so what I’m going to talk to you guys about is how I got to a situation where
about is how I got to a situation where
about is how I got to a situation where I am today where I have a political or
I am today where I have a political or
I am today where I have a political or non-political but a very personal belief
non-political but a very personal belief
non-political but a very personal belief of how we can get society and the whole
of how we can get society and the whole
of how we can get society and the whole world to root for so my story starts in
world to root for so my story starts in
world to root for so my story starts in 2008 where from 2008 to 2011 I went to
2008 where from 2008 to 2011 I went to
2008 where from 2008 to 2011 I went to all-boys schools inside Razumikhin
all-boys schools inside Razumikhin
all-boys schools inside Razumikhin imagine being an all-boys school in
imagine being an all-boys school in
imagine being an all-boys school in South Africa being a sports person was a
South Africa being a sports person was a
South Africa being a sports person was a very big part of the people who were
very big part of the people who were
very big part of the people who were sportsmen were held in the highest
sportsmen were held in the highest
sportsmen were held in the highest regard now as a toy you can see I’m not
regard now as a toy you can see I’m not
regard now as a toy you can see I’m not exactly a small person so being a
exactly a small person so being a
exactly a small person so being a sportsman was able to do
sportsman was able to do
sportsman was able to do I was always fairly good at the sports
I was always fairly good at the sports
I was always fairly good at the sports that I did and as a result I became the
that I did and as a result I became the
that I did and as a result I became the person I was I was making friends with
person I was I was making friends with
person I was I was making friends with all different kinds of people not only
all different kinds of people not only
all different kinds of people not only this isn’t a problem but in my
this isn’t a problem but in my
this isn’t a problem but in my particular circumstances it wasn’t
particular circumstances it wasn’t
particular circumstances it wasn’t because I attended a school that had
because I attended a school that had
because I attended a school that had over 300 points of my yogurt but we
over 300 points of my yogurt but we
over 300 points of my yogurt but we didn’t interact the difference types of
didn’t interact the difference types of
didn’t interact the difference types of people didn’t interact it was a lot of
people didn’t interact it was a lot of
people didn’t interact it was a lot of different diversity there were people
different diversity there were people
different diversity there were people from different religions people
from different religions people
from different religions people different races different cultures all
different races different cultures all
different races different cultures all sorts different things but we didn’t
sorts different things but we didn’t
sorts different things but we didn’t interact because the cultures that we
interact because the cultures that we
interact because the cultures that we had growing up were all consistent what
had growing up were all consistent what
had growing up were all consistent what does uniform the primary school that I
does uniform the primary school that I
does uniform the primary school that I went to at 96 voice minor but overnight
went to at 96 voice minor but overnight
went to at 96 voice minor but overnight of us were always a little class so we
of us were always a little class so we
of us were always a little class so we had a very narrow view of the world so
had a very narrow view of the world so
had a very narrow view of the world so they lost four little segregated groups
they lost four little segregated groups
they lost four little segregated groups we didn’t interact and as a result no
we didn’t interact and as a result no
we didn’t interact and as a result no one knew how to form relationships with
one knew how to form relationships with
one knew how to form relationships with the people who disagree with us always
the people who disagree with us always
the people who disagree with us always people who with different jobs so when
people who with different jobs so when
people who with different jobs so when we did interact more often in my own
we did interact more often in my own
we did interact more often in my own fortune
fortune
fortune to fight off some so now this was
to fight off some so now this was
to fight off some so now this was changed drastically when I moved from
changed drastically when I moved from
changed drastically when I moved from South Africa just wasn’t them to come to
South Africa just wasn’t them to come to
South Africa just wasn’t them to come to the WC because when I arrived I changed
the WC because when I arrived I changed
the WC because when I arrived I changed from being a setting when everyone in my
from being a setting when everyone in my
from being a setting when everyone in my social group and in my community was
social group and in my community was
social group and in my community was like me to being in a situation where
like me to being in a situation where
like me to being in a situation where there was not a single person at the
there was not a single person at the
there was not a single person at the school so the adjustment I had to make
