TED2017
Luma Mufleh: Don't feel sorry for refugees -- believe in them
Luma Mufleh: No sientas lástima por los refugiados, cree en ellos
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"Hemos avanzado en todos los aspectos de nuestras vidas, excepto en nuestra humanidad", dice Luma Mufleh, una inmigrante jordana y musulmana de ascendencia siria que fundó la primera escuela para refugiados reconocida en Estados Unidos. Mufleh comparte historias de esperanza y resistencia y explica cómo ayuda a jóvenes de países en guerra a atravesar el arduo proceso de construir un nuevo hogar. Déjate inspirar con esta potente charla y marca una diferencia personal en la vida de los refugiados
Luma Mufleh - Refugee activist
Luma Mufleh does something revolutionary: she coaches soccer. A Jordanian immigrant and Muslim of Syrian descent, Mufleh is determined to empower refugee children everywhere. Full bio
Luma Mufleh does something revolutionary: she coaches soccer. A Jordanian immigrant and Muslim of Syrian descent, Mufleh is determined to empower refugee children everywhere. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
I remember when I first found out
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Recuerdo cuando me enteré
00:14
I was going to speak at a TED conference.
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que iba a hablar
en una conferencia de TED.
en una conferencia de TED.
00:16
I ran across the hall
to one of my classrooms
to one of my classrooms
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Corrí hacia una de mis aulas
00:19
to inform my students.
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a contar a mis alumnos.
00:20
"Guess what, guys?
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"Chicos, ¡adivinen qué!
00:21
I've been asked to give a TED Talk."
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Me pidieron que dé una charla TED".
00:23
The reaction wasn't one I quite expected.
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Su reacción no fue la que esperaba.
00:25
The whole room went silent.
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Todos se quedaron callados.
"¿Una charla TED?
00:29
"A TED Talk? You mean, like the one
you made us watch on grit?
you made us watch on grit?
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¿Como la que nos hizo Ud.
mirar sobre el coraje?
mirar sobre el coraje?
00:32
Or the one with the scientist that did
this really awesome thing with robots?"
this really awesome thing with robots?"
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¿O la del científico que hizo
esa cosa genial con robots?"
esa cosa genial con robots?"
Preguntó Muhammad.
00:35
Muhammad asked.
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"Sí, como esa".
00:37
"Yes, just like that."
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00:39
"But Coach, those people
are really important and smart."
are really important and smart."
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"Pero, profe, esas personas
son importantes e inteligentes".
son importantes e inteligentes".
00:42
(Laughter)
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(Risas)
00:44
"I know that."
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"Lo sé".
00:46
"But Coach, why are you speaking?
You hate public speaking."
You hate public speaking."
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"Pero, profe, ¿por qué va a hablar?
Us. odia hablar en público".
Us. odia hablar en público".
00:51
"I do," I admitted,
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"Es cierto", admití.
00:54
"But it's important that I speak about us,
that I speak about your journeys,
that I speak about your journeys,
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"Pero es importante que hable de nosotros,
que hable de sus viajes,
que hable de sus viajes,
00:57
about my journey.
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de mi viaje.
00:59
People need to know."
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La gente tiene que saber".
01:01
The students at the all-refugee
school that I founded
school that I founded
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Los estudiantes de la escuela
para refugiados que fundé
para refugiados que fundé
finalizaron con algunas
palabras de aliento.
palabras de aliento.
01:03
decided to end with some
words of encouragement.
words of encouragement.
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01:06
"Cool! It better be good, Coach."
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"¡Genial! Más vale que sea buena".
01:08
(Laughter)
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(Risas)
01:10
There are 65.3 million people
who have been forcibly displaced
who have been forcibly displaced
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65,3 millones de personas
han sido desplazadas de sus hogares
han sido desplazadas de sus hogares
01:14
from their homes because
of war or persecution.
of war or persecution.
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a la fuerza debido a la guerra
o persecución.
o persecución.
01:18
The largest number,
11 million, are from Syria.
