On January 20th 2017 i sat about 30 feet from Donald Trump as
i sat about 30 feet from Donald Trump as
i sat about 30 feet from Donald Trump as it became the 45th President of the
it became the 45th President of the
it became the 45th President of the United States I was there covering the
United States I was there covering the
United States I was there covering the event with PBS news I was working with a
event with PBS news I was working with a
event with PBS news I was working with a team of journalism students from Ithaca
team of journalism students from Ithaca
team of journalism students from Ithaca College the next day we all went to the
College the next day we all went to the
College the next day we all went to the National Mall as thousands and thousands
National Mall as thousands and thousands
National Mall as thousands and thousands of Americans descended on DC for the
of Americans descended on DC for the
of Americans descended on DC for the woman’s March as I talked with and
woman’s March as I talked with and
woman’s March as I talked with and interviewed people and had conversations
interviewed people and had conversations
interviewed people and had conversations with people at both these events I soon
with people at both these events I soon
with people at both these events I soon found a nation divided now you don’t
found a nation divided now you don’t
found a nation divided now you don’t need me to get up here and tell you that
need me to get up here and tell you that
need me to get up here and tell you that our nation feels divided you can see
our nation feels divided you can see
our nation feels divided you can see that you can turn on the news especially
that you can turn on the news especially
that you can turn on the news especially cable news go read a newspaper open up
cable news go read a newspaper open up
cable news go read a newspaper open up Twitter and Facebook and you’ll see that
Twitter and Facebook and you’ll see that
Twitter and Facebook and you’ll see that we feel divided we feel torn our
we feel divided we feel torn our
we feel divided we feel torn our political conversations feel so vicious
political conversations feel so vicious
political conversations feel so vicious our political affiliations so
our political affiliations so
our political affiliations so tribalistic and now of course I wish I
tribalistic and now of course I wish I
tribalistic and now of course I wish I get up here and tell you I have some
get up here and tell you I have some
get up here and tell you I have some grand solution to solve all these
grand solution to solve all these
grand solution to solve all these problems I don’t I don’t think anyone
problems I don’t I don’t think anyone
problems I don’t I don’t think anyone does if they do they let us know soon
does if they do they let us know soon
does if they do they let us know soon but what I can do is I can focus on an
but what I can do is I can focus on an
but what I can do is I can focus on an area that I think we’ve neglected for
area that I think we’ve neglected for
area that I think we’ve neglected for far too long and that’s our social
far too long and that’s our social
far too long and that’s our social fabric as a nation now you can think of
fabric as a nation now you can think of
fabric as a nation now you can think of social fabric as the glue that holds
social fabric as the glue that holds
social fabric as the glue that holds society together the bonds and
society together the bonds and
society together the bonds and relationships we have of one another I
relationships we have of one another I
relationships we have of one another I like to think of social fabric as the
like to think of social fabric as the
like to think of social fabric as the fabric of a blanket when I when I was
fabric of a blanket when I when I was
fabric of a blanket when I when I was younger my grandmother would crochet
younger my grandmother would crochet
younger my grandmother would crochet blankets for all of my cousins and
blankets for all of my cousins and
blankets for all of my cousins and myself we would get to pick the color
myself we would get to pick the color
myself we would get to pick the color and everything like that and I was
and everything like that and I was
and everything like that and I was always so fascinated by how each
always so fascinated by how each
always so fascinated by how each individual piece of yarn was intertwine
individual piece of yarn was intertwine
individual piece of yarn was intertwine of all the others to form this beautiful
of all the others to form this beautiful
of all the others to form this beautiful design and pattern each of us is like
design and pattern each of us is like
design and pattern each of us is like one of those pieces of yarn we have
one of those pieces of yarn we have
one of those pieces of yarn we have connections and relationships with
connections and relationships with
connections and relationships with others and we come together to form our
others and we come together to form our
others and we come together to form our social fabric as a nation now just like
social fabric as a nation now just like
social fabric as a nation now just like a piece of yarn just like blanket can
a piece of yarn just like blanket can
a piece of yarn just like blanket can wear down and tear over time so too can
wear down and tear over time so too can
wear down and tear over time so too can our social fabric those bonds don’t just
our social fabric those bonds don’t just
our social fabric those bonds don’t just happen they rely on things they rely on
happen they rely on things they rely on
happen they rely on things they rely on trust
trust
trust they rely on expectations of each other
they rely on expectations of each other
