Heroes we carry with us: Brian Palmer at TEDxUppsalaUniversity
Summary
TLDRThe speaker shares their deep anxiety and fascination with individuals who display extraordinary courage in the face of danger. They highlight the inspiring stories of Malala Yousafzai, Sophie Scholl, Witold Pilecki, and others who risked their lives for justice and humanity. Through these examples, the speaker reflects on the power of civic courage and the capacity of human beings to shine amidst brutality and indifference, offering a hopeful perspective on our shared potential for greatness.
Takeaways
- 😟 The speaker experiences constant anxiety, worrying about small and large issues alike.
- 🌍 The speaker admires individuals who face monumental challenges and take on great risks, like the lone protester at Tiananmen Square.
- 📚 The speaker has been fascinated by courageous individuals since college and has studied their lives as a social anthropologist.
- 👧 Malala Yousafzai is highlighted as a hero who bravely wrote a blog about life under the Taliban at just 11 years old, despite the danger.
- 🎓 The speaker references teaching a popular course on civic courage and engagement at Harvard, emphasizing the impact of courage.
- 📝 Sophie Scholl, a student who resisted Nazi Germany, is recognized as a symbol of courage, even being voted the greatest German of all time by a younger generation.
- 🏃♂️ Courage is contagious, but the speaker warns that some acts of bravery, like those of Witold Pilecki, who voluntarily entered Auschwitz, are extraordinary and rare.
- 🚒 Civic courage often involves going against the flow, like firefighters running into danger during 9/11, or individuals intervening in everyday situations.
- 😲 The speaker shares lighter examples of everyday courage, such as Wesley Autry saving a man on the subway tracks and 'Snack Man' defusing a fight while eating nachos.
- 🌟 The speaker concludes by expressing faith in the enduring capacity for human courage and hope, inspired by the actions of individuals like Malala, Sophie, and Witold.
Q & A
Who is the speaker fascinated by, and why?
-The speaker is fascinated by individuals who voluntarily take on gigantic problems, adding great worries to their lives, such as the lone protester in Tiananmen Square or individuals like Malala Yousafzai and Sophie Scholl. These people inspire the speaker because of their courage and willingness to stand up for the common good despite the personal risks.
What did Malala Yousafzai do that made her a hero in the speaker's eyes?
-Malala Yousafzai, at the age of 11, agreed to write a blog for the BBC during a time when the Taliban were blowing up girls' schools in the SWAT Valley in Pakistan. She wrote about her daily fears and aspirations, later speaking out publicly against the Taliban's actions. Despite being shot by extremists, she survived and became a global symbol for girls' education and bravery.
What does the speaker admire about Sophie Scholl?
-The speaker admires Sophie Scholl for her courage in standing up against Nazi Germany. She and her brother Hans, along with a few friends, distributed pamphlets denouncing the regime, knowing the danger it posed. They were eventually captured by the Gestapo and executed, but Sophie is remembered as one of the greatest Germans of all time for her courage.
How does the speaker describe the impact of altruistic individuals like Malala and Sophie on others?
-The speaker believes that when people risk their lives for the common good, they leave a profound impact on others, inspiring deep respect and admiration. Citing psychologist William James, the speaker notes that such individuals are seen as 'born superior' because they have touched 'the mystery of existence.'
What historical event does the speaker refer to when mentioning the lone protester in Tiananmen Square?
-The speaker refers to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in China, where a lone protester stood in front of tanks, symbolizing defiance against a brutal military force. The speaker wonders about the bravery of this individual and what must have been going through his mind.
What role does the speaker believe courage plays in everyday life?
-The speaker believes that courage can be contagious and transformative, even in everyday situations. Examples like Wesley Autry, who saved a man on New York subway tracks, and 'Snack Man,' who defused a conflict while nonchalantly eating nachos, show that courage can be displayed in ordinary moments and still make a significant impact.
Why does the speaker refer to Civic courage, and how does it relate to the examples mentioned?
-The speaker refers to Civic courage as the ability to stand up for what is right, often going against the flow of society. The examples mentioned, like the lone protester, Malala, Sophie Scholl, and Wesley Autry, all display Civic courage by risking their well-being or life for the greater good, often in situations where others would avoid confrontation or danger.