school so the adjustment I had to make
school so the adjustment I had to make was unthinkable to persecute and they
was unthinkable to persecute and they
was unthinkable to persecute and they would think that this would be difficult
would think that this would be difficult
would think that this would be difficult if the thing would be a very difficult
if the thing would be a very difficult
if the thing would be a very difficult thing for me to do but surprisingly
thing for me to do but surprisingly
thing for me to do but surprisingly impossible because rather than getting
impossible because rather than getting
impossible because rather than getting here and sharing opinions and points of
here and sharing opinions and points of
here and sharing opinions and points of view that I disagree with
view that I disagree with
view that I disagree with I got ya and it was exclusively carrying
I got ya and it was exclusively carrying
I got ya and it was exclusively carrying points of view that I’ve never heard
points of view that I’ve never heard
points of view that I’ve never heard before so the whole time I had one when
before so the whole time I had one when
before so the whole time I had one when I was drastically learning about new
I was drastically learning about new
I was drastically learning about new cultures new religions new languages new
cultures new religions new languages new
cultures new religions new languages new places in the world also and as a result
places in the world also and as a result
places in the world also and as a result when the foyers young ones that were
when the foyers young ones that were
when the foyers young ones that were done I had grown in the trivalent I had
done I had grown in the trivalent I had
done I had grown in the trivalent I had become an entirely different person and
become an entirely different person and
become an entirely different person and then once again like my time in South
then once again like my time in South
then once again like my time in South Africa my times was that kids are there
Africa my times was that kids are there
Africa my times was that kids are there and I moved to the United States Berger
and I moved to the United States Berger
and I moved to the United States Berger college was when I arrived was almost
college was when I arrived was almost
college was when I arrived was almost like I was back in South Africa because
like I was back in South Africa because
like I was back in South Africa because from the looks of things everyone was
from the looks of things everyone was
from the looks of things everyone was the same again now the school that I go
the same again now the school that I go
the same again now the school that I go to has people from I think it’s 65
to has people from I think it’s 65
to has people from I think it’s 65 different countries represent this is
different countries represent this is
different countries represent this is quite a lot but we’ve failed another the
quite a lot but we’ve failed another the
quite a lot but we’ve failed another the people from around the world
people from around the world
people from around the world international students and diversity
international students and diversity
international students and diversity have nothing in terms of numbers when it
have nothing in terms of numbers when it
have nothing in terms of numbers when it comes to people who overall Midwinter so
comes to people who overall Midwinter so
comes to people who overall Midwinter so when I arrived in for the whole first
when I arrived in for the whole first
when I arrived in for the whole first week or so it seemed like I was back in
week or so it seemed like I was back in
week or so it seemed like I was back in South Africa because everyone dressed
South Africa because everyone dressed
South Africa because everyone dressed the same everyone spoke the same if I
the same everyone spoke the same if I
the same everyone spoke the same if I did the same things everyone was
did the same things everyone was
did the same things everyone was interesting
interesting
interesting the same things it was really with to be
the same things it was really with to be
the same things it was really with to be back in the situation like this but
back in the situation like this but
back in the situation like this but being a socialite I started to make
being a socialite I started to make
being a socialite I started to make friends from all the propensity Brigade
friends from all the propensity Brigade
friends from all the propensity Brigade ranging from football players to choir
ranging from football players to choir
ranging from football players to choir singers to the guy down the hall from me
singers to the guy down the hall from me
singers to the guy down the hall from me across states same t07 and it starts
across states same t07 and it starts
across states same t07 and it starts realize that the water small differences
realize that the water small differences
realize that the water small differences between you but the biggest difference
between you but the biggest difference
between you but the biggest difference between people was there the beats now
between people was there the beats now
between people was there the beats now it was the closing stages of the
it was the closing stages of the
it was the closing stages of the presidential election between Donald
presidential election between Donald
presidential election between Donald Trump and illusions and what I came to
