5주차｜사회·노동·인권 (+ 난민·이주)_임정은_Human Rights as a Way of Life

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WK5_사회·노동·인권(+ 난민·이주): Human Rights as a Way of Life | Sheila Paylan

[편집본]

출처: TEDxAUA

Date: 2024. 10. 22.

word count: 731

Glossary

1. Armenia: 아르메니아
2. Tsitsernakaberd Memorial: 치체르나카베르드 추모관(아르메니아 대학살 희생자 추모기념관)
3. Armenian Genocide: 아르메니아 대학살(1915~1917년 오스만 제국에서 자행된 대규모 학살)
4. Greta Thunberg: 그레타 툰베리(스웨덴의 기후환경 운동가)
5. butterfly effect: 나비효과(작은 변화가 시간이 지나 큰 결과를 초래하는 현상)

I don’t have any kids.

Growing up, I never dreamed of raising children.

I dreamed of raising an army.

Today, I want to convince you to join mine—an army of freedom fighters.

Our weapons won’t be bombs or guns, but simple daily actions that promote human rights and build a safer, fairer world.

If you follow the news, you may wonder, “Why should I care about human rights?”

I’m surprised by how often I hear that question because the answer is simple.

Human rights make the world safer, fairer, and better for everyone.

As children, many of us wished the world could become a better place.

Mine was always the same: peace on Earth.

Whenever my family drove beneath a railway bridge just as a train thundered overhead, I made that wish.

As we grew older, however, we learned how cruel and dangerous the world can be.

The more we saw injustice and violence, the more that childhood dream seemed naïve.

I decided to become a human rights advocate when I was 17, during my first trip to Armenia.

I had traveled from Canada to visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial and honor relatives who had perished in the Armenian Genocide.

But when I arrived, the eternal flame wasn’t burning because of gas shortages.

Instead of a flame, there was only an empty space.

Standing there, I felt overwhelming grief and anger.

I felt robbed of the chance to mourn a tragedy that had happened long before I was born but still lived within my family.

Yet that painful moment reignited my determination to help build a world where no one would have to grow up with stories of genocide.

It led me to become a lawyer dedicated to defending human rights.

But that doesn’t have to be your path.

You don’t have to become a lawyer or make human rights your career.

If you care about creating a better world, you simply have to do your part.

After 15 years on the front lines of human rights, I’ve come to believe that defending freedom comes down to three simple actions.

The first is take a stand.

Every day we face moments when we must choose whether to speak up or stay silent.

Imagine someone at dinner makes a racist, sexist, or discriminatory joke.

Maybe it even sounds like a compliment: “You drive really well for a woman.”

Most people laugh awkwardly, ignore it, or change the subject because confrontation feels uncomfortable.

But silence allows prejudice to survive.

Taking a stand doesn’t require anger or hostility.

It can be as simple as saying, “I don’t think that joke was okay,” or asking why a comment is hurtful.

By responding with dignity and compassion instead of shame, we encourage reflection rather than defensiveness.

The second is pick a side.

Many people believe neutrality is fair and reasonable.

They think staying in the middle makes them objective.

But in situations of injustice, neutrality often serves the oppressor rather than the victim.

As Desmond Tutu and Elie Wiesel reminded us, silence in the face of injustice encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

Picking a side doesn’t mean refusing to change your mind.

Sometimes we discover we supported the wrong cause or that circumstances have changed.

The courageous response isn’t stubbornness but humility—to stay informed, admit mistakes, and adjust our position when necessary.

What matters is remaining engaged.

The third, and most important, is don’t be scared.

I’m terrified standing here today, but I’m doing it anyway.

Fear is natural. Courage is choosing to act despite it.

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes.

Fear of imperfection often keeps us from taking actions that could matter.

Don’t be afraid of standing alone.

Greta Thunberg began her climate strike by herself before inspiring millions.

And don’t be afraid that your actions are too small.

Think of the butterfly effect.

A tiny flap of a butterfly’s wings can trigger a chain of events leading to enormous consequences.

History isn’t shaped by famous speeches alone.

It’s shaped by the quiet, consistent actions of ordinary people who choose courage over silence.

That’s the army I hope you’ll join.

So remember these three simple actions: take a stand, pick a side, and don’t be scared.

If each of us practices them every day, our individual actions become a collective force, creating a safer, fairer, and better world for everyone.

Thank you.