in November 2014 I came across an article online by a major Singaporean
article online by a major Singaporean
article online by a major Singaporean publication about the persecution of
publication about the persecution of
publication about the persecution of Christians in Iraq there are many levels
Christians in Iraq there are many levels
Christians in Iraq there are many levels of pain and I read that article the
of pain and I read that article the
of pain and I read that article the first was just knowing that somewhere in
first was just knowing that somewhere in
first was just knowing that somewhere in this world there was a group of people
this world there was a group of people
this world there was a group of people who are being tortured for just being
who are being tortured for just being
who are being tortured for just being Christians the second was that this
Christians the second was that this
Christians the second was that this terrorist group was abusing something I
terrorist group was abusing something I
terrorist group was abusing something I held so sacred to myself and very dating
held so sacred to myself and very dating
held so sacred to myself and very dating your horrific crimes with it then learn
your horrific crimes with it then learn
your horrific crimes with it then learn however was reduce offer and with the
however was reduce offer and with the
however was reduce offer and with the commenter ease of this article this was
commenter ease of this article this was
commenter ease of this article this was some of the most hate-filled and
some of the most hate-filled and
some of the most hate-filled and demeaning comments and each of his
demeaning comments and each of his
demeaning comments and each of his comment was garnering a few thousand
comment was garnering a few thousand
comment was garnering a few thousand lights meaning there are many people who
lights meaning there are many people who
lights meaning there are many people who agreed to the sentiments of his comments
agreed to the sentiments of his comments
agreed to the sentiments of his comments which were not targeted and the
which were not targeted and the
which were not targeted and the terrorists or the America crimes but the
terrorists or the America crimes but the
terrorists or the America crimes but the Muslim community here in Singapore and
Muslim community here in Singapore and
Muslim community here in Singapore and as a member of the community it hurt
as a member of the community it hurt
as a member of the community it hurt because these were mindful people so I
because these were mindful people so I
because these were mindful people so I asked myself what went wrong you know we
asked myself what went wrong you know we
asked myself what went wrong you know we grew up together we went to the same
grew up together we went to the same
grew up together we went to the same schools we celebrated regional hungry
schools we celebrated regional hungry
schools we celebrated regional hungry day together so what went wrong and in
day together so what went wrong and in
day together so what went wrong and in resented realize we had a serious
resented realize we had a serious
resented realize we had a serious problem and the more I Delta to do the
problem and the more I Delta to do the
problem and the more I Delta to do the work I’m involve in it today the more I
work I’m involve in it today the more I
work I’m involve in it today the more I realized the gravity of the situation
for the longest time we have built our
for the longest time we have built our foundation for peace and harmony on
foundation for peace and harmony on
foundation for peace and harmony on tolerance but you see I have a problem
tolerance but you see I have a problem
tolerance but you see I have a problem with this word tolerance the etymology
with this word tolerance the etymology
with this word tolerance the etymology of intolerance comes from the Latin word
of intolerance comes from the Latin word
of intolerance comes from the Latin word tolerance which is the
tolerance which is the
tolerance which is the t to end your pain the ability to into
t to end your pain the ability to into
t to end your pain the ability to into your purchase you know like we tolerate
your purchase you know like we tolerate
your purchase you know like we tolerate Malay weddings every the block or we
Malay weddings every the block or we
Malay weddings every the block or we tolerate the Chinese burning paper money
tolerate the Chinese burning paper money
tolerate the Chinese burning paper money all over the book or we tolerate it can
all over the book or we tolerate it can
all over the book or we tolerate it can do procession of music and drums but
do procession of music and drums but
do procession of music and drums but underneath is polite tolerance is
underneath is polite tolerance is
underneath is polite tolerance is irritation and simply a lack of interest
irritation and simply a lack of interest
irritation and simply a lack of interest how many of us here apart from the
how many of us here apart from the
how many of us here apart from the Chinese are actually interested in
Chinese are actually interested in
Chinese are actually interested in Chinese civilization or how many of us
Chinese civilization or how many of us
Chinese civilization or how many of us here in the audience apart from the
here in the audience apart from the
here in the audience apart from the missings would like to know more about
missings would like to know more about
missings would like to know more about islamic arts or how many of us we care
islamic arts or how many of us we care
islamic arts or how many of us we care to know about hindu culture tolerance is
to know about hindu culture tolerance is