Trump and illusions and what I came to
Trump and illusions and what I came to good was you were either on one side or
good was you were either on one side or
good was you were either on one side or you wanna there wasn’t no between people
you wanna there wasn’t no between people
you wanna there wasn’t no between people weren’t having conversations about the
weren’t having conversations about the
weren’t having conversations about the best way to prove this decide support
best way to prove this decide support
best way to prove this decide support people weren’t having conversations
people weren’t having conversations
people weren’t having conversations about the best form of government that
about the best form of government that
about the best form of government that they could have and this surprised me
they could have and this surprised me
they could have and this surprised me because coming from one of them this is
because coming from one of them this is
because coming from one of them this is what we do these are the conversations
what we do these are the conversations
what we do these are the conversations that we have we have this conversation
that we have we have this conversation
that we have we have this conversation four people are different to us but over
four people are different to us but over
four people are different to us but over there that wasn’t happy and when they
there that wasn’t happy and when they
there that wasn’t happy and when they work political discussions happen they
work political discussions happen they
work political discussions happen they were happening in closed groups of
were happening in closed groups of
were happening in closed groups of people who did agree and to me this was
people who did agree and to me this was
people who did agree and to me this was weird and what happened was that
weird and what happened was that
weird and what happened was that separates people completely because they
separates people completely because they
separates people completely because they don’t understand where I was coming now
don’t understand where I was coming now
don’t understand where I was coming now after the election things so much worse
after the election things so much worse
after the election things so much worse because one side was blatantly parading
because one side was blatantly parading
because one side was blatantly parading her pride our problem the other side was
her pride our problem the other side was
her pride our problem the other side was dreaming but the way it worked was you
dreaming but the way it worked was you
dreaming but the way it worked was you weren’t doing it for the sake of being
weren’t doing it for the sake of being
weren’t doing it for the sake of being proud of yourself or for looking for
proud of yourself or for looking for
proud of yourself or for looking for self-confident people were doing it for
self-confident people were doing it for
self-confident people were doing it for the sake of trying to do
the sake of trying to do
the sake of trying to do sigh so admit for a time I also was with
sigh so admit for a time I also was with
sigh so admit for a time I also was with the people who were creamy I was a bit
the people who were creamy I was a bit
the people who were creamy I was a bit upset wails and it made it difficult to
upset wails and it made it difficult to
upset wails and it made it difficult to interact with the people from the other
interact with the people from the other
interact with the people from the other side but then one day I realized that
side but then one day I realized that
side but then one day I realized that this was entirely unnecessary and I
this was entirely unnecessary and I
this was entirely unnecessary and I realize this because my host family has
realize this because my host family has
realize this because my host family has beliefs which are completely different
beliefs which are completely different
beliefs which are completely different they only complete opposite side we
they only complete opposite side we
they only complete opposite side we disagree on basically everything when it
disagree on basically everything when it
disagree on basically everything when it comes to politics yet I got along better
comes to politics yet I got along better
comes to politics yet I got along better with them that I did with anyone else
with them that I did with anyone else
with them that I did with anyone else and so quiet citizen why is it that I’m
and so quiet citizen why is it that I’m
and so quiet citizen why is it that I’m pushing away people who have the same
pushing away people who have the same
pushing away people who have the same beliefs as people I get a lot better
beliefs as people I get a lot better
beliefs as people I get a lot better just because they have different beliefs
just because they have different beliefs
just because they have different beliefs that doesn’t mean that I have to push
that doesn’t mean that I have to push
that doesn’t mean that I have to push them aside that I have to not attract
them aside that I have to not attract
them aside that I have to not attract them so I started interacting with me
them so I started interacting with me
them so I started interacting with me I started making friendly people’s
I started making friendly people’s
I started making friendly people’s beliefs with different Manatee and I
beliefs with different Manatee and I
beliefs with different Manatee and I realized that not everybody could do