What was Vitołd Pilecki's act of bravery, according to the speaker?
-Vitołd Pilecki voluntarily entered Auschwitz during World War II to gather intelligence about the atrocities happening there. He smuggled out messages despite severe brutality and managed to escape after 947 days. After the war, he joined the resistance against Soviet domination in Poland but was captured, tortured, and executed.
How does the speaker reflect on their own experience teaching Civic courage?
-The speaker reflects on teaching a course at Harvard about Civic courage and engagement, which attracted over 600 students. The speaker found that courage could inspire students to follow the paths of the guests they interviewed, indicating that courage is almost as contagious as fear.
What overarching message does the speaker leave with regarding humanity's potential for greatness?
-The speaker emphasizes that despite the brutality and indifference in the world, humans still have the potential to shine magnificently through acts of courage and compassion. Examples like Malala, Sophie Scholl, and Vitołd Pilecki give the speaker hope that humans can transcend selfishness and inspire others to work for the common good.
Outlines
😟 Living with Anxiety and Admiring Courage
The speaker reflects on their experience with anxiety, a state where they are constantly worried about everyday things. They express admiration for people who face enormous challenges, such as the lone protester in Tiananmen Square and Malala Yousafzai. These individuals inspire the speaker and influence their understanding of what it means to be human. The speaker introduces Malala's story, highlighting her bravery in standing up to the Taliban in Pakistan despite the dangers.
🎯 The Attack on Malala Yousafzai
The narrative continues with the harrowing account of Malala being shot by Taliban militants for advocating for girls' education. Despite being critically injured, Malala survives after extensive medical treatment in the UK. The global outpouring of support following the attack demonstrates the deep respect for her courage. The speaker reflects on how individuals like Malala, who risk their lives for the greater good, command admiration and embody a profound sense of human altruism.
🛡️ The Courage of Sophie Scholl and Other Heroes
The speaker discusses the courage of Sophie Scholl, a German student who opposed the Nazi regime during World War II. She and her brother Hans were executed for distributing anti-Nazi pamphlets, but their legacy lives on, with Sophie being voted as the greatest German of all time. The speaker shares their experience teaching about civic courage, noting that examples of bravery can be contagious, inspiring others to take action. The story of Witold Pilecki, who volunteered to enter Auschwitz to gather intelligence, is also highlighted as an extraordinary act of courage.
💪 Everyday Acts of Heroism
The final paragraph shifts focus to acts of courage in everyday life, such as Wesley Autry saving a man from an oncoming subway train and a man known as 'Snack Man' who defused a tense situation on a New York City train while casually eating nachos. The speaker emphasizes that such acts of bravery, whether grand or small, remind them of the potential for humanity to shine even in the face of brutality and indifference. The paragraph concludes with a reaffirmation of belief in the 'secret conspiracy of hope' represented by these courageous individuals.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Courage
💡Altruism
💡Oppression
💡Resilience
💡Sacrifice
💡Moral Courage
💡Injustice
💡Empathy
💡Resistance
💡Heroism
Highlights
Love looks forward, hate looks back, and anxiety has eyes all over its head.
The speaker identifies as someone who spends most of their time in a state of anxiety.
Malala Yousafzai, at the age of 11, volunteered to write a blog for the BBC during the Taliban's occupation of the SWAT Valley.
Despite threats, Malala used her real name and publicly spoke out for girls' education.
Malala was shot by the Taliban for her activism but survived and became a global symbol of courage.
The speaker reflects on how people like Malala, who risk their lives for the common good, inspire deep respect and admiration.
Sophie Scholl, a German student, resisted Nazi Germany by distributing anti-Hitler pamphlets.
Sophie Scholl and her brother were captured by the Gestapo and executed for their resistance efforts.
A survey in Germany identified Sophie and Hans Scholl as the greatest Germans of all time, surpassing figures like Bach and Einstein.
Vitol Paletsky voluntarily infiltrated Auschwitz to gather intelligence on the atrocities committed there.
Paletsky survived nearly 1,000 days in Auschwitz, escaped, but was later captured and executed by the Soviets.
