to talk to you about the size of Lebanon I do want to talk to you all
of Lebanon I do want to talk to you all
of Lebanon I do want to talk to you all about a specific aspect of Lebanon
about a specific aspect of Lebanon
about a specific aspect of Lebanon though and that is its population of
though and that is its population of
though and that is its population of refugees Lebanon has a very small
refugees Lebanon has a very small
refugees Lebanon has a very small population and yet one-fourth of it is
population and yet one-fourth of it is
population and yet one-fourth of it is made up of refugees according to the
made up of refugees according to the
made up of refugees according to the UNHCR there are over 1 million Syrian
UNHCR there are over 1 million Syrian
UNHCR there are over 1 million Syrian refugees registered and Lebanon today
refugees registered and Lebanon today
refugees registered and Lebanon today and
and
and I have personally seen our small village
I have personally seen our small village
I have personally seen our small village of as they grow so much over the last
of as they grow so much over the last
of as they grow so much over the last few years since the start of the war
few years since the start of the war
few years since the start of the war because of how many refugees have come
because of how many refugees have come
because of how many refugees have come in it only makes sense because the area
in it only makes sense because the area
in it only makes sense because the area where my family is from is only about a
where my family is from is only about a
where my family is from is only about a 15-minute drive from the Syrian border
15-minute drive from the Syrian border
15-minute drive from the Syrian border but what’s even more shocking than
but what’s even more shocking than
but what’s even more shocking than seeing such a small village grow so much
seeing such a small village grow so much
seeing such a small village grow so much in such a short period of time is the
in such a short period of time is the
in such a short period of time is the fact that in 2006 when I was only six
fact that in 2006 when I was only six
fact that in 2006 when I was only six years old my own family had to flee from
years old my own family had to flee from
years old my own family had to flee from Lebanon because of war there was a war
Lebanon because of war there was a war
Lebanon because of war there was a war going on at the time involving Israel
going on at the time involving Israel
going on at the time involving Israel and Hezbollah for those who are unaware
and Hezbollah for those who are unaware
and Hezbollah for those who are unaware Hezbollah is a terrorist group that was
Hezbollah is a terrorist group that was
Hezbollah is a terrorist group that was formed in 1982 in response to an Israeli
formed in 1982 in response to an Israeli
formed in 1982 in response to an Israeli invasion of Lebanon and so the war is
invasion of Lebanon and so the war is
invasion of Lebanon and so the war is fittingly called the 2006
fittingly called the 2006
fittingly called the 2006 Israel has bola war or the 2006 Lebanon
Israel has bola war or the 2006 Lebanon
Israel has bola war or the 2006 Lebanon War my family had to spend one or two
War my family had to spend one or two
War my family had to spend one or two weeks sleeping in my grandmother’s
weeks sleeping in my grandmother’s
weeks sleeping in my grandmother’s basement that provided some protection
basement that provided some protection
basement that provided some protection obviously because it’s underground but
obviously because it’s underground but
obviously because it’s underground but that just was not safe enough we ended
that just was not safe enough we ended
that just was not safe enough we ended up having to flee and so we left as the
up having to flee and so we left as the
up having to flee and so we left as the and so those are images from the war and
and so those are images from the war and
and so those are images from the war and we left with Ozzie and we journeyed
we left with Ozzie and we journeyed
we left with Ozzie and we journeyed through Syria until we reached Jordan so
through Syria until we reached Jordan so
through Syria until we reached Jordan so the fact that my family once had to flee
the fact that my family once had to flee
the fact that my family once had to flee our village because of war and now
our village because of war and now
our village because of war and now people are seeking refuge in our village
people are seeking refuge in our village
people are seeking refuge in our village because of war is crazy to think about
because of war is crazy to think about
because of war is crazy to think about and I greatly attribute this experience
and I greatly attribute this experience
and I greatly attribute this experience to why I am so invested and passionate
to why I am so invested and passionate
to why I am so invested and passionate in helping refugees today both in my own
in helping refugees today both in my own
in helping refugees today both in my own community and internationally so there
community and internationally so there
community and internationally so there are a lot of Syrian refugees in Lebanon
are a lot of Syrian refugees in Lebanon
are a lot of Syrian refugees in Lebanon however that number is only a small
however that number is only a small
however that number is only a small percentage of how many refugees there
