“The others” don´t exist | Nermin Ismail | TEDxDonauinsel

we and the others we and them those who

we and the others we and them those who are different who think different who

are different who think different who

are different who think different who look different from us we grow up in

look different from us we grow up in

look different from us we grow up in society’s great creating differences

society’s great creating differences

society’s great creating differences creating us and the other even just by

creating us and the other even just by

creating us and the other even just by the way we talk we create others but did

the way we talk we create others but did

the way we talk we create others but did you ever ask yourself who you are and

you ever ask yourself who you are and

you ever ask yourself who you are and where do you belong and even if you

where do you belong and even if you

where do you belong and even if you didn’t ask yourself of course someone

didn’t ask yourself of course someone

didn’t ask yourself of course someone asked you where are you from all of us

asked you where are you from all of us

asked you where are you from all of us know this question and if you may be the

know this question and if you may be the

know this question and if you may be the one who asked the question was not

one who asked the question was not

one who asked the question was not really satisfied by your answer if you

really satisfied by your answer if you

really satisfied by your answer if you don’t really look the way he expected if

don’t really look the way he expected if

don’t really look the way he expected if you come from this country so the next

you come from this country so the next

you come from this country so the next question is inevitable no no where are

question is inevitable no no where are

question is inevitable no no where are you really from as if you were lying why

you really from as if you were lying why

you really from as if you were lying why should you be lying so we know this

should you be lying so we know this

should you be lying so we know this question and we know that question after

question and we know that question after

question and we know that question after it and after the people get to know

it and after the people get to know

it and after the people get to know where you’re really from and know your

where you’re really from and know your

where you’re really from and know your origins then they they have another

origins then they they have another

origins then they they have another question because they wonder but why is

question because they wonder but why is

question because they wonder but why is your German so good I mean your German

your German so good I mean your German

your German so good I mean your German is so good so don’t get me wrong I don’t

is so good so don’t get me wrong I don’t

is so good so don’t get me wrong I don’t want you to feel bad if you ask someone

want you to feel bad if you ask someone

want you to feel bad if you ask someone in your life where he or she is from but

in your life where he or she is from but

in your life where he or she is from but is it really so important to ask someone

is it really so important to ask someone

is it really so important to ask someone you just got to know immediately where

you just got to know immediately where

you just got to know immediately where he is from what she where she is from

he is from what she where she is from

he is from what she where she is from so I’m just wondering who are they who

so I’m just wondering who are they who

so I’m just wondering who are they who are we and where do you belong and did

are we and where do you belong and did

are we and where do you belong and did you ever say also think about it maybe

you ever say also think about it maybe

you ever say also think about it maybe well how it could affect someone you ask

well how it could affect someone you ask

well how it could affect someone you ask where are you from or who is asked no no

