Beirut, Ramallah, TEDx and Passion

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I have been asked to write a blog in English though so far my focus has been centered on the Arabic version of the website, and will remain...

I have been asked to talk about that beautiful evening of Thursday last, December 9th, 2010 in Awkar Lebanon, about that insightful lecture by Micheal Sandel entitled "Justice-The Right Thing To Do or The Freedom to choose" and about the discussions that ensued.

But I won't do that. What I will write about here revolves around the thoughts, impressions and feelings that grew inside me whilst sitting there, in this new appartment, for two and a half hours contemplating, listening and debating.

What drives two people to host "TEDxSKE salons" every week, non-stop for the past two years and open up their house to complete strangers?

What drives a Master Student from Yemen to halt her evening class half an hour before it is scheduled to end just because she has a Ted meeting to go to?

What drives an Italian expatriate and his wife to leave their children every week at night in a foreign not always so safe country?

What drives a non-Palestinian, non-Lebanese very gifted architect to dedicate her full time to an event that has her flying around the Levant and the Gulf and organizing its live stream from countries that are not even her own?

And what drives two cities (and more) to host, organize and live stream the same TEDx event?

I'll tell you what that driving force is called: PASSION," SHAGHAF" in Arabic. A passion so deep, so intense, so rooted you would not be able to describe it. A passion for something new, different, for an insipring idea, for a beginning, for a better world maybe. A passion for inner fulfillement and self satisfaction.

Is this passion exclusive to Beirut, Ramallah and TEDx? Certainly not!!! But you can be sure to find it there.

This exact passion is the reason why I wake up every morning with a smile. I smile because Lebanon and Palestine are closer now then they were a few decades back. I smile because TEDx is bringing people together, I smile because the first page in my "book" has been opened.

And so the story begins...

Author: Zeina Tahan

Original post here: http://tedxramallah.srv.zeedna.com/en/blog/2010/12/11/beirut-ramallah-tedx-an...

From one of our dear TEDxSKEers!

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TEDxSKE salon on Thursday 21st of April, 2011.

We left home as usual, at 8:30 pm. Our 11 years old boy was at his PC watching one of the exhilarating episodes of family guy. He had no desire to come with us. He already went twice and the first time, the novelty effect, he was really happy to participate and to be with adults and university students. He felt big. And He had the opportunity to talk a little bit.
We were almost on the highway when the phone rang. “Please come home to pick me up, I have changed my mind, I really would like to come over with you.”
We reach TEDxSKE at 9:05, few minutes later than the planned time but on time for the first TED talk: "Kathryn Schulz on being wrong" (http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/kathryn_schulz_on_being_wrong.html).>
The session was introduced by the traditional question asked to each attendee at the beginning of each gathering, and this night's question was "What do you feel when you are wrong".
After spending few minutes playing baby-foot, taking our drinks and getting ready, the session started with Kathryn Shulz' TED talk.
The talk was nice, well spoken, but unfortunately, without this spark that we usually get from TED talks. Not all of the TED talks are really “inspiring” but in any case, it generated reflective thinking and some points were well presented.
I feel that the example of beep beep coyote was really to the point. We do not have any feeling when we are wrong, we feel all the time to be right and with no doubts, till we get evidence or we enter in a challenging exchange of different opinions and views. Normally, the weakest (intellectually or physically) will succumb, and the truth is the opinion of the stronger.
We liked a lot the discussion that happened after this first TED talk and the different points of view...
Every time we have to take in consideration that we could be wrong in our decision, in our forecast or in our relation with people. Most of the time we compromise: to be “right” with a partner, we are “wrong” with a colleague or friend...
The discussion went on in a pleasant atmosphere; carrots and cucumbers on the table, soft drinks in our hands made it relaxing to talk about being “wrong”, when it is clear that nobody likes to be considered wrong or show weaknesses.
The culture of listening and not criticizing but enlarging and building on the concept expressed by participants is the key to success of these unbelievable weekly TEDxSKE experiences.

Enzo, one of the TEDxSKE affectionate or affiliated...