percentage of how many refugees there
percentage of how many refugees there are around the entire world according to
are around the entire world according to
are around the entire world according to the United Nations
the United Nations
the United Nations there are around 11 million Syrians
there are around 11 million Syrians
there are around 11 million Syrians fleeing war today
fleeing war today
fleeing war today that’s enough people to fill roughly two
that’s enough people to fill roughly two
that’s enough people to fill roughly two hundred Yankee stadium’s and I’m sure
hundred Yankee stadium’s and I’m sure
hundred Yankee stadium’s and I’m sure you all all you are all wondering if you
you all all you are all wondering if you
you all all you are all wondering if you haven’t looked into the issue or kept up
haven’t looked into the issue or kept up
haven’t looked into the issue or kept up on it at all just as I did why are these
on it at all just as I did why are these
on it at all just as I did why are these people displaced and what’s even going
people displaced and what’s even going
people displaced and what’s even going on
on
on well in 2011 what is known as the Arab
well in 2011 what is known as the Arab
well in 2011 what is known as the Arab Spring
Spring
Spring top of the regime’s of Tunisia and Egypt
top of the regime’s of Tunisia and Egypt
top of the regime’s of Tunisia and Egypt in March of that year it began in Syria
in March of that year it began in Syria
in March of that year it began in Syria and it is what continues to plague the
and it is what continues to plague the
and it is what continues to plague the country today however the issue has only
country today however the issue has only
country today however the issue has only become far more complicated during that
become far more complicated during that
become far more complicated during that time a group of teenage boys were
time a group of teenage boys were
time a group of teenage boys were arrested and tortured for
arrested and tortured for
arrested and tortured for anti-government graffiti the people were
anti-government graffiti the people were
anti-government graffiti the people were outraged as one was also killed as a
outraged as one was also killed as a
outraged as one was also killed as a result they respond the people of Syria
result they respond the people of Syria
result they respond the people of Syria responded through non-violent
responded through non-violent
responded through non-violent governmental protests also protesting
governmental protests also protesting
governmental protests also protesting lack of freedom and governmental
lack of freedom and governmental
lack of freedom and governmental economic issues the regime responded
economic issues the regime responded
economic issues the regime responded however with force and they detained and
however with force and they detained and
however with force and they detained and killed many demonstrators this is
killed many demonstrators this is
killed many demonstrators this is ultimately what sparked the conflict
ultimately what sparked the conflict
ultimately what sparked the conflict that continues to plague the country six
that continues to plague the country six
that continues to plague the country six years later so the so so this conflict
years later so the so so this conflict
years later so the so so this conflict is really difficult to comprehend at
is really difficult to comprehend at
is really difficult to comprehend at times so let’s start with Syria itself
times so let’s start with Syria itself
times so let’s start with Syria itself and learning more about it itself as a
and learning more about it itself as a
and learning more about it itself as a country so Syria is a small country in
country so Syria is a small country in
country so Syria is a small country in the Middle East bordered by Jordan Iraq
the Middle East bordered by Jordan Iraq
the Middle East bordered by Jordan Iraq Turkey and Lebanon its people are of
Turkey and Lebanon its people are of
Turkey and Lebanon its people are of many different ethnicities speak many
many different ethnicities speak many
many different ethnicities speak many different languages and practice many
different languages and practice many
different languages and practice many different religions although 90% about
different religions although 90% about
different religions although 90% about 90% of the population are Arab
90% of the population are Arab
90% of the population are Arab there are many minorities whose
there are many minorities whose
there are many minorities whose religions all vary greatly about 74
religions all vary greatly about 74
religions all vary greatly about 74 percent of the probably population are
percent of the probably population are
percent of the probably population are practicing Sunmi Muslims however other
practicing Sunmi Muslims however other
practicing Sunmi Muslims however other religions include Christianity Shia and
religions include Christianity Shia and
religions include Christianity Shia and Alawis the people also speak many
Alawis the people also speak many
Alawis the people also speak many different languages the official
different languages the official
different languages the official language is Arabic however they speak
language is Arabic however they speak
language is Arabic however they speak Armenian Aramaic Circassian French and