where are you from or who is asked no no

where are you from or who is asked no no where are you really from so this is a

where are you really from so this is a

where are you really from so this is a question I think which is important we

question I think which is important we

question I think which is important we have to be aware on

have to be aware on

have to be aware on even if you ask them where are you from

even if you ask them where are you from

even if you ask them where are you from doesn’t it imply that you tell them

doesn’t it imply that you tell them

doesn’t it imply that you tell them you’re not from here you don’t belong so

you’re not from here you don’t belong so

you’re not from here you don’t belong so there’s a study published 2007 in the

there’s a study published 2007 in the

there’s a study published 2007 in the Journal of Personality and Social

Journal of Personality and Social

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and it shows that human

Psychology and it shows that human

Psychology and it shows that human beings need to belong they need to

beings need to belong they need to

beings need to belong they need to belong to one another they need to

belong to one another they need to

belong to one another they need to belong to their families to their

belong to their families to their

belong to their families to their friends to a country to a culture to the

friends to a country to a culture to the

friends to a country to a culture to the world so belonging is fundamental for

world so belonging is fundamental for

world so belonging is fundamental for our sense of happiness and well-being

our sense of happiness and well-being

our sense of happiness and well-being belonging has a lot of consequences our

belonging has a lot of consequences our

belonging has a lot of consequences our interests our motivation and even our

interests our motivation and even our

interests our motivation and even our health and our happiness are tied to the

health and our happiness are tied to the

health and our happiness are tied to the feeling that we belong so but we have

feeling that we belong so but we have

feeling that we belong so but we have fixed images we think we know what a

fixed images we think we know what a

fixed images we think we know what a professor looks like what a cleaning

professor looks like what a cleaning

professor looks like what a cleaning lady looks like we think we know what a

lady looks like we think we know what a

lady looks like we think we know what a refugee looks like we think we know many

refugee looks like we think we know many

refugee looks like we think we know many people tell me about their experiences

people tell me about their experiences

people tell me about their experiences when they make for example phone calls

when they make for example phone calls

when they make for example phone calls and talk about certain issues and then

and talk about certain issues and then

and talk about certain issues and then they tell their names and then they

they tell their names and then they

they tell their names and then they recognize okay the other person is

recognize okay the other person is

recognize okay the other person is wandering or even if they meet the

wandering or even if they meet the

wandering or even if they meet the person it’s like oh I didn’t think

person it’s like oh I didn’t think

person it’s like oh I didn’t think you’re different so yes we live we live

you’re different so yes we live we live

you’re different so yes we live we live in a diverse world and diversity is our

in a diverse world and diversity is our

in a diverse world and diversity is our reality

reality

reality I mean how boring would it be if we all

I mean how boring would it be if we all

I mean how boring would it be if we all look the same also a question who could

look the same also a question who could

look the same also a question who could think about so I think what what is

think about so I think what what is

think about so I think what what is important is to concentrate on what

important is to concentrate on what

important is to concentrate on what unifies us and not on what is makes what

unifies us and not on what is makes what

unifies us and not on what is makes what makes us different but there’s not only

makes us different but there’s not only

makes us different but there’s not only one truth or one reality how we see the

one truth or one reality how we see the

one truth or one reality how we see the world how we perceive the world is

world how we perceive the world is

world how we perceive the world is shaped of our perspectives our education