to know about hindu culture tolerance is not as strong enough foundation for
not as strong enough foundation for
not as strong enough foundation for peace and harmony and a piece of harmony
peace and harmony and a piece of harmony
peace and harmony and a piece of harmony is not now when nothing is happening
is not now when nothing is happening
is not now when nothing is happening real peace and harmony is defined after
real peace and harmony is defined after
real peace and harmony is defined after the day of the caves Prime Minister is
the day of the caves Prime Minister is
the day of the caves Prime Minister is in them and a lot of ministers have
in them and a lot of ministers have
in them and a lot of ministers have mentioned that an attack on Singapore is
mentioned that an attack on Singapore is
mentioned that an attack on Singapore is no longer a matter of if but when and
no longer a matter of if but when and
no longer a matter of if but when and when can be in a year when can be in a
when can be in a year when can be in a
when can be in a year when can be in a month or tomorrow and you know I thank
month or tomorrow and you know I thank
month or tomorrow and you know I thank God every day that I don’t wake up to
God every day that I don’t wake up to
God every day that I don’t wake up to headlines that we are under attack or
headlines that we are under attack or
headlines that we are under attack or that you know there’s crazy government
that you know there’s crazy government
that you know there’s crazy government killing people in the streets in fact I
killing people in the streets in fact I
killing people in the streets in fact I am so grateful that I wake up to
am so grateful that I wake up to
am so grateful that I wake up to headlines on the lakes is a hearty
headlines on the lakes is a hearty
headlines on the lakes is a hearty breakdowns or you know make the ultimate
breakdowns or you know make the ultimate
breakdowns or you know make the ultimate giving us three Milo because I cannot
giving us three Milo because I cannot
giving us three Milo because I cannot imagine anything happening to us now
imagine anything happening to us now
imagine anything happening to us now when we are so disengaged for one
when we are so disengaged for one
when we are so disengaged for one another so after reading that are
another so after reading that are
another so after reading that are required to myself I’m not going to let
required to myself I’m not going to let
required to myself I’m not going to let this ignorance go unnoticed and I wanted
this ignorance go unnoticed and I wanted
this ignorance go unnoticed and I wanted to reach out to the people who I felt
to reach out to the people who I felt
to reach out to the people who I felt were most affected by
were most affected by
were most affected by to pull the christians and singapore so
to pull the christians and singapore so
to pull the christians and singapore so i wrote a letter to them explaining the
i wrote a letter to them explaining the
i wrote a letter to them explaining the charter afraid which was granted to the
charter afraid which was granted to the
charter afraid which was granted to the christians by prophet muhammad and it
christians by prophet muhammad and it
christians by prophet muhammad and it was basically a confident that the
was basically a confident that the
was basically a confident that the Muslims would protect the Christians
Muslims would protect the Christians
Muslims would protect the Christians they would fight for the Christians they
they would fight for the Christians they
they would fight for the Christians they would protect your home’s your families
would protect your home’s your families
would protect your home’s your families the places of worship your rights to
the places of worship your rights to
the places of worship your rights to worship and this confident with eternal
worship and this confident with eternal
worship and this confident with eternal and universal for all the time and along
and universal for all the time and along
and universal for all the time and along with the message of solidarity I send it
with the message of solidarity I send it
with the message of solidarity I send it out to over 200 inches in Singapore
out to over 200 inches in Singapore
out to over 200 inches in Singapore Vietnam animus once was positively
Vietnam animus once was positively
Vietnam animus once was positively overwhelming the next day I had priests
overwhelming the next day I had priests
overwhelming the next day I had priests and passes returning my emails thanking
and passes returning my emails thanking
and passes returning my emails thanking me for writing in invited me to get
me for writing in invited me to get
me for writing in invited me to get church to celebrate Christmas with them
church to celebrate Christmas with them
church to celebrate Christmas with them but it was this one email which I God
but it was this one email which I God
but it was this one email which I God that I realized it’s not enough so this
that I realized it’s not enough so this
that I realized it’s not enough so this lady she’s mine adolphus a secretary of
lady she’s mine adolphus a secretary of
lady she’s mine adolphus a secretary of this particular church and I quote she
this particular church and I quote she
this particular church and I quote she said thank you Lord for sending this
said thank you Lord for sending this
said thank you Lord for sending this email because only now I am assured that
email because only now I am assured that
email because only now I am assured that the Muslims in Singapore do not share
the Muslims in Singapore do not share
the Muslims in Singapore do not share the same ideology as Isis and I said wow