realized that not everybody could do
realized that not everybody could do this for some people this was a really
this for some people this was a really
this for some people this was a really difficult thing to do and I realized
difficult thing to do and I realized
difficult thing to do and I realized this when I was having a conversation
this when I was having a conversation
this when I was having a conversation with one of my friends
with one of my friends
with one of my friends relatedly the transporter and I had
relatedly the transporter and I had
relatedly the transporter and I had someone who was blatantly antitrump walk
someone who was blatantly antitrump walk
someone who was blatantly antitrump walk past and read about a very same greeting
past and read about a very same greeting
past and read about a very same greeting and they didn’t even acknowledge that
and they didn’t even acknowledge that
and they didn’t even acknowledge that there was another human being standing
there was another human being standing
there was another human being standing in front of me having a conversation
in front of me having a conversation
in front of me having a conversation because that’s how much they disagreed
because that’s how much they disagreed
because that’s how much they disagreed so what started to happen
so what started to happen
so what started to happen there’s people are forgetting that those
there’s people are forgetting that those
there’s people are forgetting that those who disagree are still people okay so to
who disagree are still people okay so to
who disagree are still people okay so to try to hope you understand by Framing if
try to hope you understand by Framing if
try to hope you understand by Framing if I had stood up yesterday wearing the
I had stood up yesterday wearing the
I had stood up yesterday wearing the make America great again kappa how many
make America great again kappa how many
make America great again kappa how many people did this one it would have
people did this one it would have
people did this one it would have instantly assumed something about my
instantly assumed something about my
instantly assumed something about my personality visible okay sounds likely
personality visible okay sounds likely
personality visible okay sounds likely that you would have assumed things like
that you would have assumed things like
that you would have assumed things like on the side of the stick there’s nothing
on the side of the stick there’s nothing
on the side of the stick there’s nothing perfect
perfect
perfect you know lots of terrible things lots of
you know lots of terrible things lots of
you know lots of terrible things lots of really bad ways to describe you she
really bad ways to describe you she
really bad ways to describe you she would be your also problem student my
would be your also problem student my
would be your also problem student my religion but diet Aldous come to the
religion but diet Aldous come to the
religion but diet Aldous come to the point when we hang people based on out
point when we hang people based on out
point when we hang people based on out of the protocol okay so this is a
of the protocol okay so this is a
of the protocol okay so this is a problem to me this is a big problem and
problem to me this is a big problem and
problem to me this is a big problem and like I mentioned is because people
like I mentioned is because people
like I mentioned is because people forget that this is a person they focus
forget that this is a person they focus
forget that this is a person they focus on differences rather than the fact that
on differences rather than the fact that
on differences rather than the fact that this is a person so how do we fix this
this is a person so how do we fix this
this is a person so how do we fix this problem
problem
problem well we need to be able to form
well we need to be able to form
well we need to be able to form relationships with the people that we
relationships with the people that we
relationships with the people that we disagree with okay this is vitally
disagree with okay this is vitally
disagree with okay this is vitally important and the main reason for this
important and the main reason for this
important and the main reason for this is like I said if you look back at the
is like I said if you look back at the
is like I said if you look back at the color at the politics there was no
color at the politics there was no
color at the politics there was no discussion happening in the middle there
discussion happening in the middle there
discussion happening in the middle there was no driver to find the best solution
was no driver to find the best solution
was no driver to find the best solution so I understand that forming a
so I understand that forming a
so I understand that forming a relationship with someone who has
relationship with someone who has
relationship with someone who has believes that are a tiny difference
believes that are a tiny difference
believes that are a tiny difference yours is difficult but there’s an easier
yours is difficult but there’s an easier
yours is difficult but there’s an easier way to do because if you focus on
way to do because if you focus on
way to do because if you focus on something that you have in common
something that you have in common
something that you have in common then it gives you a capsule start
then it gives you a capsule start
then it gives you a capsule start relationship okay so I found someone who
