[Applause] Who am I this probably sounds like the
Who am I this probably sounds like the
Who am I this probably sounds like the kind of question that you might ask
kind of question that you might ask
kind of question that you might ask while lying on your psychiatrist’s couch
while lying on your psychiatrist’s couch
while lying on your psychiatrist’s couch actually though it’s a timeless question
actually though it’s a timeless question
actually though it’s a timeless question when I ask Who am I I’m really asking
when I ask Who am I I’m really asking
when I ask Who am I I’m really asking what is my circle and the very next
what is my circle and the very next
what is my circle and the very next question that follows from this is are
question that follows from this is are
question that follows from this is are you inside my circle or outside it now
you inside my circle or outside it now
you inside my circle or outside it now your answer says a lot about whether you
your answer says a lot about whether you
your answer says a lot about whether you may have a lot of enemies or whether
may have a lot of enemies or whether
may have a lot of enemies or whether you’re likely to live peaceably with
you’re likely to live peaceably with
you’re likely to live peaceably with friends putting the question another way
friends putting the question another way
friends putting the question another way who is us and who is them now I happen
who is us and who is them now I happen
who is us and who is them now I happen to come from a wasp background in the
to come from a wasp background in the
to come from a wasp background in the United States so as I grew up I was
United States so as I grew up I was
United States so as I grew up I was perhaps initially a little less attune
perhaps initially a little less attune
perhaps initially a little less attune to perhaps questions of minority
to perhaps questions of minority
to perhaps questions of minority people’s cultures and languages but when
people’s cultures and languages but when
people’s cultures and languages but when I became a teenager I became fascinated
I became a teenager I became fascinated
I became a teenager I became fascinated with other cultures I wanted to travel
with other cultures I wanted to travel
with other cultures I wanted to travel live overseas learn languages and my job
live overseas learn languages and my job
live overseas learn languages and my job later on I was an intelligence officer
later on I was an intelligence officer
later on I was an intelligence officer took me and my family to live overseas
took me and my family to live overseas
took me and my family to live overseas in many different places over a
in many different places over a
in many different places over a considerable period of time and then
considerable period of time and then
considerable period of time and then multiculturalism entered our own family
multiculturalism entered our own family
multiculturalism entered our own family apart from our two biological daughters
apart from our two biological daughters
apart from our two biological daughters my wife and I adopted a one-year-old
my wife and I adopted a one-year-old
my wife and I adopted a one-year-old Korean orphan now we watched as he dealt
Korean orphan now we watched as he dealt
Korean orphan now we watched as he dealt with this question of identity and
with this question of identity and
with this question of identity and belonging over the years
belonging over the years
belonging over the years living with us all the while in very
living with us all the while in very
living with us all the while in very different places all around the world
different places all around the world
different places all around the world Luke sadly died of a drug overdose at
Luke sadly died of a drug overdose at
Luke sadly died of a drug overdose at age 21 these things
age 21 these things
age 21 these things sadly happened to many people I ended up
sadly happened to many people I ended up
sadly happened to many people I ended up writing a memoir about this but our time
writing a memoir about this but our time
writing a memoir about this but our time with him
with him
with him made us even more personally sensitive
made us even more personally sensitive
made us even more personally sensitive to questions of identity in daily life
to questions of identity in daily life
to questions of identity in daily life where we belong
where we belong
where we belong although I certainly wouldn’t want to
although I certainly wouldn’t want to
although I certainly wouldn’t want to suggest that identity issues have to
suggest that identity issues have to
suggest that identity issues have to lead to despair or to drugs but the
lead to despair or to drugs but the
lead to despair or to drugs but the question is still there for most of us
question is still there for most of us
question is still there for most of us we all have friends family who might be
we all have friends family who might be
we all have friends family who might be from minority backgrounds or different
from minority backgrounds or different
from minority backgrounds or different than we are but let’s go back to the
than we are but let’s go back to the
than we are but let’s go back to the beginning did cavemen cavemen sit around
beginning did cavemen cavemen sit around
beginning did cavemen cavemen sit around their fireplace and worry about this
their fireplace and worry about this
their fireplace and worry about this question of identity well yes in the
question of identity well yes in the