the same ideology as Isis and I said wow
the same ideology as Isis and I said wow you know she wouldn’t be vicious about
you know she wouldn’t be vicious about
you know she wouldn’t be vicious about she is just think sincerely honest about
she is just think sincerely honest about
she is just think sincerely honest about me ignorance so the next year i got
me ignorance so the next year i got
me ignorance so the next year i got myself trained in interfaith dialogue
myself trained in interfaith dialogue
myself trained in interfaith dialogue and scriptural reasoning in cambridge
and scriptural reasoning in cambridge
and scriptural reasoning in cambridge and when I came back I met two very
and when I came back I met two very
and when I came back I met two very amazing and talented individuals be sure
amazing and talented individuals be sure
amazing and talented individuals be sure the same passion in interfaith if not
the same passion in interfaith if not
the same passion in interfaith if not more and we started interfaith view
more and we started interfaith view
more and we started interfaith view circle we are both an interfaith and in
circle we are both an interfaith and in
circle we are both an interfaith and in travail nonprofit entity and one of our
travail nonprofit entity and one of our
travail nonprofit entity and one of our main aims is to create high-quality
main aims is to create high-quality
main aims is to create high-quality engaging
engaging
engaging between people of different beliefs to
between people of different beliefs to
between people of different beliefs to create a safe space where we can talk
create a safe space where we can talk
create a safe space where we can talk about challenging and controversial
about challenging and controversial
about challenging and controversial issues a space where we can add a video
issues a space where we can add a video
issues a space where we can add a video conversation about our morals or values
conversation about our morals or values
conversation about our morals or values our identity this world is waiting it is
our identity this world is waiting it is
our identity this world is waiting it is literally falling apart our resources
literally falling apart our resources
literally falling apart our resources are drying up so fast there are people
are drying up so fast there are people
are drying up so fast there are people dying right now as I speak and if
dying right now as I speak and if
dying right now as I speak and if there’s one thing that we all have in
there’s one thing that we all have in
there’s one thing that we all have in common it is humanity humanity to me is
common it is humanity humanity to me is
common it is humanity humanity to me is love compassion and kindness it is the
love compassion and kindness it is the
love compassion and kindness it is the one thing that we all have in common it
one thing that we all have in common it
one thing that we all have in common it is the one thing that unites all of us
is the one thing that unites all of us
is the one thing that unites all of us every human being on this planet has the
every human being on this planet has the
every human being on this planet has the capacity that capability with the
capacity that capability with the
capacity that capability with the capacity to love and to be kind and to
capacity to love and to be kind and to
capacity to love and to be kind and to be compassionate and as an interface and
be compassionate and as an interface and
be compassionate and as an interface and bastard any loud believe it on my face I
bastard any loud believe it on my face I
bastard any loud believe it on my face I stand by the fact that humanity precedes
stand by the fact that humanity precedes
stand by the fact that humanity precedes religious city humanity first and then
religious city humanity first and then
religious city humanity first and then free electricity and a lot of people
free electricity and a lot of people
free electricity and a lot of people confuse villages religious ed so
confuse villages religious ed so
confuse villages religious ed so humanity is authority of religion but
humanity is authority of religion but
humanity is authority of religion but religiously is the way you practice your
religiously is the way you practice your
religiously is the way you practice your religion so you can leave a believer of
religion so you can leave a believer of
religion so you can leave a believer of any religion and your humanity’s sound
any religion and your humanity’s sound
any religion and your humanity’s sound then so is the way you practice your
then so is the way you practice your
then so is the way you practice your religion but if your humanity has a
religion but if your humanity has a
religion but if your humanity has a defect or is undeveloped and so is the
defect or is undeveloped and so is the
defect or is undeveloped and so is the way we practice your religion or your
way we practice your religion or your
way we practice your religion or your politics or the way you live your life
politics or the way you live your life
politics or the way you live your life even if you don’t subscribe to the
even if you don’t subscribe to the
even if you don’t subscribe to the religion so if you’re asking right now
religion so if you’re asking right now
religion so if you’re asking right now okay so where do we start
okay so where do we start
okay so where do we start we do I say start with humanity start
we do I say start with humanity start
we do I say start with humanity start with love that would be confession the
with love that would be confession the
with love that would be confession the great time because these artists to the
great time because these artists to the