Armenian Aramaic Circassian French and
Armenian Aramaic Circassian French and English as well and so the people of
English as well and so the people of
English as well and so the people of Syria are extremely diverse and while
Syria are extremely diverse and while
Syria are extremely diverse and while the country today is extremely divided
the country today is extremely divided
the country today is extremely divided it wasn’t always like this I’m currently
it wasn’t always like this I’m currently
it wasn’t always like this I’m currently reading a book called among the ruins
reading a book called among the ruins
reading a book called among the ruins Syria past and present by historian and
Syria past and present by historian and
Syria past and present by historian and research
research
research fellow Christian satin ER in a satin er
fellow Christian satin ER in a satin er
fellow Christian satin ER in a satin er writes about the religious history of
writes about the religious history of
writes about the religious history of Syria going as far back as ancient times
Syria going as far back as ancient times
Syria going as far back as ancient times and satyr writes that Syria was once
and satyr writes that Syria was once
and satyr writes that Syria was once known as a country in which Muslims and
known as a country in which Muslims and
known as a country in which Muslims and Christians live together in peace and so
Christians live together in peace and so
Christians live together in peace and so there was this beautiful coexistence
there was this beautiful coexistence
there was this beautiful coexistence among members of different religions and
among members of different religions and
among members of different religions and communities that leaves many including
communities that leaves many including
communities that leaves many including myself wondering what happened so today
myself wondering what happened so today
myself wondering what happened so today the Syrian conflict is extremely
the Syrian conflict is extremely
the Syrian conflict is extremely difficult to comprehend however one of
difficult to comprehend however one of
difficult to comprehend however one of the biggest misconceptions that is so
the biggest misconceptions that is so
the biggest misconceptions that is so important to understand is that the
important to understand is that the
important to understand is that the Syrian conflict is not a civil war no
Syrian conflict is not a civil war no
Syrian conflict is not a civil war no matter how many times it is referred to
matter how many times it is referred to
matter how many times it is referred to as one the Syrian conflict is not an
as one the Syrian conflict is not an
as one the Syrian conflict is not an internal conflict according to Austin
internal conflict according to Austin
internal conflict according to Austin Gunnar a new york-based geopolitical
Gunnar a new york-based geopolitical
Gunnar a new york-based geopolitical analyst for those who have been trying
analyst for those who have been trying
analyst for those who have been trying to make sense of the Syrian civil war
to make sense of the Syrian civil war
to make sense of the Syrian civil war since 2011 with little luck the
since 2011 with little luck the
since 2011 with little luck the explanation is simple it isn’t a civil
explanation is simple it isn’t a civil
explanation is simple it isn’t a civil war and it never was understanding it as
war and it never was understanding it as
war and it never was understanding it as a proxy conflict from the very beginning
a proxy conflict from the very beginning
a proxy conflict from the very beginning will add one immeasurably in
will add one immeasurably in
will add one immeasurably in understanding what the obvious solutions
understanding what the obvious solutions
understanding what the obvious solutions are but only when they come to this
are but only when they come to this
are but only when they come to this understanding while I’m not going to
understanding while I’m not going to
understanding while I’m not going to stand up here and tell you all that
stand up here and tell you all that
stand up here and tell you all that there are blatantly obvious solutions to
there are blatantly obvious solutions to
there are blatantly obvious solutions to the greatest humanitarian crisis of our
the greatest humanitarian crisis of our
the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time I think this quote does a great job
time I think this quote does a great job
time I think this quote does a great job at illustrating the significance of
at illustrating the significance of
at illustrating the significance of foreign involvement in the Syrian crisis
foreign involvement in the Syrian crisis
foreign involvement in the Syrian crisis involvement from countries such as the
involvement from countries such as the
involvement from countries such as the US Russia and Turkey have only continued
US Russia and Turkey have only continued
US Russia and Turkey have only continued to fuel the conflict in a civil war
to fuel the conflict in a civil war
to fuel the conflict in a civil war usually there are two sides and the war
usually there are two sides and the war
usually there are two sides and the war will end when one of the sides either
will end when one of the sides either
will end when one of the sides either surrenders or is too exhausted to
surrenders or is too exhausted to
