[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.38,0:00:13.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hi, my name is Maryam Elassar.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.87,0:00:16.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is my fourth year \Nin Amana Academy School,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.74,0:00:19.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is my first time \Ngiving a Ted Talk.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.72,0:00:24.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll be talking about my idea how to unify\Nthe people of this world together,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.98,0:00:29.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we can all live peacefully \Nand stop fighting over our differences,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.20,0:00:32.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and focus more on our similarities.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.00,0:00:36.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It all started one day\Nwhen I went to the park after school.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.81,0:00:39.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I didn't have anyone to play with.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.57,0:00:41.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then this girl came.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.61,0:00:43.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She was so quiet and shy.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.68,0:00:45.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My mom saw her and said,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.62,0:00:47.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Why won't you go and talk to that girl?\N
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.80,0:00:49.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then you can play together."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.47,0:00:51.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought it was a good idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.67,0:00:55.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once I went to the girl, asking her\Nif she would like to play with me,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.88,0:00:58.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she looked at me with her eyes wide open.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.12,0:01:03.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Suddenly, she seemed confused\Nand stared at me like I was an alien.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.78,0:01:05.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I stared at her back.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.71,0:01:11.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then she said with a foreign accent,\N"Why are you dressed that way?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.19,0:01:13.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You look weird."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.07,0:01:17.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I felt sad because she was judging me\Nbased on what I was wearing
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.16,0:01:21.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I said to her, "And why\Nare you talking in a weird way?"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.12,0:01:23.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To pay her back for what she said.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.89,0:01:27.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The girl now seemed \Nembarrassed by what I said
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.48,0:01:29.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I didn't want her to be sad.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.01,0:01:33.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe I wasn't supposed \Nto pay her back that way,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.59,0:01:34.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I got an idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.64,0:01:36.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I told the girl,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.74,0:01:41.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I will tell you why I dress this way\Nand tell you a little about myself,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.33,0:01:44.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in return, you will tell me \Nwhy you talk differently
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.93,0:01:47.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and tell me a little about yourself too.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.86,0:01:50.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe after we understand each other
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.24,0:01:53.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can become friends instead of enemies.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.19,0:01:56.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then we can play together and have fun."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.09,0:02:01.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I started explaining that wearing\Na head cover and long skirts
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.64,0:02:04.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is just good for my religion for girls,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.58,0:02:06.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'm a Muslim child.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.86,0:02:08.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The girl still looked puzzled.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.65,0:02:11.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then she said, "What's a Muslim child?"
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.55,0:02:13.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right away I had a splendid idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.93,0:02:16.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I remembered the poem I always recited
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.70,0:02:19.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I felt the need \Nto explain myself to others.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.13,0:02:25.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I read it in my favourite book\Ncalled "Muslim Child" when I was five,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.08,0:02:29.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and decided to use it in situations\Nlike this, so it could become handy.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.89,0:02:33.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I stood in front of the girl and told her,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.53,0:02:39.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Listen to this, and hopefully, \Nyou'll accept me as a friend afterwards."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.53,0:02:44.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Please, for all of you who want\Nto know what a Muslim child is.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.80,0:02:47.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Allow me to share this with you as well:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.52,0:02:56.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Muslim child, child of peace,\Nchild of war from a far off distant shore;
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.71,0:02:58.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what do your black eyes see?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.40,0:03:07.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My eyes are not only black,\Nsometimes they are blue as the sky,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.70,0:03:12.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or green as a tropical sea,\Nor brown as a trunk of a palm tree,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.03,0:03:14.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and every shade in-between.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.95,0:03:19.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My skin can be black as molasses,\Nor as pink as the blush on a rose,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.76,0:03:24.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as golden as freshly made honey,\Nor dark copper brown as a penny,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.26,0:03:26.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and every shade in-between.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.39,0:03:31.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am the richest of rich\Nand the poorest of poor.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.28,0:03:35.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As famous as famous can be,\Na general's child, pampered and bored,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.100,0:03:38.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a soldier's child, orphaned by war.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.83,0:03:41.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And every rank in between.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.42,0:03:46.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I come from many countries,\Nspeaking many languages,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.49,0:03:48.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in one set of beliefs;
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.63,0:03:53.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I believe in Noah, Jesus, Abraham,\NMuhammad, and Moses.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.56,0:03:55.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in God who sent them.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.39,0:03:57.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in every messenger in between.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.84,0:04:01.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So then, Muslim child, child of peace;
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.30,0:04:03.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what do your bright eyes see?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.81,0:04:09.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I see that we're each a piece\Nin the puzzle of humanity.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.27,0:04:13.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll try to understand you,\Nif you try to understand me."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.88,0:04:18.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now back to my story,\Nguess what the girl did?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.91,0:04:23.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She gave me the biggest smile ever,\Nclapped for me, and told me,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.07,0:04:24.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I would love to be your friend."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.00,0:04:26.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Isn't that amazing?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.84,0:04:31.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How just a sincere couple\Nof words, full of knowledge,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.45,0:04:33.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can change the whole situation?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.67,0:04:38.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I told the girl, "Now it's your turn\Nto tell me about yourself.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.03,0:04:41.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have to understand you\Nlike you understand me now."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.88,0:04:44.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The girl started to tell her story.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.85,0:04:48.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am from Mexico; we came here\Nfor a better chance of life.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.84,0:04:50.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My dad is a farmer.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.79,0:04:56.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He tries to support my family by moving \Nfrom place to place, finding new jobs.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.02,0:04:59.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We moved to this area last month.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.24,0:05:02.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm still trying to adjust\Nto my new school.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.21,0:05:06.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's just so hard for me to improve\Nmy foreign accent that fast.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.85,0:05:09.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I understand better than I speak.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.60,0:05:13.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I don't have a lot of friends\Nto practice speaking with.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.08,0:05:16.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Maybe if we become friends\Nyou can help me", she said.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.97,0:05:23.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I felt sad and asked her\Nto forgive me for my ignorance
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.22,0:05:25.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I made a comment\Nabout the way she speaks.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.91,0:05:28.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And told the girl,\N"I would love to be your friend.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.75,0:05:30.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now let's go play."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.34,0:05:34.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had so much fun playing with her\Nand I gained a new friend.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.58,0:05:43.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Please, now, for everyone listening to me,\NI hope you got the idea:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.90,0:05:47.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we all have to start fighting\Nignorance with knowledge.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.25,0:05:51.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Stop picking on each other,\Novercome our differences.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.25,0:05:56.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If each one of us start to pass\Na good book, or a nice quote,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.53,0:06:00.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,give a beautiful speech,\Nor write an inspiring story,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.27,0:06:04.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hopefully, my generation can live\Nin a more peaceful world.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.18,0:06:09.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We all come from different\Ncultures and backgrounds.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.14,0:06:14.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The way I dress shouldn't change\Nhow people view me in the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.72,0:06:20.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, we should all be judged \Nby our actions and characters.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.04,0:06:22.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you for listening.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.13,0:06:23.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)