shaped of our perspectives our education

shaped of our perspectives our education our social class our experiences all of

our social class our experiences all of

our social class our experiences all of this thing’s shaped the way we perceive

this thing’s shaped the way we perceive

this thing’s shaped the way we perceive the world and also shaped the way we

the world and also shaped the way we

the world and also shaped the way we classify and categorize and lay

classify and categorize and lay

classify and categorize and lay people so with we need to listen to

people so with we need to listen to

people so with we need to listen to different perspectives otherwise who

different perspectives otherwise who

different perspectives otherwise who will miss out on so much in this life

will miss out on so much in this life

will miss out on so much in this life because everyone has his own perspective

because everyone has his own perspective

because everyone has his own perspective and his own story so I think we also

and his own story so I think we also

and his own story so I think we also need to especially listen to those who

need to especially listen to those who

need to especially listen to those who have lost their voices people who have

have lost their voices people who have

have lost their voices people who have lost the voices we should help them gain

lost the voices we should help them gain

lost the voices we should help them gain the voice again and especially in times

the voice again and especially in times

the voice again and especially in times like these where we have right-wing

like these where we have right-wing

like these where we have right-wing parties increasing which are vastly

parties increasing which are vastly

parties increasing which are vastly increasing in popularity where we have

increasing in popularity where we have

increasing in popularity where we have organized hate crimes where we have so

organized hate crimes where we have so

organized hate crimes where we have so many things it’s the time where it’s

many things it’s the time where it’s

many things it’s the time where it’s important and where we need to stick to

important and where we need to stick to

important and where we need to stick to the facts and bring people back together

the facts and bring people back together

the facts and bring people back together we need to connect them through telling

we need to connect them through telling

we need to connect them through telling their stories and rather than dividing

their stories and rather than dividing

their stories and rather than dividing them or spreading hatred amongst them by

them or spreading hatred amongst them by

them or spreading hatred amongst them by telling how different they are so as

telling how different they are so as

telling how different they are so as journalists we have the ethical

journalists we have the ethical

journalists we have the ethical obligation to consider all facts and to

obligation to consider all facts and to

obligation to consider all facts and to listen to everyone we are the embodied

listen to everyone we are the embodied

listen to everyone we are the embodied hope of so many people who have lost

hope of so many people who have lost

hope of so many people who have lost their voices and who have no hope and

their voices and who have no hope and

their voices and who have no hope and also those who have faced a lot of

also those who have faced a lot of

also those who have faced a lot of injustice we need to hold those

injustice we need to hold those

injustice we need to hold those accountable who violate human rights we

accountable who violate human rights we

accountable who violate human rights we have the power to connect people through

have the power to connect people through

have the power to connect people through telling their stories as example or

telling their stories as example or

telling their stories as example or let’s talk about refugees refugees a

let’s talk about refugees refugees a

let’s talk about refugees refugees a word what which picture do you have if

word what which picture do you have if

word what which picture do you have if you are here the world refugee maybe it

you are here the world refugee maybe it

you are here the world refugee maybe it seems like a big faceless mass with no

seems like a big faceless mass with no

seems like a big faceless mass with no voice just homogeneous mass we see

voice just homogeneous mass we see

voice just homogeneous mass we see refugees maybe also often Aslam burs and

refugees maybe also often Aslam burs and

refugees maybe also often Aslam burs and I wanted to change that I saw them under