11 million, are from Syria.
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La mayor parte, 11 millones, son de Siria.
01:21
33,952 people flee their homes daily.
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33,952 personas
huyen de sus hogares a diario.
huyen de sus hogares a diario.
01:28
The vast majority remain in refugee camps,
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La gran mayoría se queda
en campos de refugiados,
en campos de refugiados,
01:32
whose conditions cannot be defined
as humane under anyone's definition.
as humane under anyone's definition.
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donde las condiciones están lejos
de ser humanas.
de ser humanas.
01:36
We are participating
in the degradation of humans.
in the degradation of humans.
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Estamos participando
en la degradación de humanos.
en la degradación de humanos.
01:44
Never have we had numbers this high.
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Nunca hemos tenido tantos refugiados
desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
01:46
This is the highest number
of refugees since World War II.
of refugees since World War II.
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01:50
Now, let me tell you why this issue
is so important to me.
is so important to me.
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Les diré por qué este tema
es tan importante para mí.
es tan importante para mí.
01:54
I am an Arab. I am an immigrant.
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Soy árabe. Soy inmigrante.
01:58
I am a Muslim.
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Soy musulmana.
02:00
I've also spent the last 12 years
of my life working with refugees.
of my life working with refugees.
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También pasé los últimos 12 años
trabajando con refugiados.
trabajando con refugiados.
02:03
Oh -- and I'm also gay.
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Ah, y también soy lesbiana.
02:05
It makes me really popular these days.
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Lo que me hace muy popular hoy en día.
02:07
(Laughter)
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(Risas)
02:09
But I am the daughter of a refugee.
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Pero soy hija de refugiados.
02:12
My grandmother fled Syria in 1964
during the first Assad regime.
during the first Assad regime.
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Mi abuela escapó de Siria en 1964
durante el primer régimen de Asad.
durante el primer régimen de Asad.
02:16
She was three months pregnant
when she packed up a suitcase,
when she packed up a suitcase,
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Llevaba tres meses de embarazo
cuando preparó una maleta,
cuando preparó una maleta,
02:20
piled in her five children
and drove to neighboring Jordan,
and drove to neighboring Jordan,
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juntó a sus cinco hijos,
y condujo el auto hasta Jordán,
y condujo el auto hasta Jordán,
02:23
not knowing what the future held
for her and her family.
for her and her family.
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sin saber qué futuro depararía
a ella y a su familia.
a ella y a su familia.
02:26
My grandfather decided to stay,
not believing it was that bad.
not believing it was that bad.
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Mi abuelo decidió quedarse,
porque creyó que no era para tanto.
porque creyó que no era para tanto.
02:30
He followed her a month later,
after his brothers were tortured
after his brothers were tortured
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La siguió un mes después, luego de que
sus hermanos fueran torturados
sus hermanos fueran torturados
02:34
and his factory was taken over
by the government.
by the government.
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y de que el gobierno tomara su fábrica.
02:37
They rebuilt their lives
starting from scratch
starting from scratch
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Reconstruyeron sus vidas desde cero
02:39
and eventually became independently
wealthy Jordanian citizens.
wealthy Jordanian citizens.
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y se convirtieron en ciudadanos jordanos
independientes y adinerados.
independientes y adinerados.
02:43
I was born in Jordan 11 years later.
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Yo nací en Jordán 11 años después.
02:47
It was really important to my grandmother
for us to know our history
for us to know our history
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Para mi abuela era importante
que supiéramos nuestra historia
que supiéramos nuestra historia
02:50
and our journey.
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y nuestro viaje.
02:52
I was eight years old when she took me
to visit my first refugee camp.
to visit my first refugee camp.
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A los 8 años me llevó a visitar
un campo de refugiados por primera vez.
un campo de refugiados por primera vez.
02:56
I didn't understand why.
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No entendía por qué.
02:58
I didn't know why
it was so important to her
it was so important to her
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No sabía por qué era
tan importante para ella
tan importante para ella
03:00
for us to go.
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que fuéramos.
