I want you I want you to imagine yourself as a tree beautiful evergreen
yourself as a tree beautiful evergreen
yourself as a tree beautiful evergreen fully grown tree that carries fruits and
fully grown tree that carries fruits and
fully grown tree that carries fruits and delicious berries and spring flowers and
delicious berries and spring flowers and
delicious berries and spring flowers and matched to any other tree now if you’re
matched to any other tree now if you’re
matched to any other tree now if you’re lucky enough you’ll be planted right
lucky enough you’ll be planted right
lucky enough you’ll be planted right here in beautiful British Columbia in an
here in beautiful British Columbia in an
here in beautiful British Columbia in an ecosystem that is so cared for and
ecosystem that is so cared for and
ecosystem that is so cared for and diverse and supported but for the sake
diverse and supported but for the sake
diverse and supported but for the sake of this argument let’s pick a different
of this argument let’s pick a different
of this argument let’s pick a different location
location
location off the top of my head that pick Syria a
place where there is a war on trees
place where there is a war on trees there are those who want to cut down all
there are those who want to cut down all
there are those who want to cut down all trees to burn them to ashes to turn
trees to burn them to ashes to turn
trees to burn them to ashes to turn their green leaves to red there are
their green leaves to red there are
their green leaves to red there are those who want to eradicate trees now by
those who want to eradicate trees now by
those who want to eradicate trees now by the power and will of life within you
the power and will of life within you
the power and will of life within you you pull your roots from the ground in a
you pull your roots from the ground in a
you pull your roots from the ground in a miraculous gesture like those trees from
miraculous gesture like those trees from
miraculous gesture like those trees from Lord of the Rings you escape that
Lord of the Rings you escape that
Lord of the Rings you escape that hateful land the land that you were
hateful land the land that you were
hateful land the land that you were planted in since you’re a mere seed and
planted in since you’re a mere seed and
planted in since you’re a mere seed and you start to walk away you walk across
you start to walk away you walk across
you start to walk away you walk across borders and you walk across foreign
borders and you walk across foreign
borders and you walk across foreign lands to you and tune you until you
lands to you and tune you until you
lands to you and tune you until you reach a green beautiful land just like
reach a green beautiful land just like
reach a green beautiful land just like this one here and BC and you decide to
this one here and BC and you decide to
this one here and BC and you decide to plant yourself once more now we all know
plant yourself once more now we all know
plant yourself once more now we all know that planting a tree in foreign soil is
that planting a tree in foreign soil is
that planting a tree in foreign soil is not easily done
so let’s not forget this metaphor for a
so let’s not forget this metaphor for a second and let me tell you but a bit
second and let me tell you but a bit
second and let me tell you but a bit about myself my name is Danny or not
about myself my name is Danny or not
about myself my name is Danny or not really my name is Ahmed but I say Danny
and when I escaped Syria in July 2012
and when I escaped Syria in July 2012 I felt uprooted it wasn’t really a
I felt uprooted it wasn’t really a
I felt uprooted it wasn’t really a calculated decision for me to actually
calculated decision for me to actually
calculated decision for me to actually escape overnight and become the gay
escape overnight and become the gay
escape overnight and become the gay Syrian refugee that I am right now the
Syrian refugee that I am right now the
Syrian refugee that I am right now the situation is chelated in Syria in the
situation is chelated in Syria in the
situation is chelated in Syria in the spring and summer of 2012 so much that I
spring and summer of 2012 so much that I
spring and summer of 2012 so much that I had to take that journey I remember I
had to take that journey I remember I
had to take that journey I remember I remember crying on my best friend’s
remember crying on my best friend’s
remember crying on my best friend’s shoulder the day that I arrived in
shoulder the day that I arrived in
shoulder the day that I arrived in Beirut and he tapped on my shoulder over
Beirut and he tapped on my shoulder over
Beirut and he tapped on my shoulder over and over again and told me everything
and over again and told me everything
and over again and told me everything everything will be fine but you know
everything will be fine but you know
everything will be fine but you know that’s actually jumping ahead in the
that’s actually jumping ahead in the
that’s actually jumping ahead in the story so again name is Danny
story so again name is Danny
story so again name is Danny Ahmed Danny whatever I was born in 1984