they rely on expectations of each other they rely on shared values and goals and
they rely on shared values and goals and
they rely on shared values and goals and unfortunately our social fabric as a
unfortunately our social fabric as a
unfortunately our social fabric as a nation has
nation has
nation has that we’re down over time in terms of
that we’re down over time in terms of
that we’re down over time in terms of trust was what which one was building
trust was what which one was building
trust was what which one was building blocks for social fabric trust levels in
blocks for social fabric trust levels in
blocks for social fabric trust levels in America have gone down dramatically what
America have gone down dramatically what
America have gone down dramatically what if I asked you what do you think
if I asked you what do you think
if I asked you what do you think cockroaches the band Nickelback and
cockroaches the band Nickelback and
cockroaches the band Nickelback and traffic jams all have in common well in
traffic jams all have in common well in
traffic jams all have in common well in 2013 Americans said they preferred all
2013 Americans said they preferred all
2013 Americans said they preferred all of those things over Congress pretty sad
of those things over Congress pretty sad
of those things over Congress pretty sad don’t worry Congress is at least more
don’t worry Congress is at least more
don’t worry Congress is at least more popular than playground bullies so they
popular than playground bullies so they
popular than playground bullies so they have that going for them but if you look
have that going for them but if you look
have that going for them but if you look at the numbers trust levels have gone
at the numbers trust levels have gone
at the numbers trust levels have gone down dramatically
down dramatically
down dramatically in 1958 when Americans were asked
in 1958 when Americans were asked
in 1958 when Americans were asked whether they could trust the government
whether they could trust the government
whether they could trust the government to the right thing most of the time or
to the right thing most of the time or
to the right thing most of the time or all the time nearly two-thirds of
all the time nearly two-thirds of
all the time nearly two-thirds of Americans said yes that number today is
Americans said yes that number today is
Americans said yes that number today is around 20% of Americans who feel that
around 20% of Americans who feel that
around 20% of Americans who feel that way it’s not just the government that
way it’s not just the government that
way it’s not just the government that people have lost trust in they’ve lost
people have lost trust in they’ve lost
people have lost trust in they’ve lost trust in other large institutions such
trust in other large institutions such
trust in other large institutions such as the press the media but most
as the press the media but most
as the press the media but most concerning to me is that we’ve lost
concerning to me is that we’ve lost
concerning to me is that we’ve lost trust in each other what if I ask you
trust in each other what if I ask you
trust in each other what if I ask you this question do you trust most people
this question do you trust most people
this question do you trust most people do you trust most people in this room if
do you trust most people in this room if
do you trust most people in this room if you’re like most Americans do they
you’re like most Americans do they
you’re like most Americans do they actually probably say no to that
actually probably say no to that
actually probably say no to that question only 1/3 of Americans say they
question only 1/3 of Americans say they
question only 1/3 of Americans say they can trust most people that’s dangerous
can trust most people that’s dangerous
can trust most people that’s dangerous back in 1970s that number was around 50%
back in 1970s that number was around 50%
back in 1970s that number was around 50% of Americans who said so than they could
of Americans who said so than they could
of Americans who said so than they could trust most people trust is a necessary
trust most people trust is a necessary
trust most people trust is a necessary building block for any society to
building block for any society to
building block for any society to function properly and we need to pay
function properly and we need to pay
function properly and we need to pay better attention to this while a lot of
better attention to this while a lot of
better attention to this while a lot of attention being paid to our big
attention being paid to our big
attention being paid to our big political debates at the institutional
political debates at the institutional
political debates at the institutional layer of Congress the presidency or at
layer of Congress the presidency or at
layer of Congress the presidency or at the individual layer of how certain
the individual layer of how certain
the individual layer of how certain policies affect each of us individually
policies affect each of us individually
policies affect each of us individually not as much attention is being paid to
not as much attention is being paid to
not as much attention is being paid to all those layers in between the middle
all those layers in between the middle
all those layers in between the middle layers of our society families civic
layers of our society families civic
layers of our society families civic associations neighborhoods communities
associations neighborhoods communities
associations neighborhoods communities religious institutions we’ve neglected
religious institutions we’ve neglected
religious institutions we’ve neglected to pay attention to these middle layers