03:02
I remember walking into the camp
holding her hand,
holding her hand,
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Me acuerdo de entrar al campo
agarrada de su mano,
agarrada de su mano,
03:05
and her saying, "Go play with the kids,"
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y que me dijo:
"Ve a jugar con los niños"
"Ve a jugar con los niños"
03:07
while she visited
with the women in the camp.
with the women in the camp.
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mientras ella visitaba
a las mujeres en el campo.
a las mujeres en el campo.
03:10
I didn't want to.
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Yo no quería.
03:11
These kids weren't like me.
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Esos niños no eran como yo.
Eran pobres. Vivían en un campo.
03:13
They were poor. They lived in a camp.
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Me negué.
03:15
I refused.
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03:16
She knelt down beside me
and firmly said, "Go.
and firmly said, "Go.
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Se arrodilló a mi lado
y me dijo con firmeza:
y me dijo con firmeza:
"Ve y no vuelvas hasta que hayas jugado.
03:19
And don't come back until you've played.
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03:21
Don't ever think people are beneath you
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Nunca pienses que estás
por encima de otros
por encima de otros
03:23
or that you have nothing
to learn from others."
to learn from others."
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o que no tienes nada
que aprender de ellos".
que aprender de ellos".
03:26
I reluctantly went.
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Fui a regañadientes.
03:27
I never wanted to disappoint
my grandmother.
my grandmother.
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Nunca quise decepcionar a mi abuela.
03:31
I returned a few hours later,
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Volví unas horas más tarde,
03:32
having spent some time playing soccer
with the kids in the camp.
with the kids in the camp.
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después de haber jugado un rato al fútbol
con los niños del campo.
con los niños del campo.
03:38
We walked out of the camp,
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Salimos del campo,
03:39
and I was excitedly telling her
what a great time I had
what a great time I had
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y yo le estaba contando emocionada
que me había divertido
que me había divertido
03:42
and how fantastic the kids were.
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y que los niños eran fantásticos.
03:45
"Haram!" I said in Arabic. "Poor them."
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"¡Haram!", dije en árabe. "Pobres".
03:48
"Haram on us," she said,
using the word's different meaning,
using the word's different meaning,
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"Haram nosotros", dijo ella,
con otro significado de la palabra,
con otro significado de la palabra,
03:51
that we were sinning.
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que estábamos pecando.
03:54
"Don't feel sorry for them;
believe in them."
believe in them."
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"No sientas lástima por ellos,
cree en ellos".
cree en ellos".
03:58
It wasn't until I left my country
of origin for the United States
of origin for the United States
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No fue hasta que dejé
mi país de origen y fui a EE. UU.
mi país de origen y fui a EE. UU.
04:01
that I realized the impact of her words.
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que entendí el impacto de sus palabras.
04:05
After my college graduation, I applied for
and was granted political asylum,
and was granted political asylum,
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Después de terminar la universidad,
solicité y se me concedió asilo político,
solicité y se me concedió asilo político,
04:08
based on being a member of a social group.
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por pertenecer a un cierto grupo social.
04:11
Some people may not realize this,
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Algunos no lo saben,
04:13
but you can still get the death penalty
in some countries for being gay.
in some countries for being gay.
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pero aún existe la pena de muerte
en algunos países por ser gay.
en algunos países por ser gay.
04:19
I had to give up my Jordanian citizenship.
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Tuve que renunciar
a mi ciudadanía jordana.
a mi ciudadanía jordana.
04:21
That was the hardest decision
I've ever had to make,
I've ever had to make,
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Fue la decisión más difícil de mi vida,
04:23
but I had no other choice.
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pero no tenía otra opción.
04:29
The point is,
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El tema es que
04:31
when you find yourself choosing
between home and survival,
between home and survival,
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cuando tienes que elegir
entre tu hogar y sobrevivir,
entre tu hogar y sobrevivir,
04:34
the question "Where are you from?"
becomes very loaded.
becomes very loaded.