The speaker is haunted by the bravery of individuals like Paletsky who willingly faced unimaginable horrors.
Courage is contagious, and the speaker believes it can inspire others to take bold actions.
Wesley Autry saved a man on New York subway tracks by pinning him between the rails as a train passed over them.
In a world full of brutality and indifference, the speaker finds hope in the courageous acts of individuals like Malala, Sophie, and Vitol.
Transcripts
foreign
once said that love looks forward
hate looks back and anxiety has eyes all
over its head
I think you can see that I spend most of
my time in that third state anxiety
I'm someone who worries what will happen
if I forget to floss my teeth tonight
I wake up in hotel rooms checking myself
for bed bug bites
my days are filled with 101 worries
and so I'm fascinated by individuals who
voluntarily take on gigantic problems
who add great worries to their lives
people like the lone protester
standing in front of the tanks in
Tiananmen Square China 1989.
what was that guy thinking
how how could that frail man
take on a brutal Army
already in college I began to assemble
the names of such individuals
of of martyred Heroes I wrote them on
the wall of my dorm room
and and now as a social Anthropologist I
Ponder the power and beauty of such
lives
they have changed the way I think about
what it is to be a human being
I want to introduce you to some of my
heroes
for example Malala yousafzai
how many of you know her
I I don't mean know her personally but
have have read of her some of you
it is the
winter of 2009 in the SWAT Valley in
Pakistan the Taliban extremists are
blowing up girls schools more than a
hundred of them splashing acid in the
faces of girls trying to go to school
in London the BBC editors think that it
would be interesting to have a Blog
written by a schoolgirl in the SWAT
Valley it would be sort of like Anne
Frank's diary
their local fixers ask around but nobody
wants to write such a Blog
even anonymously it could be dangerous
if one was found out
and then eleven-year-old Malala says yes
I'll do it
she Begins by writing of an 11 year
old's concerns such as how the Taliban
cut off the cable network so she can no
longer follow her favorite drama
my dream boy will come to marry me
she also writes of frightening moments I
quote
on my way home from school I heard a man
saying I will kill you
I hastened my pace
to my utter relief he was talking on his
mobile phone and must have been
threatening someone else
gradually the situation in the SWAT
Valley
became calmer
Malala described her feelings
the Taliban had been pushed out of the
valley I quote
I used to dream of becoming famous
to see my Valley freed from the clutches
of the Taliban
to see girls flying like butterflies
free from any restrictions
it is becoming as a reality
so I am happy happy and very happy
She Wrote
at that time she began to speak out
using her real name admitted that it was
she who had written the blog
after an interview on Webb television
she she wrote to the journalist an email
in all capitals I want an access to the
world of knowledge
and she signed it
your small video star
it was on the 9th of October
last year that Malala and her
schoolmates were on the school bus going
home after an exam singing Pashto and
folk songs
two armed militants stopped the school
bus one of them got on and yelled which
one of you is Malala speak up or I'll
shoot you all
he found her he shot her in the head and
neck
after a week in local hospitals Malala
was flown in a coma to a hospital in
Birmingham England
that had a specialty in gunshot wounds
to the brain
months of operations took place and she
survived
when Malala was attacked
there was a wave of love and sympathy
for her through the whole world people
collecting money for her medical care
she was on the cover of Newsweek Malala
the bravest girl in the world twice on
the cover of time
almost a million people
nominated her for the Nobel Peace Prize
as did every political party of Canada
and it's it's striking how when somebody
is willing to risk her life for the
common good it makes such a deep
impression on the rest of us
the psychologist William James pondered
that phenomenon in
1902
and and he wrote that when we meet
someone who has risked her life in this
altruistic way
we consider her to be our born Superior
so great is our respect
and James went on to say that
such people have in some sense touched
the mystery of existence
he doesn't explain what that mystery is
but I think it might be this
to
borrow a thought from Cesar Chavez
to be human is to suffer for others
God help us to be human
I think of another person who awakens
strong feelings
Sophie Scholl
born in the town of um
in Germany the same town where Albert
Einstein was born
she started as a student at the
University of Munich in 1942 her brother
was already there they had a wonderful
Student Life
discussions into the evening dinner
parties
theater
but gradually she and her brother and a
few friends
learned more and more of what their