to pay attention to these middle layers
to pay attention to these middle layers and at our own detriment in terms of
and at our own detriment in terms of
and at our own detriment in terms of neighborhoods neighbors are spending
neighborhoods neighbors are spending
neighborhoods neighbors are spending less time with each other only 19
less time with each other only 19
less time with each other only 19 percent of Americans say they spend a
percent of Americans say they spend a
percent of Americans say they spend a social evening with one of their
social evening with one of their
social evening with one of their neighbors each week in terms of civic
neighbors each week in terms of civic
neighbors each week in terms of civic engagement we’re not doing any better
engagement we’re not doing any better
engagement we’re not doing any better out of the entire population that’s of
out of the entire population that’s of
out of the entire population that’s of voting age and eligible to vote only 65%
voting age and eligible to vote only 65%
voting age and eligible to vote only 65% Americans are actually registered to
Americans are actually registered to
Americans are actually registered to vote and when it comes to actually
vote and when it comes to actually
vote and when it comes to actually voting even less do so especially if
voting even less do so especially if
voting even less do so especially if it’s not a presidential election year
it’s not a presidential election year
it’s not a presidential election year and when it comes to paying attention to
and when it comes to paying attention to
and when it comes to paying attention to public affairs only 26 percent of
public affairs only 26 percent of
public affairs only 26 percent of Americans say they pay attention to
Americans say they pay attention to
Americans say they pay attention to public affairs these numbers scare me
public affairs these numbers scare me
public affairs these numbers scare me and they scare social scientists and
and they scare social scientists and
and they scare social scientists and political scientists as well there’s
political scientists as well there’s
political scientists as well there’s many scholars looking into this Robert
many scholars looking into this Robert
many scholars looking into this Robert Putnam is probably the most well known
Putnam is probably the most well known
Putnam is probably the most well known but long before any of us any current
but long before any of us any current
but long before any of us any current political researchers started paying
political researchers started paying
political researchers started paying attention this topic there was a man by
attention this topic there was a man by
attention this topic there was a man by the name of Alexis de Tocqueville he was
the name of Alexis de Tocqueville he was
the name of Alexis de Tocqueville he was a French gentleman he came over to
a French gentleman he came over to
a French gentleman he came over to America to study our ways and our
America to study our ways and our
America to study our ways and our customs and what he found
customs and what he found
customs and what he found and what fascinated him was how
and what fascinated him was how
and what fascinated him was how Americans were so inclined to form
Americans were so inclined to form
Americans were so inclined to form voluntary associations and groups with
voluntary associations and groups with
voluntary associations and groups with each other and he was so fascinated by
each other and he was so fascinated by
each other and he was so fascinated by it that he wrote a book about it called
it that he wrote a book about it called
it that he wrote a book about it called democracy in America I recommend it well
democracy in America I recommend it well
democracy in America I recommend it well my favorites I’m kind of weird but
my favorites I’m kind of weird but
my favorites I’m kind of weird but anyway the Tocqueville is so fascinated
anyway the Tocqueville is so fascinated
anyway the Tocqueville is so fascinated by how Americans would form these
by how Americans would form these
by how Americans would form these voluntary associations of each other
voluntary associations of each other
voluntary associations of each other they wrote this book and he said that
they wrote this book and he said that
they wrote this book and he said that these associations gave us our strength
these associations gave us our strength
these associations gave us our strength and character it can be hard to see what
and character it can be hard to see what
and character it can be hard to see what the Tocqueville was talking about today
the Tocqueville was talking about today
the Tocqueville was talking about today at a time with such division we feel
at a time with such division we feel
at a time with such division we feel like we’re torn apart or torn apart as a
like we’re torn apart or torn apart as a
like we’re torn apart or torn apart as a society so how did we get back to that
society so how did we get back to that
society so how did we get back to that well here’s a start first we need to
well here’s a start first we need to
well here’s a start first we need to focus on local government Americans need
focus on local government Americans need
focus on local government Americans need to realize that not every decisions
to realize that not every decisions
to realize that not every decisions being made at the Congressional level
being made at the Congressional level
being made at the Congressional level many decisions are being made right down
many decisions are being made right down
many decisions are being made right down the street from you at City and town
the street from you at City and town