relationship okay so I found someone who
relationship okay so I found someone who I knew was entirely different to be
I knew was entirely different to be
I knew was entirely different to be there but as a Scotsman I also knew that
there but as a Scotsman I also knew that
there but as a Scotsman I also knew that this person participating the sport that
this person participating the sport that
this person participating the sport that I knew nothing about so I started
I knew nothing about so I started
I knew nothing about so I started talking to them about the sport started
talking to them about the sport started
talking to them about the sport started getting to know the sport I start
getting to know the sport I start
getting to know the sport I start arguments what I did that they need only
arguments what I did that they need only
arguments what I did that they need only run and inform the friendship and we’ve
run and inform the friendship and we’ve
run and inform the friendship and we’ve been good friends ever since despite the
been good friends ever since despite the
been good friends ever since despite the fact that we disagree on everything
fact that we disagree on everything
fact that we disagree on everything believe everything now it’s the making
believe everything now it’s the making
believe everything now it’s the making forming a relationship is the most
forming a relationship is the most
forming a relationship is the most important part of this process because
important part of this process because
important part of this process because of a psychological phenomenon known as
of a psychological phenomenon known as
of a psychological phenomenon known as cognitive dissonance okay now what
cognitive dissonance okay now what
cognitive dissonance okay now what cognitive dissonance is basically
cognitive dissonance is basically
cognitive dissonance is basically speaking it explains that regardless of
speaking it explains that regardless of
speaking it explains that regardless of how well you formulate on it regardless
how well you formulate on it regardless
how well you formulate on it regardless of how much evidence you put forth to
of how much evidence you put forth to
of how much evidence you put forth to support your view if you do it too
support your view if you do it too
support your view if you do it too quickly
quickly
quickly who disagrees with you they will put
who disagrees with you they will put
who disagrees with you they will put aside all logic and reasoning for the
aside all logic and reasoning for the
aside all logic and reasoning for the sake of definitive news okay now we are
sake of definitive news okay now we are
sake of definitive news okay now we are trying to get someone to understand your
trying to get someone to understand your
trying to get someone to understand your point of view and to understand that
point of view and to understand that
point of view and to understand that because you disagree with them doesn’t
because you disagree with them doesn’t
because you disagree with them doesn’t mean you are against them it’s important
mean you are against them it’s important
mean you are against them it’s important that you form this relationship and get
that you form this relationship and get
that you form this relationship and get them to trust it’s important that your
them to trust it’s important that your
them to trust it’s important that your love and opportunity to remember that
love and opportunity to remember that
love and opportunity to remember that your person before you start discussing
your person before you start discussing
your person before you start discussing these beliefs but it’s also important to
these beliefs but it’s also important to
these beliefs but it’s also important to remember that as much as you’re trying
remember that as much as you’re trying
remember that as much as you’re trying to get them to accept your point of view
to get them to accept your point of view
to get them to accept your point of view you have to accept that you have to be
you have to accept that you have to be
you have to accept that you have to be as open-minded as you will expect them
as open-minded as you will expect them
as open-minded as you will expect them to now once you come to forming this
to now once you come to forming this
to now once you come to forming this relationship you get to know the person
relationship you get to know the person
relationship you get to know the person they get to know you you get to trust
they get to know you you get to trust
they get to know you you get to trust them then it’s trust you then you can
them then it’s trust you then you can
them then it’s trust you then you can start talking about your differences
start talking about your differences
start talking about your differences then you can start discussing why you
then you can start discussing why you
then you can start discussing why you disagree on things why you have a
disagree on things why you have a
disagree on things why you have a particular point of view from may you
particular point of view from may you
particular point of view from may you move from there you start to grow
move from there you start to grow
move from there you start to grow because I understand that it’s difficult
because I understand that it’s difficult
because I understand that it’s difficult to have someone sit down in front of you
to have someone sit down in front of you
to have someone sit down in front of you and tell you why they think your views