Ahmed Danny whatever I was born in 1984
Ahmed Danny whatever I was born in 1984 in Damascus Syria to a Muslim
in Damascus Syria to a Muslim
in Damascus Syria to a Muslim conservative and seriously this
conservative and seriously this
conservative and seriously this functional family my father was a
functional family my father was a
functional family my father was a redhead short tempered man
redhead short tempered man
redhead short tempered man I think knew that I was gay since early
I think knew that I was gay since early
I think knew that I was gay since early childhood so he tried to engage me in
childhood so he tried to engage me in
childhood so he tried to engage me in what he considered character building
what he considered character building
what he considered character building activities so he got me into aggressive
activities so he got me into aggressive
activities so he got me into aggressive sports he found me a job at a
sports he found me a job at a
sports he found me a job at a construction site and he shaft seriously
construction site and he shaft seriously
construction site and he shaft seriously and he shoved verses of the Quran down
and he shoved verses of the Quran down
and he shoved verses of the Quran down my throat at every corner but as a child
my throat at every corner but as a child
my throat at every corner but as a child all I wanted to do was to write poetry
all I wanted to do was to write poetry
all I wanted to do was to write poetry and to read books if I am a tree and the
and to read books if I am a tree and the
and to read books if I am a tree and the tree rings that are my soul the earliest
tree rings that are my soul the earliest
tree rings that are my soul the earliest tree ring there is narrated stories of
tree ring there is narrated stories of
tree ring there is narrated stories of abandonment of self-loathing of
abandonment of self-loathing of
abandonment of self-loathing of disconnect from my family my biggest
disconnect from my family my biggest
disconnect from my family my biggest connection however was with the city of
connection however was with the city of
connection however was with the city of Damascus itself Damascus you wouldn’t
Damascus itself Damascus you wouldn’t
Damascus itself Damascus you wouldn’t believe Damascus is a beautiful city
believe Damascus is a beautiful city
believe Damascus is a beautiful city covered in jasmine trees it’s dotted
covered in jasmine trees it’s dotted
covered in jasmine trees it’s dotted with historical sites it’s surrounded by
with historical sites it’s surrounded by
with historical sites it’s surrounded by beautiful mountains this city is seven
beautiful mountains this city is seven
beautiful mountains this city is seven thousand years old
thousand years old
thousand years old city and when you walk around the
city and when you walk around the
city and when you walk around the streets you feel that that the machine
streets you feel that that the machine
streets you feel that that the machine houses are whispering stories to you you
houses are whispering stories to you you
houses are whispering stories to you you feel that the the mosques are echoing
feel that the the mosques are echoing
feel that the the mosques are echoing hymns of people long-lost I was a seed
hymns of people long-lost I was a seed
hymns of people long-lost I was a seed planted in that country that land was
planted in that country that land was
planted in that country that land was mine
mine
mine Arabic the language was my water and
Arabic the language was my water and
Arabic the language was my water and summer was my shelter winter it was so
summer was my shelter winter it was so
summer was my shelter winter it was so cleansing in my late teens and early 20s
cleansing in my late teens and early 20s
cleansing in my late teens and early 20s and due to can problems with my family I
and due to can problems with my family I
and due to can problems with my family I had to leave my family’s home and I had
had to leave my family’s home and I had
had to leave my family’s home and I had to leave all of Syria actually my job my
to leave all of Syria actually my job my
to leave all of Syria actually my job my work in journalism took me around the
work in journalism took me around the
work in journalism took me around the Middle East I lived in Egypt in Turkey
Middle East I lived in Egypt in Turkey
Middle East I lived in Egypt in Turkey and Malaysia and Lebanon in Jordan so in
and Malaysia and Lebanon in Jordan so in
and Malaysia and Lebanon in Jordan so in February 2011 I went back to Syria
February 2011 I went back to Syria
February 2011 I went back to Syria seeking that sense of belonging that I
seeking that sense of belonging that I
seeking that sense of belonging that I so wanted but I couldn’t believe how
so wanted but I couldn’t believe how
so wanted but I couldn’t believe how disconnected I was you see people were
disconnected I was you see people were
disconnected I was you see people were tired of the economical situation of the
tired of the economical situation of the
tired of the economical situation of the unjust systems of the Orwellian regime