the street from you at City and town halls we need to show up and make sure
halls we need to show up and make sure
halls we need to show up and make sure our voices are being heard especially
our voices are being heard especially
our voices are being heard especially young people when I was in high school I
young people when I was in high school I
young people when I was in high school I used to go to school board meetings just
used to go to school board meetings just
used to go to school board meetings just for fun again I’m pretty weird and I
for fun again I’m pretty weird and I
for fun again I’m pretty weird and I would show up these meetings I’m the
would show up these meetings I’m the
would show up these meetings I’m the youngest person by several decades I
youngest person by several decades I
youngest person by several decades I still could do this I still go to League
still could do this I still go to League
still could do this I still go to League of Women Voters events here in Ithaca
of Women Voters events here in Ithaca
of Women Voters events here in Ithaca now I usually go and cover them as a
now I usually go and cover them as a
now I usually go and cover them as a journalist and I’m always the youngest
journalist and I’m always the youngest
journalist and I’m always the youngest person at these events we need more
person at these events we need more
person at these events we need more young people going to these things
young people going to these things
young people going to these things making our voices heard not just for
making our voices heard not just for
making our voices heard not just for issues they’ll affect us down the road
issues they’ll affect us down the road
issues they’ll affect us down the road but they’re happening right now and
but they’re happening right now and
but they’re happening right now and affecting us right now get involved in
affecting us right now get involved in
affecting us right now get involved in your local government run for office if
your local government run for office if
your local government run for office if you feel so inclined let’s get more
you feel so inclined let’s get more
you feel so inclined let’s get more young people in office
young people in office
young people in office in terms of local government you can
in terms of local government you can
in terms of local government you can actually have a real tangible impact by
actually have a real tangible impact by
actually have a real tangible impact by showing up to these meetings number two
showing up to these meetings number two
showing up to these meetings number two we need to volunteer our time and our
we need to volunteer our time and our
we need to volunteer our time and our resources
resources
resources now volunteering is actually a bright
now volunteering is actually a bright
now volunteering is actually a bright spot in American society nearly a
spot in American society nearly a
spot in American society nearly a quarter of Americans said they
quarter of Americans said they
quarter of Americans said they volunteered their time in 2015 that’s
volunteered their time in 2015 that’s
volunteered their time in 2015 that’s pretty good we can always do better find
pretty good we can always do better find
pretty good we can always do better find the issue that you’re passionate about
the issue that you’re passionate about
the issue that you’re passionate about give back your time and resources you
give back your time and resources you
give back your time and resources you don’t really wealthy the volunteer to
don’t really wealthy the volunteer to
don’t really wealthy the volunteer to make a difference
make a difference
make a difference find the Saturday afternoon that you can
find the Saturday afternoon that you can
find the Saturday afternoon that you can spare go and find the issue you’re
spare go and find the issue you’re
spare go and find the issue you’re passionate about well my favorite things
passionate about well my favorite things
passionate about well my favorite things about volunteering is that you often
about volunteering is that you often
about volunteering is that you often find people who care about the same
find people who care about the same
find people who care about the same issues as you you may not have met them
issues as you you may not have met them
issues as you you may not have met them otherwise unless you start volunteering
otherwise unless you start volunteering
otherwise unless you start volunteering so go and find the issues you’re
so go and find the issues you’re
so go and find the issues you’re passionate about give back your time and
passionate about give back your time and
passionate about give back your time and you can truly make a difference and the
you can truly make a difference and the
you can truly make a difference and the third point I want to make engage with
third point I want to make engage with
third point I want to make engage with people you disagree with
people you disagree with
people you disagree with let’s have civil discussions about ideas
let’s have civil discussions about ideas
let’s have civil discussions about ideas we disagree with criticize ideas and not
we disagree with criticize ideas and not
we disagree with criticize ideas and not people have open and honest
people have open and honest
people have open and honest conversations read books that challenge
conversations read books that challenge
conversations read books that challenge you read political commentaries and
you read political commentaries and
you read political commentaries and columns that challenge you have
columns that challenge you have
columns that challenge you have discussions with people who voted
discussions with people who voted
discussions with people who voted differently than you in the last