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la pregunta "¿De dónde eres?"
cobra una carga.
cobra una carga.
04:38
A Syrian woman who I recently met
at a refugee camp in Greece
at a refugee camp in Greece
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Una mujer siria que conocí recientemente
en un campo en Grecia
en un campo en Grecia
04:42
articulated it best,
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lo expresó mejor,
04:43
when she recalled the exact moment
she realized she had to flee Aleppo.
she realized she had to flee Aleppo.
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cuando recordó el momento exacto
en que decidió huir de Alepo.
en que decidió huir de Alepo.
04:47
"I looked out the window
and there was nothing.
and there was nothing.
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"Miré por la ventana y no había nada.
04:49
It was all rubble.
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Todo eran escombros.
04:51
There were no stores, no streets,
no schools. Everything was gone.
no schools. Everything was gone.
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No había tiendas, calles, ni escuelas.
No quedaba nada.
No quedaba nada.
04:56
I had been in my apartment for months,
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Había pasado meses en mi departamento,
04:58
listening to bombs drop
and watching people die.
and watching people die.
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escuchando las bombas caer
y viendo gente morir.
y viendo gente morir.
05:01
But I always thought it would get better,
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Pero siempre pensé que mejoraría,
05:05
that no one could force me to leave,
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que nadie me obligaría a irme,
05:07
no one could take my home away from me.
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nadie podría usurpar mi hogar.
05:09
And I don't know why it was that morning,
but when I looked outside,
but when I looked outside,
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Y no sé por qué fue esa mañana,
pero cuando miré hacia afuera,
pero cuando miré hacia afuera,
05:13
I realized if I didn't leave,
my three young children would die.
my three young children would die.
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supe que si no me iba,
mis tres niños pequeños morirían.
mis tres niños pequeños morirían.
05:16
And so we left.
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Así que nos fuimos.
05:17
We left because we had to,
not because we wanted to.
not because we wanted to.
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Nos fuimos porque tuvimos que hacerlo,
no porque quisiéramos.
no porque quisiéramos.
05:20
There was no choice," she said.
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No teníamos otra opción", dijo.
05:23
It's kind of hard to believe
that you belong
that you belong
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Es difícil creer que perteneces
05:26
when you don't have a home,
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cuando no tienes un hogar,
05:27
when your country of origin rejects you
because of fear or persecution,
because of fear or persecution,
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cuando tu país de origen te rechaza
por miedo o persecución,
por miedo o persecución,
05:31
or the city that you grew up in
is completely destroyed.
is completely destroyed.
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o cuando la ciudad en la que creciste
está completamente destruida.
está completamente destruida.
05:36
I didn't feel like I had a home.
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Sentía que no tenía casa.
05:38
I was no longer a Jordanian citizen,
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Ya no era una ciudadana jordana,
05:41
but I wasn't American, either.
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pero tampoco era estadounidense.
05:43
I felt a kind of loneliness
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Sentí una especie de soledad
05:45
that is still hard
to put into words today.
to put into words today.
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que aún me cuesta explicar con palabras.
05:48
After college, I desperately needed
to find a place to call home.
to find a place to call home.
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Después de la universidad,
necesité encontrar un hogar.
necesité encontrar un hogar.
05:52
I bounced around from state to state
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Fui de estado en estado
05:54
and eventually ended up in North Carolina.
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y finalmente terminé
en Carolina del Norte.
en Carolina del Norte.
05:56
Kindhearted people who felt sorry for me
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Gente bondadosa que me tenía lástima
se ofreció a pagarme la renta,
05:59
offered to pay rent
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06:01
or buy me a meal or a suit
for my new interview.
for my new interview.
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o a comprarme comida
o un traje para mi nueva entrevista.
o un traje para mi nueva entrevista.
06:04
It just made me feel
more isolated and incapable.
more isolated and incapable.
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Eso solo me hizo sentir
más aislada e incapaz.
más aislada e incapaz.