unjust systems of the Orwellian regime
unjust systems of the Orwellian regime the winters they felt locked in the
the winters they felt locked in the
the winters they felt locked in the summers they felt sad and the streets
summers they felt sad and the streets
summers they felt sad and the streets they stopped whispering but I believe I
they stopped whispering but I believe I
they stopped whispering but I believe I believe that every tree has a role to
believe that every tree has a role to
believe that every tree has a role to play in the ecosystem that it’s part of
play in the ecosystem that it’s part of
play in the ecosystem that it’s part of and I believe that my role was to
and I believe that my role was to
and I believe that my role was to support the lgbtq the lesbian gay
support the lgbtq the lesbian gay
support the lgbtq the lesbian gay bisexual trans and queer community in
bisexual trans and queer community in
bisexual trans and queer community in Syria
and I guess that’s what I met Miriam now
and I guess that’s what I met Miriam now you’d love her when you meet her when I
you’d love her when you meet her when I
you’d love her when you meet her when I met her the minute that I met her I knew
met her the minute that I met her I knew
met her the minute that I met her I knew that she was a lesbian
that she was a lesbian
that she was a lesbian and I mean my gaydar is above average
and I mean my gaydar is above average
and I mean my gaydar is above average but not her
but not her
but not her Miriam wasn’t hard to figure out at all
Miriam wasn’t hard to figure out at all
Miriam wasn’t hard to figure out at all but it took us weeks to actually come
but it took us weeks to actually come
but it took us weeks to actually come out to one another she she dropped hints
out to one another she she dropped hints
out to one another she she dropped hints about gay friends of hers and honestly I
about gay friends of hers and honestly I
about gay friends of hers and honestly I can’t I can’t stand dropping hints oh I
can’t I can’t stand dropping hints oh I
can’t I can’t stand dropping hints oh I went to her one morning and I whispered
she responded with a long loud duh
she responded with a long loud duh now if Miriam didn’t embrace me with
now if Miriam didn’t embrace me with
now if Miriam didn’t embrace me with love that day but she actually reported
love that day but she actually reported
love that day but she actually reported me to the police instead I would face
me to the police instead I would face
me to the police instead I would face three years in prison public shaming and
three years in prison public shaming and
three years in prison public shaming and torture Miriam and I were born to be
torture Miriam and I were born to be
torture Miriam and I were born to be criminals in the eyes of the Syrian law
criminals in the eyes of the Syrian law
criminals in the eyes of the Syrian law we were the outcasts of our own society
we were the outcasts of our own society
we were the outcasts of our own society and we accepted that role within our
and we accepted that role within our
and we accepted that role within our society we navigated the city telling
society we navigated the city telling
society we navigated the city telling each other over and over again
each other over and over again
each other over and over again everything everything will be fine now
everything everything will be fine now
everything everything will be fine now by early 2012 the war in Syria has
by early 2012 the war in Syria has
by early 2012 the war in Syria has created the everlasting sounds of
created the everlasting sounds of
created the everlasting sounds of clashes that really deafened our ears we
clashes that really deafened our ears we
clashes that really deafened our ears we escaped our troubles we escaped all of
escaped our troubles we escaped all of
escaped our troubles we escaped all of that into my little apartment because
that into my little apartment because
that into my little apartment because it’s a safe place now mind you when I
it’s a safe place now mind you when I
it’s a safe place now mind you when I got it it was this dark dirty ugly space
got it it was this dark dirty ugly space
got it it was this dark dirty ugly space but Miriam and I we actually made it
but Miriam and I we actually made it
but Miriam and I we actually made it home out of it
home out of it
home out of it we made a community around it I remember
we made a community around it I remember
we made a community around it I remember picking up my phone and calling a couple
picking up my phone and calling a couple
picking up my phone and calling a couple of my gay friends and she called couple
of my gay friends and she called couple
of my gay friends and she called couple of her lesbian friends and in that
of her lesbian friends and in that
of her lesbian friends and in that gender segregated society those two
gender segregated society those two
gender segregated society those two communities for the first time they
communities for the first time they
communities for the first time they actually connected and those people from