and tell you why they think your views
and tell you why they think your views either run or there’s something
either run or there’s something
either run or there’s something incorrect about them or has problems
incorrect about them or has problems
incorrect about them or has problems because of this citizeness I understand
because of this citizeness I understand
because of this citizeness I understand that that’s wrong it’s not easy but
that that’s wrong it’s not easy but
that that’s wrong it’s not easy but think of it like this in the scientific
think of it like this in the scientific
think of it like this in the scientific community when someone does research
community when someone does research
community when someone does research that research gets presented for
that research gets presented for
that research gets presented for peer-reviewed upon completion the people
peer-reviewed upon completion the people
peer-reviewed upon completion the people who are reviewing that researcher rip it
who are reviewing that researcher rip it
who are reviewing that researcher rip it to shreds to find any single thing
to shreds to find any single thing
to shreds to find any single thing that’s wrong they will put in effort to
that’s wrong they will put in effort to
that’s wrong they will put in effort to try to prove that this thing is wrong so
try to prove that this thing is wrong so
try to prove that this thing is wrong so think of it like that if someone is
think of it like that if someone is
think of it like that if someone is coming to you and showing you you’re
coming to you and showing you you’re
coming to you and showing you you’re quiet or the faults in your argument why
quiet or the faults in your argument why
quiet or the faults in your argument why they think you’re going to view is wrong
they think you’re going to view is wrong
they think you’re going to view is wrong there are two things that can happen
there are two things that can happen
there are two things that can happen either
either
either you take that and you use it to grow
you take that and you use it to grow
you take that and you use it to grow your believe you use it to understand
your believe you use it to understand
your believe you use it to understand what you understand why those things are
what you understand why those things are
what you understand why those things are okay four years of Springs
okay four years of Springs
okay four years of Springs what you believe in all alternatively
what you believe in all alternatively
what you believe in all alternatively this person puts forth such a clear
this person puts forth such a clear
this person puts forth such a clear coherent and good argument that your
coherent and good argument that your
coherent and good argument that your beliefs changing either way you’re going
beliefs changing either way you’re going
beliefs changing either way you’re going to be growing as a person like I did
to be growing as a person like I did
to be growing as a person like I did whenever it is possible like I didn’t
whenever it is possible like I didn’t
whenever it is possible like I didn’t ever – eww
ever – eww
ever – eww so going forward you need to remember
so going forward you need to remember
so going forward you need to remember especially for those of you who are
especially for those of you who are
especially for those of you who are going to be graduating in going to the
going to be graduating in going to the
going to be graduating in going to the United States that you must first make
United States that you must first make
United States that you must first make friends with the person before
friends with the person before
friends with the person before understandable before getting Tibet or
understandable before getting Tibet or
understandable before getting Tibet or judge them identities first another
judge them identities first another
judge them identities first another person can know things because
person can know things because
person can know things because understand that as important as your
understand that as important as your
understand that as important as your beliefs are to you their beliefs as
beliefs are to you their beliefs as
beliefs are to you their beliefs as important together once you’ve got to
important together once you’ve got to
important together once you’ve got to that point then you can start making
that point then you can start making
that point then you can start making adjustments each other’s lives and
adjustments each other’s lives and
adjustments each other’s lives and become more accepting now for me if you
become more accepting now for me if you
become more accepting now for me if you are willing to put in effort to changing
are willing to put in effort to changing
are willing to put in effort to changing your society to making a society better
your society to making a society better
your society to making a society better by getting people who disagree with each
by getting people who disagree with each
by getting people who disagree with each other and to argue with each other to
other and to argue with each other to
other and to argue with each other to come together and root for as a whole
come together and root for as a whole
come together and root for as a whole then to me that’s a sign of power and to
then to me that’s a sign of power and to
then to me that’s a sign of power and to quite mature enough to change the world
”
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