I wanted to change that I saw them under

I wanted to change that I saw them under a spray represented and in most of the

a spray represented and in most of the

a spray represented and in most of the discussions where we talk about refugees

discussions where we talk about refugees

discussions where we talk about refugees we make them to object it’s not to not

we make them to object it’s not to not

we make them to object it’s not to not to jump subjects who they are they

to jump subjects who they are they

to jump subjects who they are they subjects subjects who can take their

subjects subjects who can take their

subjects subjects who can take their life in their hands and decide for

life in their hands and decide for

life in their hands and decide for themselves so I think we must listen to

themselves so I think we must listen to

themselves so I think we must listen to different people to understand their

different people to understand their

different people to understand their perspective and to be able to see the

perspective and to be able to see the

perspective and to be able to see the bigger picture at Birth nobody asks you

bigger picture at Birth nobody asks you

bigger picture at Birth nobody asks you who would you like to have as your

who would you like to have as your

who would you like to have as your mother and who would you like to have as

mother and who would you like to have as

mother and who would you like to have as your father and which country and which

your father and which country and which

your father and which country and which nationality would you like to choose

nationality would you like to choose

nationality would you like to choose some things are just given we can’t

some things are just given we can’t

some things are just given we can’t change them and we don’t have any say

change them and we don’t have any say

change them and we don’t have any say whatsoever in it we are born we’re

whatsoever in it we are born we’re

whatsoever in it we are born we’re giving a nationality and with this the

giving a nationality and with this the

giving a nationality and with this the grace of living in peace and freedom or

grace of living in peace and freedom or

grace of living in peace and freedom or not during history class back at school

not during history class back at school

not during history class back at school I thought war belongs to the past

I thought war belongs to the past

I thought war belongs to the past I thought war is something with Chelm

I thought war is something with Chelm

I thought war is something with Chelm and should and will never happen again

and should and will never happen again

and should and will never happen again but I had to see and to recognize that

but I had to see and to recognize that

but I had to see and to recognize that war is part of our reality and we can

war is part of our reality and we can

war is part of our reality and we can choose if we want to ignore it or if we

choose if we want to ignore it or if we

choose if we want to ignore it or if we want to recognize it it really got under

want to recognize it it really got under

want to recognize it it really got under my skin when I met so many people who

my skin when I met so many people who

my skin when I met so many people who survived war and who came to Europe and

survived war and who came to Europe and

survived war and who came to Europe and I really recognized how privileged and

I really recognized how privileged and

I really recognized how privileged and how blessed I am when I was in Turkey

how blessed I am when I was in Turkey

how blessed I am when I was in Turkey and in Greece and on the balcony ought

and in Greece and on the balcony ought

and in Greece and on the balcony ought to make some research from my book I

to make some research from my book I

to make some research from my book I wrote about or with refugees and about

wrote about or with refugees and about

wrote about or with refugees and about their stories many people thought I

their stories many people thought I

their stories many people thought I myself I’m fleeing to Europe so it was a

myself I’m fleeing to Europe so it was a

myself I’m fleeing to Europe so it was a new thought for me that yes maybe it

new thought for me that yes maybe it

new thought for me that yes maybe it could have been me it could have been me

could have been me it could have been me

could have been me it could have been me who is sitting in Turkey and waiting for

who is sitting in Turkey and waiting for

who is sitting in Turkey and waiting for the smuggler to take her to the boat and

the smuggler to take her to the boat and

the smuggler to take her to the boat and to come to Europe so also in Greece when

to come to Europe so also in Greece when

to come to Europe so also in Greece when I showed my Austrian passport to the

I showed my Austrian passport to the

I showed my Austrian passport to the officer and he looked multiple times on

officer and he looked multiple times on

officer and he looked multiple times on it in disbelief it was like yes it could

it in disbelief it was like yes it could

it in disbelief it was like yes it could have been me and that’s why it it we

have been me and that’s why it it we

have been me and that’s why it it we can’t say it doesn’t matter to us

can’t say it doesn’t matter to us

can’t say it doesn’t matter to us because it could also have been you it

because it could also have been you it

because it could also have been you it could have been us and you know what

could have been us and you know what

could have been us and you know what when I met so many people who who did so

when I met so many people who who did so

when I met so many people who who did so many stuff to stay

many stuff to stay

many stuff to stay life and to look for a better future I

life and to look for a better future I

life and to look for a better future I really realized how valuable life is

really realized how valuable life is

really realized how valuable life is often we take being alive as

often we take being alive as

often we take being alive as self-evident but it is not self-evident

self-evident but it is not self-evident

self-evident but it is not self-evident so being life is a blessing and

so being life is a blessing and

so being life is a blessing and privilege and yes maybe we cannot define

privilege and yes maybe we cannot define

privilege and yes maybe we cannot define our nationality our background our skin

our nationality our background our skin

our nationality our background our skin color but still still we are powerful

color but still still we are powerful

color but still still we are powerful because we can define who we are and who

because we can define who we are and who

because we can define who we are and who we want to be so don’t let others define

we want to be so don’t let others define

we want to be so don’t let others define who you are don’t let others define who

who you are don’t let others define who

who you are don’t let others define who you will be stand up and get your voice

you will be stand up and get your voice

you will be stand up and get your voice and speak for yourself because it’s your

and speak for yourself because it’s your

and speak for yourself because it’s your life the past years as I saw as I said I

life the past years as I saw as I said I

life the past years as I saw as I said I met many people who left the countries

met many people who left the countries

met many people who left the countries and whoever lost everything I wanted to

and whoever lost everything I wanted to

and whoever lost everything I wanted to tell the stories I wanted to give them

tell the stories I wanted to give them

tell the stories I wanted to give them their voice by my men and I also helped

their voice by my men and I also helped

their voice by my men and I also helped translating to give something back I had

translating to give something back I had

translating to give something back I had to see for myself what they have to face

