[Applause] history it’s the most powerful tool ever
history it’s the most powerful tool ever
history it’s the most powerful tool ever constructed Mahmud has shown the world
constructed Mahmud has shown the world
constructed Mahmud has shown the world what atrocities humans can flicked upon
what atrocities humans can flicked upon
what atrocities humans can flicked upon each other and one that has shown us
each other and one that has shown us
each other and one that has shown us that love and understanding can better
that love and understanding can better
that love and understanding can better our society it’s a tool that pesters us
our society it’s a tool that pesters us
our society it’s a tool that pesters us with reminders or mistakes and yet like
with reminders or mistakes and yet like
with reminders or mistakes and yet like a proud mother it celebrates all of our
a proud mother it celebrates all of our
a proud mother it celebrates all of our greatest achievements history chronicles
greatest achievements history chronicles
greatest achievements history chronicles our story it’s not a bird or a plane
our story it’s not a bird or a plane
our story it’s not a bird or a plane it’s a book and a book unlike no other
it’s a book and a book unlike no other
it’s a book and a book unlike no other can raise a story that can’t be burned
can raise a story that can’t be burned
can raise a story that can’t be burned it can’t be forgotten it clings on with
it can’t be forgotten it clings on with
it can’t be forgotten it clings on with us past the present and soon enough the
us past the present and soon enough the
us past the present and soon enough the future so to begin with today I’d like
future so to begin with today I’d like
future so to begin with today I’d like to tell you a story some of you might be
to tell you a story some of you might be
to tell you a story some of you might be familiar with this story but what’s most
familiar with this story but what’s most
familiar with this story but what’s most significant about the story is that it
significant about the story is that it
significant about the story is that it is very relatable it alludes to the many
is very relatable it alludes to the many
is very relatable it alludes to the many beauties and inconveniences that not
beauties and inconveniences that not
beauties and inconveniences that not only are similar to the ones that we
only are similar to the ones that we
only are similar to the ones that we experience in our lives so one day I
experience in our lives so one day I
experience in our lives so one day I came across this BBC news article and it
came across this BBC news article and it
came across this BBC news article and it read I do film released in Germany
read I do film released in Germany
read I do film released in Germany highlights one of the greatest what ifs
highlights one of the greatest what ifs
highlights one of the greatest what ifs of history it’s the story of George
of history it’s the story of George
of history it’s the story of George Esler a 36 year old carpenter from a
Esler a 36 year old carpenter from a
Esler a 36 year old carpenter from a small town in southern Germany what this
small town in southern Germany what this
small town in southern Germany what this man did was extremely remarkable and it
man did was extremely remarkable and it
man did was extremely remarkable and it easily could have been one of the most
easily could have been one of the most
easily could have been one of the most influential actions that would have
influential actions that would have
influential actions that would have saved millions of souls from demise
saved millions of souls from demise
saved millions of souls from demise today was never a 1939 Hitler was making
today was never a 1939 Hitler was making
today was never a 1939 Hitler was making his annual speech at the Munich Beer
his annual speech at the Munich Beer
his annual speech at the Munich Beer Hall and unsurprisingly Hitler had no
Hall and unsurprisingly Hitler had no
Hall and unsurprisingly Hitler had no idea
idea
idea of a carefully muffled bomb put in under
of a carefully muffled bomb put in under
of a carefully muffled bomb put in under his podium and this this bomb had been
his podium and this this bomb had been
his podium and this this bomb had been placed
placed
placed but Esler himself after working on a
but Esler himself after working on a
but Esler himself after working on a plan he decided to do for the entire
plan he decided to do for the entire
plan he decided to do for the entire year so every year this speech was given
year so every year this speech was given
year so every year this speech was given at the same time same place but on this
at the same time same place but on this
at the same time same place but on this one such occasion eager to return to
one such occasion eager to return to
one such occasion eager to return to Berlin and his military planners the
Berlin and his military planners the
Berlin and his military planners the Fuhrer left early thirteen minutes later
Fuhrer left early thirteen minutes later
Fuhrer left early thirteen minutes later the bomb went off it was catastrophic it
the bomb went off it was catastrophic it
the bomb went off it was catastrophic it causing a deaths massive damage the
causing a deaths massive damage the
causing a deaths massive damage the ceiling just where Hitler had been
ceiling just where Hitler had been
ceiling just where Hitler had been standing collapsed 13 minutes
it was those 13 minutes that led to the
it was those 13 minutes that led to the new film about Esler by oliver
new film about Esler by oliver
new film about Esler by oliver hirschbiegel and it was also those 13
hirschbiegel and it was also those 13