06:08
It wasn't until I met Miss Sarah,
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Solo recién cuando conocí a Sarah,
06:10
a Southern Baptist who took me in
at my lowest and gave me a job,
at my lowest and gave me a job,
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una bautista sureña que me acogió
en mi peor estado y me dio empleo,
en mi peor estado y me dio empleo,
06:14
that I started to believe in myself.
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comencé a creer en mí misma.
06:16
Miss Sarah owned a diner
in the mountains of North Carolina.
in the mountains of North Carolina.
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Sarah tenía una cafetería
en las montañas de Carolina del Norte.
en las montañas de Carolina del Norte.
06:21
I assumed, because
of my privileged upbringing
of my privileged upbringing
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Supuse que, por mi educación privilegiada
06:24
and my Seven Sister education,
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y mi educación elitista,
06:25
that she would ask me
to manage the restaurant.
to manage the restaurant.
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me iba a pedir que
administrara el restaurante.
administrara el restaurante.
06:27
I was wrong.
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Me equivoqué.
06:29
I started off washing dishes,
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Comencé lavando platos,
06:31
cleaning toilets and working the grill.
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limpiando baños y manejando la parrilla.
Me dieron una lección de humildad;
me mostraron el valor del trabajo duro.
me mostraron el valor del trabajo duro.
06:34
I was humbled; I was shown
the value of hard work.
the value of hard work.
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06:37
But most importantly,
I felt valued and embraced.
I felt valued and embraced.
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Pero lo más importante es que me sentía
valorada y aceptada.
valorada y aceptada.
06:40
I celebrated Christmas with her family,
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Celebré Navidad con su familia,
06:42
and she attempted to observe
Ramadan with me.
Ramadan with me.
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e intentó hacer ayuno conmigo
durante el Ramadán.
durante el Ramadán.
06:46
I remember being very nervous
about coming out to her --
about coming out to her --
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Recuerdo que me daba miedo
contarle que era lesbiana.
contarle que era lesbiana.
Después de todo, era bautista sureña.
06:48
after all, she was a Southern Baptist.
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06:50
I sat on the couch next to her
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Me senté a su lado en el sillón
06:52
and I said, "Miss Sarah,
you know that I'm gay."
you know that I'm gay."
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y le dije: "Sarah, sabes
que soy lesbiana, ¿no?"
que soy lesbiana, ¿no?"
06:55
Her response is one
that I will never forget.
that I will never forget.
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Nunca olvidaré su respuesta.
06:57
"That's fine, honey.
Just don't be a slut."
Just don't be a slut."
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"Está bien, cariño.
Tan solo no seas una zorra".
Tan solo no seas una zorra".
06:59
(Laughter)
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(Risas)
07:03
(Applause)
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(Aplausos)
07:05
I eventually moved to Atlanta,
still trying to find my home.
still trying to find my home.
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Más adelante me mudé a Atlanta,
aún intentando encontrar un hogar.
aún intentando encontrar un hogar.
Tres años después,
mi viaje tomó un giro inesperado
mi viaje tomó un giro inesperado
07:12
My journey took a strange turn
three years later,
three years later,
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07:14
after I met a group of refugee kids
playing soccer outside.
playing soccer outside.
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cuando conocí a un grupo
de niños refugiados jugando al fútbol.
de niños refugiados jugando al fútbol.
07:18
I'd made a wrong turn
into this apartment complex,
into this apartment complex,
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Doblé mal y llegué
a un complejo de departamentos,
a un complejo de departamentos,
07:20
and I saw these kids
outside playing soccer.
outside playing soccer.
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y vi a estos niños afuera
jugando al fútbol.
jugando al fútbol.
07:23
They were playing barefoot
with a raggedy soccer ball
with a raggedy soccer ball
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Estaban jugando descalzos
con una pelota de trapo
con una pelota de trapo
07:26
and rocks set up as goals.
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y el arco marcado con piedras.
07:27
I watched them for about an hour,
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Me quedé mirándolos una hora
07:29
and after that I was smiling.
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y terminé con una sonrisa.
07:31
The boys reminded me of home.