actually connected and those people from
actually connected and those people from the community felt that they can
the community felt that they can
the community felt that they can actually present their true identities
actually present their true identities
actually present their true identities and feel celebrated and loved for who
and feel celebrated and loved for who
and feel celebrated and loved for who they are
they are
they are we had a moto friends employed friends
we had a moto friends employed friends
we had a moto friends employed friends and suddenly we all had a home
and suddenly we all had a home
and suddenly we all had a home we were trees four trees that home of
we were trees four trees that home of
we were trees four trees that home of ours would have been our greenhouse
ours would have been our greenhouse
ours would have been our greenhouse connecting us together and shielding us
connecting us together and shielding us
connecting us together and shielding us from the elements of the world around us
from the elements of the world around us
from the elements of the world around us but it sadly didn’t last beautiful
but it sadly didn’t last beautiful
but it sadly didn’t last beautiful things never last a protest broke
things never last a protest broke
things never last a protest broke outside of our home we heard the
outside of our home we heard the
outside of our home we heard the shouting and the screaming we turned off
shouting and the screaming we turned off
shouting and the screaming we turned off our lights and they were shooting
our lights and they were shooting
our lights and they were shooting outside we felt lonely now I have to be
outside we felt lonely now I have to be
outside we felt lonely now I have to be honest with you that night actually not
honest with you that night actually not
honest with you that night actually not nothing happened we survived the night
nothing happened we survived the night
nothing happened we survived the night but it was the final night to actually
but it was the final night to actually
but it was the final night to actually spend in that beautiful home of ours and
spend in that beautiful home of ours and
spend in that beautiful home of ours and that sanctuary of ours we nomadically
that sanctuary of ours we nomadically
that sanctuary of ours we nomadically traveled around Damascus reminiscing
traveled around Damascus reminiscing
traveled around Damascus reminiscing about the beautiful safety that we felt
about the beautiful safety that we felt
about the beautiful safety that we felt in that house and I guess I guess that’s
in that house and I guess I guess that’s
in that house and I guess I guess that’s where my leap took place now I wasn’t an
where my leap took place now I wasn’t an
where my leap took place now I wasn’t an adventurous man jumping in a bungee jump
adventurous man jumping in a bungee jump
adventurous man jumping in a bungee jump somebody actually pushed me forced me
somebody actually pushed me forced me
somebody actually pushed me forced me into a freefall you see I was arrested
into a freefall you see I was arrested
into a freefall you see I was arrested at the International Damascus Airport in
at the International Damascus Airport in
at the International Damascus Airport in June 2012 and no one I promise you no
June 2012 and no one I promise you no
June 2012 and no one I promise you no one ever told me why was it the safe
one ever told me why was it the safe
one ever told me why was it the safe home that I created with my friends was
home that I created with my friends was
home that I created with my friends was that my work in journalism on the
that my work in journalism on the
that my work in journalism on the nonprofit organizations I honestly don’t
nonprofit organizations I honestly don’t
nonprofit organizations I honestly don’t know
know
know now I managed to get out of jail and
now I managed to get out of jail and
now I managed to get out of jail and overnight I escaped Syria to Lebanon
overnight I escaped Syria to Lebanon
overnight I escaped Syria to Lebanon becoming the gay Syrian refugee that I
becoming the gay Syrian refugee that I
becoming the gay Syrian refugee that I am and crying on my friend’s shoulder
am and crying on my friend’s shoulder
am and crying on my friend’s shoulder and that’s when I felt uprooted like
and that’s when I felt uprooted like
and that’s when I felt uprooted like that glorious tree I was telling you
that glorious tree I was telling you
that glorious tree I was telling you about that’s when I felt that I need to
about that’s when I felt that I need to
about that’s when I felt that I need to find myself a greener land to be part of
find myself a greener land to be part of
find myself a greener land to be part of so I decided to immigrate to here to
so I decided to immigrate to here to
so I decided to immigrate to here to Canada I remember that after two years
Canada I remember that after two years
Canada I remember that after two years of long application processing and from
of long application processing and from
of long application processing and from raising and struggling as a refugee back