country Nazi Germany was doing at the
time
Mass executions of Jews and others
and they decided they had to do
something about it
they wrote pamphlets against Hitler's
regime and with a hand-cranked
mimeograph machine made thousands of
copies that they distributed secretly
around Munich
they knew this was dangerous
one day Sophie and her brother were
leaving piles of pamphlets in secret
around the university when a guard saw
them ran after them grabbed them and
took them into the Gestapo
Sophie and her brother Hans
and
their small group of allies were
beheaded
a few years ago there was a survey in
Germany
of Germans between the ages of 18
and 40. asking who was the greatest
German of all time
and the results came back
the greatest German of all time
was Sophie Scholl
and Hans Shoal
ahead of buck
Beethoven and Albert Einstein
I used to teach a course about Civic
courage and engagement at Harvard
the course attracted more than 600
students per term
friends say that my ego has never
recovered from that time
and and they're right
Boston magazine wrote of the course they
they said that it led the students
toward Saint Francis Styles sainthood
the magazine continued
the courses taught by the slim wispy
voiced and vaguely Monkish Brian Palmer
and I thought to myself how did they
find out so much about me
we invited guests to the course who had
shown great courage to to interview them
about their work
and I found that the students often
wanted to follow along with these guests
in their in their Endeavors and it's it
struck me then that courage can be
almost as contagious as fear
but but some examples of Courage
should perhaps carry a warning
don't try this at home
I think of vitol paletsky
he and his wife and their two children
had a farm in the Polish Countryside he
was trained as a musician he also did
volunteer work
and they had an idyllic uh life there
until something happened
September 1939 the Germans invaded
Poland
Vito joined the resistance
after a year there were rumors
circulating
about a prison camp that the Germans had
established in Poland
in a town called Auschwitz
it was said to be a place of
extraordinary brutality but no one knew
the details
and and we told felt that it was
important for
the Polish underground and for everyone
who was standing against the Nazis to to
know what was happening in Auschwitz
so he volunteered to go in
he waited till a day when the Germans
were rounding up Jews and political
opponents in a square in Warsaw and he
ran into the group so that he would also
be taken prisoner and his plan was to
smuggle out messages when he could
already after a few days the first
message arrived he described how a guard
had become irritated with him and hit
him in the face with a metal rod
I spat out my two front teeth he wrote
bleeding began
it didn't get any better for the next
947 days while he was there
eventually he was able to escape making
a run for it getting shot in the
shoulder but surviving and he came home
to his wife and children again
after the war ended
vetold couldn't accept Soviet domination
of Poland joined the resistance once
more
was caught tortured at length and
executed
they told
you haunt me
I can't understand
how someone would voluntarily
go into Auschwitz
go to the places that scare you
said the Buddhist nun pay my children
and Civic courage is often about going
in a different direction than everyone
else the firefighters running up the
World Trade Center towers
when everyone else is trying to run down
we try also to take up uh examples of
courage in everyday situations
such as Wesley Autry
an African-American construction worker
he was at a subway station in New York
a man on the platform had a seizure and
tumbled down onto the tracks just as the
train was coming in Wesley jumped down
he pushed the other man in the space
between the two metal rails and pinned
him there the train ran over both men
neither neither was harmed
they were they were there waiting for
the rescue rescue crews for half an hour
and Wesley said it was one of the more
unusual conversations of his life
because the other man didn't understand
why he was under a New York City subway
train being hugged by a stranger
or also in New York I think of a
situation on the number six train
a man had been attacking a woman
another man
stood between the victim and the the
attacker uh
to to to stop the fight and while doing
so he continued to eat his nachos from a
little tray nonchalantly to to calm down
the atmosphere
he went into YouTube history forever as
snack man
oh
with with great nachos comes great
responsibility
as as someone commented
but
with
with or without nachos
it's it's people like this
it's it's people like this who pull me
back from the abyss of despair
who remind me that in our world of
brutality
and and of indifference to others
suffering
it is still possible for our human
species to shine this magnificently
yes
yes Malala
yes Sophie
yes we told
I believe in your secret conspiracy
of Hope
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