to see for myself what they have to face

to see for myself what they have to face with challengers who they have to face

with challengers who they have to face

with challengers who they have to face to come to Europe and live the way we

to come to Europe and live the way we

to come to Europe and live the way we live

live

live so I remember this one night on the

so I remember this one night on the

so I remember this one night on the austrian-hungarian border in nickel

austrian-hungarian border in nickel

austrian-hungarian border in nickel stove where I was translating and where

stove where I was translating and where

stove where I was translating and where people kept coming and coming and coming

people kept coming and coming and coming

people kept coming and coming and coming and it was very late or maybe it was

and it was very late or maybe it was

and it was very late or maybe it was even morning and most of the people who

even morning and most of the people who

even morning and most of the people who have gotten on the buses and left and

have gotten on the buses and left and

have gotten on the buses and left and then I found a woman with her children

then I found a woman with her children

then I found a woman with her children and their grandmother and I went to them

and their grandmother and I went to them

and their grandmother and I went to them and I thought okay maybe it’s time for a

and I thought okay maybe it’s time for a

and I thought okay maybe it’s time for a joke I went to her and said okay hello

joke I went to her and said okay hello

joke I went to her and said okay hello sorry ma’am

sorry ma’am

sorry ma’am you’re too late you’ve missed your

you’re too late you’ve missed your

you’re too late you’ve missed your flight you have to wait here two hours

flight you have to wait here two hours

flight you have to wait here two hours so we we’ve laughed a lot and we have we

so we we’ve laughed a lot and we have we

so we we’ve laughed a lot and we have we really enjoyed our time we talked we

really enjoyed our time we talked we

really enjoyed our time we talked we talked a lot but I could see how how how

talked a lot but I could see how how how

talked a lot but I could see how how how she had no strength she was so exhausted

she had no strength she was so exhausted

she had no strength she was so exhausted she could she could not even move her

she could she could not even move her

she could she could not even move her legs but somehow something from within

legs but somehow something from within

legs but somehow something from within gave her strength maybe it was the

gave her strength maybe it was the

gave her strength maybe it was the vision of having a new home or the

vision of having a new home or the

vision of having a new home or the vision of belonging somewhere new and

vision of belonging somewhere new and

vision of belonging somewhere new and when we were sitting we were talking

when we were sitting we were talking

when we were sitting we were talking about everything we were talking about

about everything we were talking about

about everything we were talking about all the Egyptian movies and we were

all the Egyptian movies and we were

all the Egyptian movies and we were songs and although at the beginning I

songs and although at the beginning I

songs and although at the beginning I was really I felt sorry for her because

was really I felt sorry for her because

was really I felt sorry for her because she had to wait so long and this cold

she had to wait so long and this cold

she had to wait so long and this cold and rainy night at the end it was not so

and rainy night at the end it was not so

and rainy night at the end it was not so easy to say goodbye because we really

easy to say goodbye because we really

easy to say goodbye because we really enjoyed our day at our time so I really

enjoyed our day at our time so I really

enjoyed our day at our time so I really learned from her and from many people I

learned from her and from many people I

learned from her and from many people I met that you can always concentrate on

met that you can always concentrate on

met that you can always concentrate on the positive sides of life and you can

the positive sides of life and you can

the positive sides of life and you can always look at the health full glass and

always look at the health full glass and

always look at the health full glass and it’s always it’s always possible to

it’s always it’s always possible to

it’s always it’s always possible to reach for what you want and for to fight

reach for what you want and for to fight

reach for what you want and for to fight for what you want

for what you want

for what you want her name was Mona and when we when I

her name was Mona and when we when I

her name was Mona and when we when I came back she got to the bus and we have

came back she got to the bus and we have

came back she got to the bus and we have we had to say goodbye very quickly and

we had to say goodbye very quickly and

we had to say goodbye very quickly and this moment she told me they’re mean I’m

this moment she told me they’re mean I’m

this moment she told me they’re mean I’m I’m really happy I could meet you I now

I’m really happy I could meet you I now

I’m really happy I could meet you I now I know my daughter will belong and now I

I know my daughter will belong and now I

I know my daughter will belong and now I know my daughter will have the

know my daughter will have the

know my daughter will have the opportunities to be the one she wants to

opportunities to be the one she wants to

opportunities to be the one she wants to be so what we often forgot is forget is

be so what we often forgot is forget is

be so what we often forgot is forget is that behind those numbers behind those

that behind those numbers behind those

that behind those numbers behind those refugees there are individuals there are

refugees there are individuals there are

refugees there are individuals there are individuals such like Mona and they have