question of identity well yes in the sense they did they didn’t talk to
sense they did they didn’t talk to
sense they did they didn’t talk to psychiatrists about it
psychiatrists about it
psychiatrists about it no but they certainly knew who belonged
no but they certainly knew who belonged
no but they certainly knew who belonged and who didn’t was the next cave for
and who didn’t was the next cave for
and who didn’t was the next cave for example friendly and did it belong or
example friendly and did it belong or
example friendly and did it belong or what about the next five or ten caves
what about the next five or ten caves
what about the next five or ten caves away how far did you have to go to find
away how far did you have to go to find
away how far did you have to go to find unfriendly caves and why were they
unfriendly caves and why were they
unfriendly caves and why were they unfriendly yeah back then we might have
unfriendly yeah back then we might have
unfriendly yeah back then we might have fought over who got what portion of a
fought over who got what portion of a
fought over who got what portion of a mastodon that we had just haunted but
mastodon that we had just haunted but
mastodon that we had just haunted but even then there were those who were we
even then there were those who were we
even then there were those who were we were willing to work with peaceably and
were willing to work with peaceably and
were willing to work with peaceably and others we viewed flat-out as enemies who
others we viewed flat-out as enemies who
others we viewed flat-out as enemies who we couldn’t get along with so the
we couldn’t get along with so the
we couldn’t get along with so the question of who do we belong to
question of who do we belong to
question of who do we belong to becomes very fundamental you know it’s
becomes very fundamental you know it’s
becomes very fundamental you know it’s interesting that among many Aboriginal
interesting that among many Aboriginal
interesting that among many Aboriginal peoples with very ancient cultures like
peoples with very ancient cultures like
peoples with very ancient cultures like Navajo in the American Southwest or
Navajo in the American Southwest or
Navajo in the American Southwest or Kwakiutl in in North Western Canada and
Kwakiutl in in North Western Canada and
Kwakiutl in in North Western Canada and for these people the word for their own
for these people the word for their own
for these people the word for their own peoples is simply the people now if you
peoples is simply the people now if you
peoples is simply the people now if you weren’t one of the people you were
weren’t one of the people you were
weren’t one of the people you were obviously something else and possibly
obviously something else and possibly
obviously something else and possibly something even threatening that makes
something even threatening that makes
something even threatening that makes again who am i a very important question
again who am i a very important question
again who am i a very important question so who do we include then and who do we
so who do we include then and who do we
so who do we include then and who do we exclude from our group I’m not just
exclude from our group I’m not just
exclude from our group I’m not just talking
talking
talking about our own communities this is
about our own communities this is
about our own communities this is actually a global issue and so let me
actually a global issue and so let me
actually a global issue and so let me get a little more specific for clarity’s
get a little more specific for clarity’s
get a little more specific for clarity’s sake let’s take the case of Iraq by now
sake let’s take the case of Iraq by now
sake let’s take the case of Iraq by now sadly familiar to all of us to watching
sadly familiar to all of us to watching
sadly familiar to all of us to watching events over the years on this on the TV
events over the years on this on the TV
events over the years on this on the TV screen
screen
screen the country is suffered terribly in the
the country is suffered terribly in the
the country is suffered terribly in the last two decades and is still undergoing
last two decades and is still undergoing
last two decades and is still undergoing serious identity crises and struggles
serious identity crises and struggles
serious identity crises and struggles but you know when we use the word
but you know when we use the word
but you know when we use the word identity this isn’t just one thing it’s
identity this isn’t just one thing it’s
identity this isn’t just one thing it’s a it’s a complicated thing in reality we
a it’s a complicated thing in reality we
a it’s a complicated thing in reality we all have multiple identities gender for
all have multiple identities gender for
all have multiple identities gender for example is one of the most basic ones in
example is one of the most basic ones in
example is one of the most basic ones in our everyday lives and then there’s
our everyday lives and then there’s
our everyday lives and then there’s ethnic difference what ethnic group do
ethnic difference what ethnic group do
ethnic difference what ethnic group do we belong to many of us are increasingly
we belong to many of us are increasingly
we belong to many of us are increasingly ethnically mixed and then there’s
ethnically mixed and then there’s
ethnically mixed and then there’s linguistic you might belong to one
linguistic you might belong to one
linguistic you might belong to one language or ethnic group but end up
language or ethnic group but end up
language or ethnic group but end up speaking another language and then