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Me recordaban a mi casa.
07:33
They reminded me of the way
I grew up playing soccer
I grew up playing soccer
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Me recordaban a mí,
que crecí jugando al fútbol
que crecí jugando al fútbol
07:35
in the streets of Jordan,
with my brothers and cousins.
with my brothers and cousins.
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en las calles de Jordán
con mis hermanos y primos.
con mis hermanos y primos.
07:39
I eventually joined their game.
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Finalmente me uní a ellos.
07:41
They were a little skeptical
about letting me join it,
about letting me join it,
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Tenían sus dudas acerca de dejarme jugar,
07:44
because according to them,
girls don't know how to play.
girls don't know how to play.
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porque, según ellos,
las chicas no saben jugar.
las chicas no saben jugar.
07:47
But obviously I did.
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Pero obviamente yo sí sabía.
07:48
I asked them if they had
ever played on a team.
ever played on a team.
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Les pregunté si alguna vez
habían jugado en un equipo.
habían jugado en un equipo.
07:51
They said they hadn't,
but that they would love to.
but that they would love to.
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Dijeron que no, pero que les encantaría.
07:53
I gradually won them over,
and we formed our first team.
and we formed our first team.
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De a poco los conquisté,
y formamos nuestro primer equipo.
y formamos nuestro primer equipo.
07:57
This group of kids would give me
a crash course in refugees, poverty
a crash course in refugees, poverty
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Ese grupo me dio un curso intensivo
sobre los refugiados, la pobreza
sobre los refugiados, la pobreza
08:03
and humanity.
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y la humanidad.
08:06
Three brothers from Afghanistan --
Roohullah, Noorullah and Zabiullah --
Roohullah, Noorullah and Zabiullah --
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Tres hermanos de Afganistán,
Roohullah, Noorullah y Zabiullah,
Roohullah, Noorullah y Zabiullah,
08:09
played a major role in that.
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tuvieron mucho que ver.
08:12
I showed up late to practice one day
to find the field completely deserted.
to find the field completely deserted.
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Un día llegué tarde al entrenamiento,
y encontré la cancha totalmente vacía.
y encontré la cancha totalmente vacía.
08:15
I was really worried.
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Me preocupé mucho.
08:17
My team loved to practice.
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A mi equipo le encantaba entrenar.
08:18
It wasn't like them to miss practice.
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No era común que faltaran.
08:21
I got out of my car, and two kids
ran out from behind a dumpster,
ran out from behind a dumpster,
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Bajé del auto, y salieron dos niños
de detrás de un contenedor
de detrás de un contenedor
08:24
waving their hands frantically.
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agitando las manos, desesperados.
08:27
"Coach, Rooh got beat up. He got jumped.
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"Profe, le pegaron a Rooh. Lo atacaron.
08:29
There was blood everywhere."
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Estaba lleno de sangre".
08:30
"What do you mean?
What do you mean he got beat up?"
What do you mean he got beat up?"
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"¿Qué quieres decir con que le pegaron?"
08:33
"These bad kids came
and beat him up, Coach.
and beat him up, Coach.
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"Vinieron unos chicos malos y le pegaron.
08:35
Everybody left. They were all scared."
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Se fueron todos, tenían miedo".
08:37
We hopped into my car
and drove over to Rooh's apartment.
and drove over to Rooh's apartment.
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Nos subimos al auto
y fuimos al departamento de Rooh.
y fuimos al departamento de Rooh.
08:40
I knocked on the door, and Noor opened it.
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Golpeé la puerta y la abrió Noor.
08:43
"Where's Rooh? I need
to talk to him, see if he's OK."
to talk to him, see if he's OK."
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"¿Dónde está Rooh?
Necesito hablar y ver si está bien".
Necesito hablar y ver si está bien".
08:46
"He's in his room, Coach.
He's refusing to come out."
He's refusing to come out."
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"Está en su habitación. No quiere salir".
08:49
I knocked on the door.
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Golpeé la puerta.