surrenders or is too exhausted to continue fighting however not only are
continue fighting however not only are
continue fighting however not only are there more than two sides to this
there more than two sides to this
there more than two sides to this conflict but even if we were to
conflict but even if we were to
conflict but even if we were to extremely simplify it and look at it as
extremely simplify it and look at it as
extremely simplify it and look at it as just a war between the regime and the
just a war between the regime and the
just a war between the regime and the people both sides are backed up by so
people both sides are backed up by so
people both sides are backed up by so many different forces that the war will
many different forces that the war will
many different forces that the war will never truly end if it keeps on going
never truly end if it keeps on going
never truly end if it keeps on going that way
and so okay and so another big
and so okay and so another big misconception with this issue is that
misconception with this issue is that
misconception with this issue is that it’s not our problem but it is according
it’s not our problem but it is according
it’s not our problem but it is according to the UN eleven million people are
to the UN eleven million people are
to the UN eleven million people are fleeing war that is not to mention that
fleeing war that is not to mention that
fleeing war that is not to mention that there are over there have been over half
there are over there have been over half
there are over there have been over half a million reported deaths one-and-a-half
a million reported deaths one-and-a-half
a million reported deaths one-and-a-half million reported injuries and about
million reported injuries and about
million reported injuries and about three million children are not attending
three million children are not attending
three million children are not attending school half of the Syrian population is
school half of the Syrian population is
school half of the Syrian population is no longer no longer has a home I’m sure
no longer no longer has a home I’m sure
no longer no longer has a home I’m sure you have all seen the image of this
you have all seen the image of this
you have all seen the image of this little boy who fled Syria with his
little boy who fled Syria with his
little boy who fled Syria with his family by boat and he ended up washing
family by boat and he ended up washing
family by boat and he ended up washing up on shore it went viral a little while
up on shore it went viral a little while
up on shore it went viral a little while ago I have personally seen the refugees
ago I have personally seen the refugees
ago I have personally seen the refugees in Lebanon live in absolutely miserable
in Lebanon live in absolutely miserable
in Lebanon live in absolutely miserable conditions in tents in mud with nothing
conditions in tents in mud with nothing
conditions in tents in mud with nothing not even bare necessities
not even bare necessities
not even bare necessities nobody flees the home that they love
nobody flees the home that they love
nobody flees the home that they love just to flee and to risk their lives
just to flee and to risk their lives
just to flee and to risk their lives they do it because they don’t have a
they do it because they don’t have a
they do it because they don’t have a choice and this issue even extends to
choice and this issue even extends to
choice and this issue even extends to our own community the Syrian conflict is
our own community the Syrian conflict is
our own community the Syrian conflict is obviously a global issue and I think
obviously a global issue and I think
obviously a global issue and I think it’s much easier to say that it’s not
it’s much easier to say that it’s not
it’s much easier to say that it’s not our problem then to to really face the
our problem then to to really face the
our problem then to to really face the fact that millions of people are dying
fact that millions of people are dying
fact that millions of people are dying and we are doing absolutely nothing
and we are doing absolutely nothing
and we are doing absolutely nothing about it and so if you are to all take
about it and so if you are to all take
about it and so if you are to all take away one thing from this presentation I
away one thing from this presentation I
away one thing from this presentation I urge you all to realize how truly global
urge you all to realize how truly global
urge you all to realize how truly global the Syrian conflict is and how there are
the Syrian conflict is and how there are
the Syrian conflict is and how there are so many ways to help out even in our own
so many ways to help out even in our own
so many ways to help out even in our own community one of my favorite poets named
community one of my favorite poets named
community one of my favorite poets named Orson Shire once wrote apathy is the
Orson Shire once wrote apathy is the
Orson Shire once wrote apathy is the same as wore it all kills you and so I
same as wore it all kills you and so I
same as wore it all kills you and so I urge you all do not be apathetic but
urge you all do not be apathetic but
urge you all do not be apathetic but show care and concern because we are all
show care and concern because we are all
show care and concern because we are all human thank you
”
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