speaking another language and then
speaking another language and then there’s regional what region do you come
there’s regional what region do you come
there’s regional what region do you come from and how much do people from that
from and how much do people from that
from and how much do people from that region have a strong sense of belonging
region have a strong sense of belonging
region have a strong sense of belonging against others on the outside think
against others on the outside think
against others on the outside think Texas think of northern versus southern
Texas think of northern versus southern
Texas think of northern versus southern China or even northern versus southern
China or even northern versus southern
China or even northern versus southern Italy and then there’s religion in the
Italy and then there’s religion in the
Italy and then there’s religion in the Middle East for several thousands of
Middle East for several thousands of
Middle East for several thousands of years people organize their communities
years people organize their communities
years people organize their communities on religious basis rather than on ethnic
on religious basis rather than on ethnic
on religious basis rather than on ethnic or linguistic basis now in principle one
or linguistic basis now in principle one
or linguistic basis now in principle one system can work just as well as the
system can work just as well as the
system can work just as well as the other it’s all about how tolerant you
other it’s all about how tolerant you
other it’s all about how tolerant you are within that particular system and
are within that particular system and
are within that particular system and then there’s political identity in
then there’s political identity in
then there’s political identity in America are you a Democrat or a
America are you a Democrat or a
America are you a Democrat or a Republican where these days red or blue
Republican where these days red or blue
Republican where these days red or blue in the UK are you a Tory or a socialist
in the UK are you a Tory or a socialist
in the UK are you a Tory or a socialist or something else do you identify
or something else do you identify
or something else do you identify personally as a liberal or conservative
personally as a liberal or conservative
personally as a liberal or conservative globally and then we even have
globally and then we even have
globally and then we even have professional identity
professional identity
professional identity at our class are you from more from a
at our class are you from more from a
at our class are you from more from a blue-collar class to use a old-fashioned
blue-collar class to use a old-fashioned
blue-collar class to use a old-fashioned term or are you white-collar are you two
term or are you white-collar are you two
term or are you white-collar are you two University educated for Karl Marx class
University educated for Karl Marx class
University educated for Karl Marx class was the ultimate mean meaningful
was the ultimate mean meaningful
was the ultimate mean meaningful identity issue and even music and
identity issue and even music and
identity issue and even music and culture what cultural tribe do you
culture what cultural tribe do you
culture what cultural tribe do you belong to if you’re my age did you get
belong to if you’re my age did you get
belong to if you’re my age did you get off on Grateful Dead or today
off on Grateful Dead or today
off on Grateful Dead or today do you go to Radiohead concerts and what
do you go to Radiohead concerts and what
do you go to Radiohead concerts and what sports tribe do you belong to
sports tribe do you belong to
sports tribe do you belong to in some countries that question can lead
in some countries that question can lead
in some countries that question can lead to street riots now some of these
to street riots now some of these
to street riots now some of these identity elements we can easily change
identity elements we can easily change
identity elements we can easily change we can change what team we root for we
we can change what team we root for we
we can change what team we root for we can change our musical tastes we can
can change our musical tastes we can
can change our musical tastes we can seek higher education we can change our
seek higher education we can change our
seek higher education we can change our profession we can move from one part of
profession we can move from one part of
profession we can move from one part of the country to another even emigrate to
the country to another even emigrate to
the country to another even emigrate to another country but it’s harder to
another country but it’s harder to
another country but it’s harder to change our ethnicity and skin colour and
change our ethnicity and skin colour and
change our ethnicity and skin colour and facial appearance are with us forever
facial appearance are with us forever
facial appearance are with us forever and then comes the harshest aspect of
and then comes the harshest aspect of
and then comes the harshest aspect of this identity question of all because
this identity question of all because
this identity question of all because our identity it isn’t just what we think
our identity it isn’t just what we think
our identity it isn’t just what we think we are we can decide who we are we can
we are we can decide who we are we can
we are we can decide who we are we can cling to that identity but unfortunately
cling to that identity but unfortunately
cling to that identity but unfortunately it’s a two-way street I I may think I