hirschbiegel and it was also those 13 minutes that allowed this ruthless
minutes that allowed this ruthless
minutes that allowed this ruthless totalitarian dictator to lead germany
totalitarian dictator to lead germany
totalitarian dictator to lead germany into five more years of war and genocide
into five more years of war and genocide
into five more years of war and genocide against Europe’s Jews Jews what’s so
against Europe’s Jews Jews what’s so
against Europe’s Jews Jews what’s so interesting about this is that
interesting about this is that
interesting about this is that historians have constantly postulated
historians have constantly postulated
historians have constantly postulated what would have occurred if Hitler had a
what would have occurred if Hitler had a
what would have occurred if Hitler had a fact died on this day if he was just not
fact died on this day if he was just not
fact died on this day if he was just not in a rush to leave or if Esther had just
in a rush to leave or if Esther had just
in a rush to leave or if Esther had just primed the bomb to go out for a bit
primed the bomb to go out for a bit
primed the bomb to go out for a bit earlier
earlier
earlier just fifteen minutes and imagine if
just fifteen minutes and imagine if
just fifteen minutes and imagine if Hitler had actually just stayed here as
Hitler had actually just stayed here as
Hitler had actually just stayed here as he had done so all the years prior so
he had done so all the years prior so
he had done so all the years prior so when I first heard about the story I was
when I first heard about the story I was
when I first heard about the story I was in shock it was unbelievable a moment
in shock it was unbelievable a moment
in shock it was unbelievable a moment that could have just made history gone
that could have just made history gone
that could have just made history gone with the wind
with the wind
with the wind you know there is a profound similarity
you know there is a profound similarity
you know there is a profound similarity between us regular and normal people and
between us regular and normal people and
between us regular and normal people and historians
historians
historians we analyzed the past regarding a slur
we analyzed the past regarding a slur
we analyzed the past regarding a slur they strike questions such as would it
they strike questions such as would it
they strike questions such as would it have been a world war 2 where the
have been a world war 2 where the
have been a world war 2 where the Holocaust have happened what 11 million
Holocaust have happened what 11 million
Holocaust have happened what 11 million people have died what horrible
people have died what horrible
people have died what horrible atrocities have been committed and you
atrocities have been committed and you
atrocities have been committed and you know in our cases this might be what
know in our cases this might be what
know in our cases this might be what would happen if you know I had just
would happen if you know I had just
would happen if you know I had just studied a bit more for that math test or
studied a bit more for that math test or
studied a bit more for that math test or perhaps for you teenagers out there what
perhaps for you teenagers out there what
perhaps for you teenagers out there what would have happened if I’d deleted my
would have happened if I’d deleted my
would have happened if I’d deleted my internet history on time before my mom
internet history on time before my mom
internet history on time before my mom check on a more serious note what what
check on a more serious note what what
check on a more serious note what what would have happened if I just not said
would have happened if I just not said
would have happened if I just not said this to her to him to my parents my
this to her to him to my parents my
this to her to him to my parents my loved ones in essence were like many
loved ones in essence were like many
loved ones in essence were like many historians now obviously you don’t get
historians now obviously you don’t get
historians now obviously you don’t get the opportunity to assassinate
the opportunity to assassinate
the opportunity to assassinate totalitarian leaders every day but we
totalitarian leaders every day but we
totalitarian leaders every day but we constantly battle with the what-ifs and
constantly battle with the what-ifs and
constantly battle with the what-ifs and if I had only done this then a better
if I had only done this then a better
if I had only done this then a better outcome would have happened and then we
outcome would have happened and then we
outcome would have happened and then we dwell on that how come that better life
dwell on that how come that better life
dwell on that how come that better life that alternate instead of focusing on
that alternate instead of focusing on
that alternate instead of focusing on the now and changing that and making
the now and changing that and making
the now and changing that and making that better you know people constantly
that better you know people constantly
that better you know people constantly experience regrettable events well what
experience regrettable events well what
experience regrettable events well what do we do about them when you could have
do we do about them when you could have
do we do about them when you could have just done a little bit more to achieve
just done a little bit more to achieve
just done a little bit more to achieve something something great something
something something great something
something something great something you’ve always wanted when you could have
you’ve always wanted when you could have
you’ve always wanted when you could have just retracted back those words you told
just retracted back those words you told