differently than you in the last
differently than you in the last election we can learn a whole lot about
election we can learn a whole lot about
election we can learn a whole lot about people by just sitting down talking with
people by just sitting down talking with
people by just sitting down talking with them I know it can be scary to talk with
them I know it can be scary to talk with
them I know it can be scary to talk with someone who has a worldview so different
someone who has a worldview so different
someone who has a worldview so different than your own but if we’re gonna solve
than your own but if we’re gonna solve
than your own but if we’re gonna solve any of these problems in our nation it
any of these problems in our nation it
any of these problems in our nation it has to start by just talking with each
has to start by just talking with each
has to start by just talking with each other and I guarantee you you can find
other and I guarantee you you can find
other and I guarantee you you can find something in common with someone even if
something in common with someone even if
something in common with someone even if they have a completely different
they have a completely different
they have a completely different worldview than you you can find
worldview than you you can find
worldview than you you can find something in common with them and I
something in common with them and I
something in common with them and I challenge you to do that so going
challenge you to do that so going
challenge you to do that so going forward rebuilding our social fabric is
forward rebuilding our social fabric is
forward rebuilding our social fabric is going to be tough but I want you to
going to be tough but I want you to
going to be tough but I want you to imagine with me a world where we didn’t
imagine with me a world where we didn’t
imagine with me a world where we didn’t just debate and argue using sound bites
just debate and argue using sound bites
just debate and argue using sound bites we heard on cable news and then this
we heard on cable news and then this
we heard on cable news and then this yell at each other but actually had real
yell at each other but actually had real
yell at each other but actually had real policy discussions real discussions
policy discussions real discussions
policy discussions real discussions about how issues affect us real policy
about how issues affect us real policy
about how issues affect us real policy discussions a world where we didn’t just
discussions a world where we didn’t just
discussions a world where we didn’t just go on Facebook and have comment wars
go on Facebook and have comment wars
go on Facebook and have comment wars with each other but actually talked
with each other but actually talked
with each other but actually talked about issues of each other a world where
about issues of each other a world where
about issues of each other a world where we gave back our time and helped our
we gave back our time and helped our
we gave back our time and helped our neighbors instead of just being focused
neighbors instead of just being focused
neighbors instead of just being focused on their own lives we can do this it’s
on their own lives we can do this it’s
on their own lives we can do this it’s going to be tough trust me
going to be tough trust me
going to be tough trust me it’s going to be really tough but I
it’s going to be really tough but I
it’s going to be really tough but I believe in each of you and I believe
believe in each of you and I believe
believe in each of you and I believe that each of us can make a real
that each of us can make a real
that each of us can make a real difference in the world we’re doing it
difference in the world we’re doing it
difference in the world we’re doing it right now each of us on stage is sharing
right now each of us on stage is sharing
right now each of us on stage is sharing an idea with you the audience you’ll get
an idea with you the audience you’ll get
an idea with you the audience you’ll get to think about these ideas analyze them
to think about these ideas analyze them
to think about these ideas analyze them in your head debate them afterwards you
in your head debate them afterwards you
in your head debate them afterwards you can come and talk with us and debate us
can come and talk with us and debate us
can come and talk with us and debate us if you so choose we’re open to that this
if you so choose we’re open to that this
if you so choose we’re open to that this is the start of a conversation we need
is the start of a conversation we need
is the start of a conversation we need to have more of these so going forward I
to have more of these so going forward I
to have more of these so going forward I truly believe we can repair our social
truly believe we can repair our social
truly believe we can repair our social fabric it will be tough but again each
fabric it will be tough but again each
fabric it will be tough but again each of us is like one those individual
of us is like one those individual
of us is like one those individual pieces of yarn and we’re inner woven
pieces of yarn and we’re inner woven
pieces of yarn and we’re inner woven into society we then make sure we’re
into society we then make sure we’re
into society we then make sure we’re doing our part to repair to social
doing our part to repair to social
doing our part to repair to social fabric it starts with each and every
fabric it starts with each and every
fabric it starts with each and every single one of us so let’s go get started
single one of us so let’s go get started
single one of us so let’s go get started thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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