great time because these artists to the powers of the world today never have we
powers of the world today never have we
powers of the world today never have we been so advanced in science and
been so advanced in science and
been so advanced in science and technology but so broken and undeveloped
technology but so broken and undeveloped
technology but so broken and undeveloped inhumanity to start with this because we
inhumanity to start with this because we
inhumanity to start with this because we are the heroes with these powers in our
are the heroes with these powers in our
are the heroes with these powers in our possession now tell you story to
possession now tell you story to
possession now tell you story to illustrate my point where i accidentally
illustrate my point where i accidentally
illustrate my point where i accidentally harness these powers i was 18 at the
harness these powers i was 18 at the
harness these powers i was 18 at the time and i was soaring my revealed in a
time and i was soaring my revealed in a
time and i was soaring my revealed in a little further and I was very inspired
little further and I was very inspired
little further and I was very inspired by the idea of salon now salon basically
by the idea of salon now salon basically
by the idea of salon now salon basically means peace and it is also a greeting
means peace and it is also a greeting
means peace and it is also a greeting wasn’t suited to greet each other so i
wasn’t suited to greet each other so i
wasn’t suited to greet each other so i told myself okay you know i would want
told myself okay you know i would want
told myself okay you know i would want to give Salaam’s to everyone i meet
to give Salaam’s to everyone i meet
to give Salaam’s to everyone i meet because sometimes this salon in some
because sometimes this salon in some
because sometimes this salon in some parts of the bowl and in singapore it
parts of the bowl and in singapore it
parts of the bowl and in singapore it comes with it comes with an action ahead
comes with it comes with an action ahead
comes with it comes with an action ahead with your right hand so you either kiss
with your right hand so you either kiss
with your right hand so you either kiss the person’s hand or you bring it to
the person’s hand or you bring it to
the person’s hand or you bring it to your heart or you bring it to your
your heart or you bring it to your
your heart or you bring it to your forehead and I thought okay you know I
forehead and I thought okay you know I
forehead and I thought okay you know I want to use week every Muslim I need
want to use week every Muslim I need
want to use week every Muslim I need with assalamu and it was easy to
with assalamu and it was easy to
with assalamu and it was easy to recognize Muslims because some of the
recognize Muslims because some of the
recognize Muslims because some of the recent head start so that day I was
recent head start so that day I was
recent head start so that day I was going to book it I hope perfect right
going to book it I hope perfect right
going to book it I hope perfect right cookies arab street many slaves so when
cookies arab street many slaves so when
cookies arab street many slaves so when I started the social experiment away and
I started the social experiment away and
I started the social experiment away and the first person I met on the train no I
the first person I met on the train no I
the first person I met on the train no I did it was so awkward because this was a
did it was so awkward because this was a
did it was so awkward because this was a complete stranger right so i said no i
complete stranger right so i said no i
complete stranger right so i said no i can’t do this i told myself you want
can’t do this i told myself you want
can’t do this i told myself you want it’s two days you were inspired
it’s two days you were inspired
it’s two days you were inspired joy okay second person I mean I go sell
joy okay second person I mean I go sell
joy okay second person I mean I go sell my life cumin which peace and blessings
my life cumin which peace and blessings
my life cumin which peace and blessings be upon you and because she was walking
be upon you and because she was walking
be upon you and because she was walking past she played while I alaikum Salaam
past she played while I alaikum Salaam
past she played while I alaikum Salaam then she walked off so they were closed
then she walked off so they were closed
then she walked off so they were closed cheating because you know she was
cheating because you know she was
cheating because you know she was walking bass I didn’t do the heavy
walking bass I didn’t do the heavy
walking bass I didn’t do the heavy actually they said okay no no third
actually they said okay no no third
actually they said okay no no third person you’re going to do it connection
person you’re going to do it connection
person you’re going to do it connection everything so third person comes along I
everything so third person comes along I
everything so third person comes along I woke up straight to her and I go sell my
woke up straight to her and I go sell my
woke up straight to her and I go sell my command stretch out my hand her reaction
command stretch out my hand her reaction
command stretch out my hand her reaction was immediate she’s it while in so long
was immediate she’s it while in so long
was immediate she’s it while in so long yeah I cell phone which basically me
yeah I cell phone which basically me
yeah I cell phone which basically me what I please imagine to be upon you too
what I please imagine to be upon you too
what I please imagine to be upon you too who’s tall are you which basically meant
who’s tall are you which basically meant