08:50
"Rooh, come on out. I need to talk to you.
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"Rooh, sal. Tengo que hablar contigo.
08:52
I need to see if you're OK
or if we need to go to the hospital."
or if we need to go to the hospital."
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Necesito ver si estás bien
o si tenemos que ir al hospital".
o si tenemos que ir al hospital".
08:56
He came out.
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Salió.
08:57
He had a big gash on his head,
a split lip,
a split lip,
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Tenía un corte en la cabeza
y el labio partido,
y el labio partido,
09:00
and he was physically shaken.
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y estaba temblando.
09:02
I was looking at him,
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Lo revisé
09:03
and I asked the boys
to call for their mom,
to call for their mom,
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y le pedí a los otros
que llamaran a su madre,
que llamaran a su madre,
09:06
because I needed to go
to the hospital with him.
to the hospital with him.
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porque tenía que ir al hospital con él.
09:08
They called for their mom.
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Llamaron a su madre.
09:10
She came out.
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Salió.
09:12
I had my back turned to her,
and she started screaming in Farsi.
and she started screaming in Farsi.
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Yo le estaba dando la espalda,
y comenzó a gritar en persa.
y comenzó a gritar en persa.
09:16
The boys fell to the ground laughing.
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Los chicos se partieron de la risa.
09:18
I was very confused,
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Yo estaba confundida,
09:19
because there was nothing
funny about this.
funny about this.
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porque no era nada gracioso.
09:22
They explained to me that she said,
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Me explicaron que ella dijo:
09:24
"You told me your coach
was a Muslim and a woman."
was a Muslim and a woman."
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"Me dijeron que su profesora
era una mujer musulmana".
era una mujer musulmana".
09:27
From behind, I didn't appear
to be either to her.
to be either to her.
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De atrás, no parecía
ninguna de las dos cosas.
ninguna de las dos cosas.
09:29
(Laughter)
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(Risas)
09:33
"I am Muslim," I said, turning to her.
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Me di vuelta y le dije: "Soy musulmana".
09:35
"Ašhadu ʾan lā ʾilāha ʾilla (A)llāh,"
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"Ašhadu ʾan lā ʾilāha ʾilla (A)llāh",
09:37
reciting the Muslim declaration of faith.
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recitando la declaración de fe musulmana.
09:40
Confused,
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Confundida,
09:43
and perhaps maybe a little bit reassured,
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1990
y tal vez un poco más tranquila,
09:45
she realized that yes,
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1155
se dio cuenta de que sí,
09:46
I, this American-acting,
shorts-wearing, non-veiled woman,
shorts-wearing, non-veiled woman,
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la mujer que aparentaba ser de EE. UU.,
sin velo, con pantalones cortos,
sin velo, con pantalones cortos,
09:49
was indeed a Muslim.
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era musulmana.
09:52
Their family had fled the Taliban.
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Su familia había huido de los talibanes.
09:55
Hundreds of people in their village
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Cientos de personas en su aldea
09:57
were murdered.
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fueron asesinados.
09:58
Their father was taken in by the Taliban,
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Su padre fue tomado por los talibanes,
10:00
only to return a few months later,
a shell of the man he once was.
a shell of the man he once was.
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3801
y cuando volvió, unos meses después,
ya no era el mismo.
ya no era el mismo.
10:06
The family escaped to Pakistan,
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2411
La familia escapó hacia Pakistán,
10:09
and the two older boys,
age eight and 10 at the time,
age eight and 10 at the time,
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y los dos niños mayores, de 8 y 10 años,
10:12
wove rugs for 10 hours a day
to provide for their family.
to provide for their family.
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vendían alfombras 10 horas al día,
para mantener a su familia.
para mantener a su familia.
10:16
They were so excited when they found out
that they had been approved
that they had been approved
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Estaban muy contentos
cuando le concedieron
cuando le concedieron
10:20
to resettle in the United States,
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2492
reasentarse en EE. UU.
10:23
making them the lucky 0.1 percent
who get to do that.
who get to do that.