raising and struggling as a refugee back
raising and struggling as a refugee back in Beirut
in Beirut
in Beirut I finally got that phone call and I was
I finally got that phone call and I was
I finally got that phone call and I was invited to meet the visa officer at the
invited to meet the visa officer at the
invited to meet the visa officer at the Canadian embassy he looked at me and he
Canadian embassy he looked at me and he
Canadian embassy he looked at me and he smiled him told me everything
smiled him told me everything
smiled him told me everything everything will be fine he stamped my
everything will be fine he stamped my
everything will be fine he stamped my passport and off I came now this is not
passport and off I came now this is not
passport and off I came now this is not the end of my story a lot of people
the end of my story a lot of people
the end of my story a lot of people think that refugees like a fairy tale
think that refugees like a fairy tale
think that refugees like a fairy tale they arrived at Canada and hey
they arrived at Canada and hey
they arrived at Canada and hey everything is fine everything is awesome
everything is fine everything is awesome
everything is fine everything is awesome in reality it’s like planting a tree in
in reality it’s like planting a tree in
in reality it’s like planting a tree in foreign soil
foreign soil
foreign soil it might not wither the disconnect from
it might not wither the disconnect from
it might not wither the disconnect from its ecosystem or the elements of the new
its ecosystem or the elements of the new
its ecosystem or the elements of the new environment that you planted it in in
environment that you planted it in in
environment that you planted it in in reality we are refugees yes but we have
reality we are refugees yes but we have
reality we are refugees yes but we have lived full lives before we came here
lived full lives before we came here
lived full lives before we came here beautiful lives we had careers and
beautiful lives we had careers and
beautiful lives we had careers and inspirations that we had to leave behind
inspirations that we had to leave behind
inspirations that we had to leave behind we had friends and homes that we care
we had friends and homes that we care
we had friends and homes that we care for and yes we have left the war behind
for and yes we have left the war behind
for and yes we have left the war behind us but I also left behind me that home
us but I also left behind me that home
us but I also left behind me that home of mine and I left Miriam and all of my
of mine and I left Miriam and all of my
of mine and I left Miriam and all of my friends I left behind me the normality
friends I left behind me the normality
friends I left behind me the normality of speaking in Arabic a language that is
of speaking in Arabic a language that is
of speaking in Arabic a language that is engraved in my head to somebody else
engraved in my head to somebody else
engraved in my head to somebody else would understand it right away I left
would understand it right away I left
would understand it right away I left behind me the taste of food and the
behind me the taste of food and the
behind me the taste of food and the smell of things and the traditions and
smell of things and the traditions and
smell of things and the traditions and the way the stores look at night I
the way the stores look at night I
the way the stores look at night I honestly have behind me the supermarket
honestly have behind me the supermarket
honestly have behind me the supermarket where I used to buy my cigarettes and
where I used to buy my cigarettes and
where I used to buy my cigarettes and flirt with the hot cashier as well so
and during my first six months here I
and during my first six months here I actually struggled a lot because I
actually struggled a lot because I
actually struggled a lot because I wasn’t just fighting to establish myself
wasn’t just fighting to establish myself
wasn’t just fighting to establish myself once more I was actually started
once more I was actually started
once more I was actually started fighting to change the stereotypical
fighting to change the stereotypical
fighting to change the stereotypical views associated with refugees you see
views associated with refugees you see
views associated with refugees you see without Canadian experience or Canadian
without Canadian experience or Canadian
without Canadian experience or Canadian education nobody would give me a job
education nobody would give me a job
education nobody would give me a job you see a lot of people think that we as
you see a lot of people think that we as
you see a lot of people think that we as refugees are going to sit on our hands
refugees are going to sit on our hands
refugees are going to sit on our hands and spend your tax money in reality
and spend your tax money in reality
and spend your tax money in reality those folks forget that before we were
those folks forget that before we were
those folks forget that before we were refugees
refugees
refugees were the doctors and the lawyers and the
were the doctors and the lawyers and the