just retracted back those words you told your parents what do you do well you see
your parents what do you do well you see
your parents what do you do well you see what does set historians apart from us
what does set historians apart from us
what does set historians apart from us is that unlike them we do not let things
is that unlike them we do not let things
is that unlike them we do not let things ago
ago
ago if the Holocaust does not happen okay
if the Holocaust does not happen okay
if the Holocaust does not happen okay six wheel of a million people wouldn’t
six wheel of a million people wouldn’t
six wheel of a million people wouldn’t have died if Julius Caesar was
have died if Julius Caesar was
have died if Julius Caesar was assassinated
assassinated
assassinated then perhaps Rome would have
then perhaps Rome would have
then perhaps Rome would have transitioned into the empire more
transitioned into the empire more
transitioned into the empire more smoothly or maybe even remain
smoothly or maybe even remain
smoothly or maybe even remain as a republic if the Axis powers had won
as a republic if the Axis powers had won
as a republic if the Axis powers had won the second world war well then he’ll be
the second world war well then he’ll be
the second world war well then he’ll be speaking Japanese she will be wearing a
speaking Japanese she will be wearing a
speaking Japanese she will be wearing a kimono and I’ll be giving this speech in
kimono and I’ll be giving this speech in
kimono and I’ll be giving this speech in German but you see the past in the past
German but you see the past in the past
German but you see the past in the past you can’t change it and everything
you can’t change it and everything
you can’t change it and everything historians know they know this concept
historians know they know this concept
historians know they know this concept best you know I’ve always I’ve always
best you know I’ve always I’ve always
best you know I’ve always I’ve always yearned for the ability to do it all
yearned for the ability to do it all
yearned for the ability to do it all over again or wish everything was back
over again or wish everything was back
over again or wish everything was back the way it used to be and it was better
the way it used to be and it was better
the way it used to be and it was better I read an article on Huffington Post and
I read an article on Huffington Post and
I read an article on Huffington Post and it was titled 52 things I wish I could
it was titled 52 things I wish I could
it was titled 52 things I wish I could tell my younger self and yeah you know
tell my younger self and yeah you know
tell my younger self and yeah you know the title is very quick Beatty but it
the title is very quick Beatty but it
the title is very quick Beatty but it led me to a point where I told myself if
led me to a point where I told myself if
led me to a point where I told myself if I could just do it all over again and I
I could just do it all over again and I
I could just do it all over again and I knew all of this all the cheat codes man
knew all of this all the cheat codes man
knew all of this all the cheat codes man would I be so much happier right now
would I be so much happier right now
would I be so much happier right now what it’d be it’s such a better position
what it’d be it’s such a better position
what it’d be it’s such a better position we almost use our history as an excuse
we almost use our history as an excuse
we almost use our history as an excuse for the present whether it be the global
for the present whether it be the global
for the present whether it be the global present or our own personal present if
present or our own personal present if
present or our own personal present if something is wrong that it’s never fully
something is wrong that it’s never fully
something is wrong that it’s never fully our fault because as humans we often
our fault because as humans we often
our fault because as humans we often seek for scapegoat we blame climate
seek for scapegoat we blame climate
seek for scapegoat we blame climate change on the generations before us and
change on the generations before us and
change on the generations before us and there’s surplus and industrialization we
there’s surplus and industrialization we
there’s surplus and industrialization we blame our own personal problems on on
blame our own personal problems on on
blame our own personal problems on on you being forced to move schools when
you being forced to move schools when
you being forced to move schools when your parents having that one affair on
your parents having that one affair on
your parents having that one affair on your friends backstabbing you but the
your friends backstabbing you but the
your friends backstabbing you but the truth is you didn’t ever be sure of how
truth is you didn’t ever be sure of how
truth is you didn’t ever be sure of how history would have unfolded if it were
history would have unfolded if it were
history would have unfolded if it were written
written
written and similarly you can never be sure of
and similarly you can never be sure of
and similarly you can never be sure of how different events in our lives would
how different events in our lives would
how different events in our lives would have unfolded as well but moreover
have unfolded as well but moreover
have unfolded as well but moreover what’s the point this longing this
what’s the point this longing this
what’s the point this longing this yearning this false hope is detrimental
yearning this false hope is detrimental
yearning this false hope is detrimental to how we approach opportunities that
to how we approach opportunities that
to how we approach opportunities that offer us amendment like a historian we