individuals such like Mona and they have

individuals such like Mona and they have their stories and they have their very

their stories and they have their very

their stories and they have their very own destinies and I made it my mission

own destinies and I made it my mission

own destinies and I made it my mission to put a spotlight on these people to

to put a spotlight on these people to

to put a spotlight on these people to put a spotlight on marginalized group

put a spotlight on marginalized group

put a spotlight on marginalized group who we don’t ask and even Syrians or

who we don’t ask and even Syrians or

who we don’t ask and even Syrians or even refugees we all we maybe think okay

even refugees we all we maybe think okay

even refugees we all we maybe think okay those are refugees but we never maybe we

those are refugees but we never maybe we

those are refugees but we never maybe we don’t think who are they we don’t ask

don’t think who are they we don’t ask

don’t think who are they we don’t ask them about their life they had a life

them about their life they had a life

them about their life they had a life before the war started they where they

before the war started they where they

before the war started they where they are more than just refugees so we have

are more than just refugees so we have

are more than just refugees so we have very often like fixed images and I think

very often like fixed images and I think

very often like fixed images and I think it’s important to get distinguished

it’s important to get distinguished

it’s important to get distinguished pictures and to get to know the people

pictures and to get to know the people

pictures and to get to know the people and talk to them so if we look even if

and talk to them so if we look even if

and talk to them so if we look even if we have a picture if you if we look at a

we have a picture if you if we look at a

we have a picture if you if we look at a picture we in fact only see a small part

picture we in fact only see a small part

picture we in fact only see a small part because there’s still a lot cut out and

because there’s still a lot cut out and

because there’s still a lot cut out and we will also always see different stuff

we will also always see different stuff

we will also always see different stuff in this picture depending on our own

in this picture depending on our own

in this picture depending on our own personality on our own experiences on

personality on our own experiences on

personality on our own experiences on our own perception of the world so what

our own perception of the world so what

our own perception of the world so what I think is important is that we let let

I think is important is that we let let

I think is important is that we let let him like but let there be discussion

him like but let there be discussion

him like but let there be discussion allow other perspective in our small

allow other perspective in our small

allow other perspective in our small little worldview listen to people with

little worldview listen to people with

little worldview listen to people with different backgrounds different cultures

different backgrounds different cultures

different backgrounds different cultures different nations make your own

different nations make your own

different nations make your own experience with the so called others and

experience with the so called others and

experience with the so called others and yeah the question is who are they and

yeah the question is who are they and

yeah the question is who are they and who are we and what is the difference

who are we and what is the difference

who are we and what is the difference and where are we

and where are we

and where are we or where are you are you somewhere in

or where are you are you somewhere in

or where are you are you somewhere in between you don’t have to be you don’t

between you don’t have to be you don’t

between you don’t have to be you don’t have to fit into a box

have to fit into a box

have to fit into a box you can be whoever you want and that is

you can be whoever you want and that is

you can be whoever you want and that is very important because it doesn’t matter

very important because it doesn’t matter

very important because it doesn’t matter what the other people think who you are

what the other people think who you are

what the other people think who you are or where you belong it’s important who

or where you belong it’s important who

or where you belong it’s important who you want to be and it’s important what

you want to be and it’s important what

you want to be and it’s important what your inner passion is and you should

your inner passion is and you should

your inner passion is and you should reach out for that so there is no us and

reach out for that so there is no us and

reach out for that so there is no us and there is no day there is no us and there

there is no day there is no us and there

there is no day there is no us and there is no day we are all humans and we all

is no day we are all humans and we all

is no day we are all humans and we all have the right to belong where we are to

have the right to belong where we are to

have the right to belong where we are to belong where we want to belong and to be

belong where we want to belong and to be

belong where we want to belong and to be whoever we want to be thanked

you

you [Music]