it’s a two-way street I I may think I
it’s a two-way street I I may think I know who I am but you may think I’m a
know who I am but you may think I’m a
know who I am but you may think I’m a different person you may see me in a
different person you may see me in a
different person you may see me in a different light and that those two views
different light and that those two views
different light and that those two views may not agree for example sadly some
may not agree for example sadly some
may not agree for example sadly some Americans argue now about who is a real
Americans argue now about who is a real
Americans argue now about who is a real American and that causes real trouble
American and that causes real trouble
American and that causes real trouble and sometimes questions like this can
and sometimes questions like this can
and sometimes questions like this can cause even life or death consequences
cause even life or death consequences
cause even life or death consequences for example a terrible genocide took
for example a terrible genocide took
for example a terrible genocide took place in Rwanda in 1994 between Hutu and
place in Rwanda in 1994 between Hutu and
place in Rwanda in 1994 between Hutu and Tutsi people yes the differences between
Tutsi people yes the differences between
Tutsi people yes the differences between the two – and the who Tutsi were in F
the two – and the who Tutsi were in F
the two – and the who Tutsi were in F or linguistic or even religious terms
or linguistic or even religious terms
or linguistic or even religious terms were really rather slight so who was us
were really rather slight so who was us
were really rather slight so who was us and who was them at that time and 1
and who was them at that time and 1
and who was them at that time and 1 million people ended up being
million people ended up being
million people ended up being slaughtered as a result or take a rock I
slaughtered as a result or take a rock I
slaughtered as a result or take a rock I may say I’m Iraqi but another Iraqi may
may say I’m Iraqi but another Iraqi may
may say I’m Iraqi but another Iraqi may say no your occurred even if I’m an
say no your occurred even if I’m an
say no your occurred even if I’m an Iraqi citizen yet another Iraqi may
Iraqi citizen yet another Iraqi may
Iraqi citizen yet another Iraqi may focus on whether I’m Shiite or Sunni for
focus on whether I’m Shiite or Sunni for
focus on whether I’m Shiite or Sunni for them that is the most important
them that is the most important
them that is the most important designation not what my passport says or
designation not what my passport says or
designation not what my passport says or take the tragic case of Nazi Germany
take the tragic case of Nazi Germany
take the tragic case of Nazi Germany look how quickly here situations can
look how quickly here situations can
look how quickly here situations can change in 1922 if we had asked the
change in 1922 if we had asked the
change in 1922 if we had asked the German Jew on the street who are you
German Jew on the street who are you
German Jew on the street who are you and remember in 1992 we’re talking about
and remember in 1992 we’re talking about
and remember in 1992 we’re talking about the German Weimar Republic democratic
the German Weimar Republic democratic
the German Weimar Republic democratic liberal if we were to ask that you on
liberal if we were to ask that you on
liberal if we were to ask that you on the street in 1922 who are you he or she
the street in 1922 who are you he or she
the street in 1922 who are you he or she might have answered well I’m a German I
might have answered well I’m a German I
might have answered well I’m a German I am A Berliner I teach it to fry
am A Berliner I teach it to fry
am A Berliner I teach it to fry University Tate I’m a Jew I’m a
University Tate I’m a Jew I’m a
University Tate I’m a Jew I’m a professor of psychology I grew up in
professor of psychology I grew up in
professor of psychology I grew up in Heidelberg I’m a socialist
Heidelberg I’m a socialist
Heidelberg I’m a socialist I’m a serious tennis player and I play
I’m a serious tennis player and I play
I’m a serious tennis player and I play oboe and our local symphony now let’s
oboe and our local symphony now let’s
oboe and our local symphony now let’s take that same person fifteen years
take that same person fifteen years
take that same person fifteen years later when Hitler’s Nazi Party had come
later when Hitler’s Nazi Party had come
later when Hitler’s Nazi Party had come to full power if you ask that person
to full power if you ask that person
to full power if you ask that person then who are you there was only one
then who are you there was only one
then who are you there was only one answer that meant anything to the
answer that meant anything to the
answer that meant anything to the authorities the Jewish identity was all
authorities the Jewish identity was all
authorities the Jewish identity was all that mattered and that usually had fatal
that mattered and that usually had fatal
that mattered and that usually had fatal consequences same country same people
consequences same country same people
consequences same country same people different circumstances I wrote a book
different circumstances I wrote a book
different circumstances I wrote a book some years back on Arab Shiites along
some years back on Arab Shiites along
some years back on Arab Shiites along with an Iraqi American woman whose
with an Iraqi American woman whose
with an Iraqi American woman whose father happened to be Shiite and her