offer us amendment like a historian we
offer us amendment like a historian we analyze the past but let’s let’s do it
analyze the past but let’s let’s do it
analyze the past but let’s let’s do it in a correct manner we should not just
in a correct manner we should not just
in a correct manner we should not just deem something good or bad we should
deem something good or bad we should
deem something good or bad we should learn from them it’s it’s one thing to
learn from them it’s it’s one thing to
learn from them it’s it’s one thing to cling on to a credible event but it’s
cling on to a credible event but it’s
cling on to a credible event but it’s completely different and beneficial to
completely different and beneficial to
completely different and beneficial to identify those inconveniences in our
identify those inconveniences in our
identify those inconveniences in our lives and with that knowledge approach
lives and with that knowledge approach
lives and with that knowledge approach decisions in the future in a more
decisions in the future in a more
decisions in the future in a more pragmatic manner you know British
pragmatic manner you know British
pragmatic manner you know British philosopher and writer of over 45 books
philosopher and writer of over 45 books
philosopher and writer of over 45 books George Santayana once said those who
George Santayana once said those who
George Santayana once said those who cannot remember the past are condemned
cannot remember the past are condemned
cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it so imagine what if the
to repeat it so imagine what if the
to repeat it so imagine what if the world consisted of these historians what
world consisted of these historians what
world consisted of these historians what if everyone decided to move forward not
if everyone decided to move forward not
if everyone decided to move forward not with regret our negativity but with
with regret our negativity but with
with regret our negativity but with purpose learn from our mistakes so what
purpose learn from our mistakes so what
purpose learn from our mistakes so what if we can change or rewrite history I
if we can change or rewrite history I
if we can change or rewrite history I would like to propose a different
would like to propose a different
would like to propose a different question and not one of pertaining to
question and not one of pertaining to
question and not one of pertaining to what if we could change the past
what if we could change the past
what if we could change the past but what if we can change the future
what if we took hold of the
what if we took hold of the opportunities that we have now and we’re
opportunities that we have now and we’re
opportunities that we have now and we’re proactive what if we didn’t dwell on the
proactive what if we didn’t dwell on the
proactive what if we didn’t dwell on the mistake
mistake
mistake her past and consistently scoured for a
her past and consistently scoured for a
her past and consistently scoured for a scapegoat what if we all work together
scapegoat what if we all work together
scapegoat what if we all work together putting aside our differences to work
putting aside our differences to work
putting aside our differences to work towards a common goal what if we learned
towards a common goal what if we learned
towards a common goal what if we learned from our mistakes prior and worked out
from our mistakes prior and worked out
from our mistakes prior and worked out towards a better life a better world now
towards a better life a better world now
towards a better life a better world now that would be a world that is beautiful
that would be a world that is beautiful
that would be a world that is beautiful a world where people would abandon
a world where people would abandon
a world where people would abandon dogmatism a world where listening and
dogmatism a world where listening and
dogmatism a world where listening and understanding would be the norm a world
understanding would be the norm a world
understanding would be the norm a world where violence would be trivially solved
where violence would be trivially solved
where violence would be trivially solved by conscious decision and ladies and
by conscious decision and ladies and
by conscious decision and ladies and gentlemen until that time comes remember
gentlemen until that time comes remember
gentlemen until that time comes remember that just as historians have dedicated
that just as historians have dedicated
that just as historians have dedicated their lives to filling up textbooks
their lives to filling up textbooks
their lives to filling up textbooks regarding the past we must remain
regarding the past we must remain
regarding the past we must remain proactive just as they have because day
proactive just as they have because day
proactive just as they have because day by day if we indulge and retain all the
by day if we indulge and retain all the
by day if we indulge and retain all the good while relinquish shame all the bad
good while relinquish shame all the bad
good while relinquish shame all the bad and the ugly we will continuously make
and the ugly we will continuously make
and the ugly we will continuously make better decisions and ultimately evolve
better decisions and ultimately evolve
better decisions and ultimately evolve for the better of humanity just as our
for the better of humanity just as our
for the better of humanity just as our heroic little Esther did and I believe
heroic little Esther did and I believe
heroic little Esther did and I believe that is an idea worth spreading
that is an idea worth spreading
that is an idea worth spreading thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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