were the doctors and the lawyers and the farmers and the artists and the
farmers and the artists and the
farmers and the artists and the storytellers we weren’t born refugees
storytellers we weren’t born refugees
storytellers we weren’t born refugees and Syria it’s not just the war within
and Syria it’s not just the war within
and Syria it’s not just the war within country full of deserts that you see on
country full of deserts that you see on
country full of deserts that you see on TV it’s the place where I wore shorts
TV it’s the place where I wore shorts
TV it’s the place where I wore shorts for the first time the place where I
for the first time the place where I
for the first time the place where I kissed a boy for the first time it’s
kissed a boy for the first time it’s
kissed a boy for the first time it’s it’s the oldest inhabited city in the
it’s the oldest inhabited city in the
it’s the oldest inhabited city in the human history
human history
human history it’s the beacon of humanity itself and
it’s the beacon of humanity itself and
it’s the beacon of humanity itself and honestly I wouldn’t have left it if it
honestly I wouldn’t have left it if it
honestly I wouldn’t have left it if it was safe for me to stay there and it’s
was safe for me to stay there and it’s
was safe for me to stay there and it’s actually hard to stand here and talk to
actually hard to stand here and talk to
actually hard to stand here and talk to you folks it’s difficult because I’m
you folks it’s difficult because I’m
you folks it’s difficult because I’m struggling right now I’m struggling with
struggling right now I’m struggling with
struggling right now I’m struggling with my survivor’s guilt I feel privileged to
my survivor’s guilt I feel privileged to
my survivor’s guilt I feel privileged to be actually standing on this stage
be actually standing on this stage
be actually standing on this stage talking to you all of you or actually
talking to you all of you or actually
talking to you all of you or actually sitting in my apartment overlooking
sitting in my apartment overlooking
sitting in my apartment overlooking English Bay watching Netflix while
English Bay watching Netflix while
English Bay watching Netflix while people while people that I care for
people while people that I care for
people while people that I care for other LGBTQ folks that are my friends
other LGBTQ folks that are my friends
other LGBTQ folks that are my friends people I hugged people I kissed are
people I hugged people I kissed are
people I hugged people I kissed are still struggling over there with the
still struggling over there with the
still struggling over there with the experience of being refugees and I guess
experience of being refugees and I guess
experience of being refugees and I guess that’s why I do the work that I do I
that’s why I do the work that I do I
that’s why I do the work that I do I advocate for the rights of immigration
advocate for the rights of immigration
advocate for the rights of immigration for refugees who identify as LGBTQ from
for refugees who identify as LGBTQ from
for refugees who identify as LGBTQ from not just Syria but from the 80 countries
not just Syria but from the 80 countries
not just Syria but from the 80 countries in the world where homosexuality and
in the world where homosexuality and
in the world where homosexuality and transgenderism are punishable by law
transgenderism are punishable by law
transgenderism are punishable by law five of them it’s punishable by death
last year with the support of a group of
last year with the support of a group of Canadians I sponsored I also sponsored a
Canadians I sponsored I also sponsored a
Canadians I sponsored I also sponsored a lesbian woman and her sister to join us
lesbian woman and her sister to join us
lesbian woman and her sister to join us here in Canada and with the help of a
here in Canada and with the help of a
here in Canada and with the help of a local organization here in BC located in
local organization here in BC located in
local organization here in BC located in Vancouver called rainbow refugee society
Vancouver called rainbow refugee society
Vancouver called rainbow refugee society they are here
they are here
they are here actually one of them is sitting over
actually one of them is sitting over
actually one of them is sitting over there
there
there [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] and you know you know you and I were
and you know you know you and I were
and you know you know you and I were limited we can change the world
limited we can change the world
limited we can change the world we can’t stop the war in Syria but we
we can’t stop the war in Syria but we
we can’t stop the war in Syria but we can actually change the word for those
can actually change the word for those
can actually change the word for those people for my people you can help by
people for my people you can help by
people for my people you can help by preparing the soil right here for those
preparing the soil right here for those
preparing the soil right here for those trees to come and plant themselves you
trees to come and plant themselves you