father happened to be Shiite and her
father happened to be Shiite and her mother was some me this was commonplace
mother was some me this was commonplace
mother was some me this was commonplace in the Iraq and the nineteen
in the Iraq and the nineteen
in the Iraq and the nineteen fifties but after the chaos following
fifties but after the chaos following
fifties but after the chaos following the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 the
the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 the
the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 the place fell apart a mixed marriage like
place fell apart a mixed marriage like
place fell apart a mixed marriage like that then really became unthinkable
that then really became unthinkable
that then really became unthinkable indeed mixed neighborhoods became
indeed mixed neighborhoods became
indeed mixed neighborhoods became unthinkable so your sectarian identity
unthinkable so your sectarian identity
unthinkable so your sectarian identity often for you came to mean life or death
often for you came to mean life or death
often for you came to mean life or death and others impose that on you for many
and others impose that on you for many
and others impose that on you for many black people the question of color may
black people the question of color may
black people the question of color may be at the top of their identity concerns
be at the top of their identity concerns
be at the top of their identity concerns but it’s not because they want it to be
but it’s not because they want it to be
but it’s not because they want it to be among themselves that isn’t the key
among themselves that isn’t the key
among themselves that isn’t the key criterion but for some other people
criterion but for some other people
criterion but for some other people color is a key issue and this isn’t only
color is a key issue and this isn’t only
color is a key issue and this isn’t only about prejudice we’re also talking about
about prejudice we’re also talking about
about prejudice we’re also talking about power so there it is we can’t always
power so there it is we can’t always
power so there it is we can’t always control what we claim our identity is if
control what we claim our identity is if
control what we claim our identity is if others don’t see it that way but what’s
others don’t see it that way but what’s
others don’t see it that way but what’s striking are all in all of this is how
striking are all in all of this is how
striking are all in all of this is how fast these identity issues can get right
fast these identity issues can get right
fast these identity issues can get right down to the ugly gut level and times of
down to the ugly gut level and times of
down to the ugly gut level and times of crisis are what throws this all right
crisis are what throws this all right
crisis are what throws this all right out on the table out on the floor in
out on the table out on the floor in
out on the table out on the floor in front of us when things go bad political
front of us when things go bad political
front of us when things go bad political or social on evil upheaval revolution
or social on evil upheaval revolution
or social on evil upheaval revolution war riots anything that destroys the
war riots anything that destroys the
war riots anything that destroys the formerly established order then identity
formerly established order then identity
formerly established order then identity becomes deeply fundamental when things
becomes deeply fundamental when things
becomes deeply fundamental when things go bad like this you find who what your
go bad like this you find who what your
go bad like this you find who what your gut identity is have you ever wondered
gut identity is have you ever wondered
gut identity is have you ever wondered why we hear so much about tribalism or
why we hear so much about tribalism or
why we hear so much about tribalism or clans or sectarian groups right down in
clans or sectarian groups right down in
clans or sectarian groups right down in Iraq it’s because the government and the
Iraq it’s because the government and the
Iraq it’s because the government and the infrastructure and the social order were
infrastructure and the social order were
infrastructure and the social order were destroyed society then turns into a
destroyed society then turns into a
destroyed society then turns into a jungle of survival and at that point
jungle of survival and at that point
jungle of survival and at that point your identity becomes totally focused on
your identity becomes totally focused on
your identity becomes totally focused on your own personal security and the
your own personal security and the
your own personal security and the security of your family why wouldn’t it
security of your family why wouldn’t it
security of your family why wouldn’t it weird where’d you go and tie
weird where’d you go and tie
weird where’d you go and tie of deep trouble like this whoo-hoo we’ll
of deep trouble like this whoo-hoo we’ll
of deep trouble like this whoo-hoo we’ll take you in who will acknowledge you as
take you in who will acknowledge you as
take you in who will acknowledge you as one of their own who will protect you
one of their own who will protect you
one of their own who will protect you feed you give you a gun fight for your
feed you give you a gun fight for your
feed you give you a gun fight for your cause it can get pretty raw and
cause it can get pretty raw and
cause it can get pretty raw and fundamental and at that point you
”
Be First to Comment