who’s tall are you which basically meant in the Malay culture I don’t recognize
in the Malay culture I don’t recognize
in the Malay culture I don’t recognize you but I must obviously know your
you but I must obviously know your
you but I must obviously know your parents because you recognize me and I
parents because you recognize me and I
parents because you recognize me and I did always wait no I don’t know you
did always wait no I don’t know you
did always wait no I don’t know you don’t know me definitely go with my
don’t know me definitely go with my
don’t know me definitely go with my parents I just wanted to give you this
parents I just wanted to give you this
parents I just wanted to give you this long so that’s exactly what I told her
long so that’s exactly what I told her
long so that’s exactly what I told her and she be cruel ahead said okay and she
and she be cruel ahead said okay and she
and she be cruel ahead said okay and she won’t talk I said okay no this is not
won’t talk I said okay no this is not
won’t talk I said okay no this is not happening social experiment is
happening social experiment is
happening social experiment is officially over so I took the train back
officially over so I took the train back
officially over so I took the train back home and in the train one of the socks
home and in the train one of the socks
home and in the train one of the socks and all Chinese lady walks in one can
and all Chinese lady walks in one can
and all Chinese lady walks in one can speak and everything so I did for my
speak and everything so I did for my
speak and everything so I did for my speed and she replied in relief then my
speed and she replied in relief then my
speed and she replied in relief then my Christina did you thank you child you
Christina did you thank you child you
Christina did you thank you child you know how older generation multi-label so
know how older generation multi-label so
know how older generation multi-label so I’m going to just translate everything
I’m going to just translate everything
I’m going to just translate everything for the sake of time whatever she said
for the sake of time whatever she said
for the sake of time whatever she said in English and it was probably because
in English and it was probably because
in English and it was probably because replay in Malay that’s fun how I just
replay in Malay that’s fun how I just
replay in Malay that’s fun how I just reacted instantly by keeping her in my
reacted instantly by keeping her in my
reacted instantly by keeping her in my hand to keep her this alone she looked
hand to keep her this alone she looked
hand to keep her this alone she looked at me for a second but then she gave her
at me for a second but then she gave her
at me for a second but then she gave her hands and so I put it you know to my for
hands and so I put it you know to my for
hands and so I put it you know to my for you and then I realize what I just did
you and then I realize what I just did
you and then I realize what I just did so then I turned around interesting i
so then I turned around interesting i
so then I turned around interesting i stood then just hope my cell came and
stood then just hope my cell came and
stood then just hope my cell came and the person makes to her eventually go
the person makes to her eventually go
the person makes to her eventually go and she called me she said child comes
and she called me she said child comes
and she called me she said child comes between so 730 we had a conversation and
between so 730 we had a conversation and
between so 730 we had a conversation and honest to god I don’t remember what the
honest to god I don’t remember what the
honest to god I don’t remember what the conversation was about now but I
conversation was about now but I
conversation was about now but I remember this one thing very clearly
remember this one thing very clearly
remember this one thing very clearly Ashley got up to leave and stop him so
Ashley got up to leave and stop him so
Ashley got up to leave and stop him so we said our good-byes about up to eat
we said our good-byes about up to eat
we said our good-byes about up to eat just before the doors close she turned
just before the doors close she turned
just before the doors close she turned around and she looked at me with tears
around and she looked at me with tears
around and she looked at me with tears in her eyes and she said child thank you
in her eyes and she said child thank you
in her eyes and she said child thank you for taking my hand like that because
for taking my hand like that because
for taking my hand like that because never have I felt so honored as an old
never have I felt so honored as an old
never have I felt so honored as an old person one of my favorites all this he
person one of my favorites all this he
person one of my favorites all this he said if today you have nothing more than
said if today you have nothing more than
said if today you have nothing more than a conviction that with your love with
a conviction that with your love with
a conviction that with your love with your charity with your courage with your
your charity with your courage with your
your charity with your courage with your mercy with your nobility and with your
mercy with your nobility and with your
mercy with your nobility and with your dignity that you will be a life in this
dignity that you will be a life in this
dignity that you will be a life in this world you are a hero you’re still
world you are a hero you’re still
world you are a hero you’re still harnessing I was super powers for a kind
harnessing I was super powers for a kind
harnessing I was super powers for a kind of world thank you
of world thank you
of world thank you [Applause]
”
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