trees to come and plant themselves you can help by sponsoring other LGBTQ
can help by sponsoring other LGBTQ
can help by sponsoring other LGBTQ identified refugees or refugees in
identified refugees or refugees in
identified refugees or refugees in general it can help by learning about
general it can help by learning about
general it can help by learning about our culture but the Syrian culture read
our culture but the Syrian culture read
our culture but the Syrian culture read our literature know about our books last
our literature know about our books last
our literature know about our books last summer I was honored to be picked as the
summer I was honored to be picked as the
summer I was honored to be picked as the Grand Marshal of the Vancouver gay pride
Grand Marshal of the Vancouver gay pride
Grand Marshal of the Vancouver gay pride parade 2016 I marched with dignity
parade 2016 I marched with dignity
parade 2016 I marched with dignity alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leading that parade and I honestly felt
leading that parade and I honestly felt
leading that parade and I honestly felt seen I felt that my struggles meant
seen I felt that my struggles meant
seen I felt that my struggles meant something and that the cause that I care
something and that the cause that I care
something and that the cause that I care for is not just seen by me and those who
for is not just seen by me and those who
for is not just seen by me and those who will talk to me and die that I actually
will talk to me and die that I actually
will talk to me and die that I actually talk to them all the time about it to
talk to them all the time about it to
talk to them all the time about it to the point that they’re like shut up
but also by the 400,000 people who were
but also by the 400,000 people who were actually watching the parade that day
actually watching the parade that day
actually watching the parade that day today I’m here to tell you that my tree
today I’m here to tell you that my tree
today I’m here to tell you that my tree is adjusting I have a job that I adore
is adjusting I have a job that I adore
is adjusting I have a job that I adore in a nonprofit organization called
in a nonprofit organization called
in a nonprofit organization called community in downtown Vancouver I have a
community in downtown Vancouver I have a
community in downtown Vancouver I have a circle of friends that I connect to I
circle of friends that I connect to I
circle of friends that I connect to I feel part of I have a novel coming up
feel part of I have a novel coming up
feel part of I have a novel coming up next year the clothesline swing
next year the clothesline swing
next year the clothesline swing [Applause]
that tree of mine has landed here and
that tree of mine has landed here and routed itself here it’s bringing flowers
routed itself here it’s bringing flowers
routed itself here it’s bringing flowers and match to any other flowers and it’s
and match to any other flowers and it’s
and match to any other flowers and it’s delicious berries are shying with red so
delicious berries are shying with red so
delicious berries are shying with red so finally I want you to always remember
finally I want you to always remember
finally I want you to always remember that immigration is not easily done I
that immigration is not easily done I
that immigration is not easily done I want you to remember that we are not
want you to remember that we are not
want you to remember that we are not just mere refugees I want you to
just mere refugees I want you to
just mere refugees I want you to remember that when we come here we bring
remember that when we come here we bring
remember that when we come here we bring with us our aspirations and our hopes
with us our aspirations and our hopes
with us our aspirations and our hopes and our dreams and we want to share it
and our dreams and we want to share it
and our dreams and we want to share it with you and I guess the last thought
with you and I guess the last thought
with you and I guess the last thought that I want to leave with is a message
that I want to leave with is a message
that I want to leave with is a message to those who are still refugees my
to those who are still refugees my
to those who are still refugees my people back home and all the refugees
people back home and all the refugees
people back home and all the refugees who are struggling still I’m trying I’m
who are struggling still I’m trying I’m
who are struggling still I’m trying I’m trying my best to turn Canada into a
trying my best to turn Canada into a
trying my best to turn Canada into a sanctuary for all of us just like that
sanctuary for all of us just like that
sanctuary for all of us just like that beautiful home that we had in Damascus
beautiful home that we had in Damascus
beautiful home that we had in Damascus so believe me believe me when I say
so believe me believe me when I say
so believe me believe me when I say everything everything would be fine
everything everything would be fine
everything everything would be fine thank you very much
”
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