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3253
por pertenecer al afortunado 0,1 %
que lo logra.
que lo logra.
10:26
They had hit the jackpot.
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Se habían ganado la lotería.
10:28
Their story is not unique.
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Su historia no es única.
10:31
Every refugee family I have worked with
has had some version of this.
has had some version of this.
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Todos los refugiados con los que trabajé
tenían una versión similar.
tenían una versión similar.
10:35
I work with kids
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Trabajo con niños
10:37
who have seen their mothers raped,
their fathers' fingers sliced off.
their fathers' fingers sliced off.
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que han visto cómo violaban a sus madres,
cómo cortaban los dedos a sus padres.
cómo cortaban los dedos a sus padres.
10:41
One kid saw a bullet
put in his grandmother's head,
put in his grandmother's head,
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2955
Un niño vio cómo le disparaban
a su abuela en la cabeza
a su abuela en la cabeza
10:44
because she refused to let the rebels
take him to be a child soldier.
take him to be a child soldier.
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porque no dejó que los rebeldes
se lo lleven para ser soldado.
se lo lleven para ser soldado.
10:49
Their journeys are haunting.
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Sus viajes son terribles.
10:51
But what I get to see every day
is hope, resilience, determination,
is hope, resilience, determination,
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Pero lo que observo todos los días
es esperanza, resistencia, determinación,
es esperanza, resistencia, determinación,
10:57
a love of life
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un amor por la vida,
10:58
and appreciation for being able
to rebuild their lives.
to rebuild their lives.
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y una apreciación por poder
reconstruir sus vidas.
reconstruir sus vidas.
11:03
I was at the boys' apartment one night,
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2125
Una noche estaba en la casa de los chicos,
11:05
when the mom came home
after cleaning 18 hotel rooms in one day.
after cleaning 18 hotel rooms in one day.
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4810
cuando llegó su madre de limpiar
18 habitaciones de hotel en un día.
18 habitaciones de hotel en un día.
11:10
She sat down, and Noor rubbed her feet,
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Se sentó y Noor le masajeó los pies,
11:13
saying that he was going to take care
of her once he graduated.
of her once he graduated.
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y decía que la cuidaría
después de graduarse.
después de graduarse.
11:16
She smiled from exhaustion.
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1494
Ella le sonrió del cansancio.
11:18
"God is good. Life is good.
We are lucky to be here."
We are lucky to be here."
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"Dios es bueno. La vida es buena.
Tenemos suerte de estar aquí".
Tenemos suerte de estar aquí".
11:23
In the last two years, we have seen
an escalating anti-refugee sentiment.
an escalating anti-refugee sentiment.
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En los últimos dos años ha aumentado
el sentimiento antirefugiados.
el sentimiento antirefugiados.
11:28
It's global.
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1219
Es global.
11:30
The numbers continue to grow
because we do nothing to prevent it
because we do nothing to prevent it
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3244
Los números siguen creciendo
porque no hacemos nada para impedirlo
porque no hacemos nada para impedirlo
11:33
and nothing to stop it.
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1701
ni para frenarlo.
11:35
The issue shouldn't be stopping refugees
from coming into our countries.
from coming into our countries.
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3552
El problema no debería ser que no entren
refugiados a nuestros países.
refugiados a nuestros países.
11:39
The issue should be
not forcing them to leave their own.
not forcing them to leave their own.
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Debería ser no obligarlos
a dejar los suyos.
a dejar los suyos.
11:42
(Applause)
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(Aplausos)
11:58
Sorry.
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1325
Perdón.
11:59
(Applause)
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707859
3928
(Aplausos)
12:09
How much more suffering,
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¿Cuánto más sufrimiento
12:12
how much more suffering must we take?
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2045
tenemos que soportar?
12:15
How many more people need to be
forced out of their homes
forced out of their homes
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2771
¿Cuántas personas más
deben ser expulsadas de sus hogares
deben ser expulsadas de sus hogares
12:18
before we say, "Enough!"?
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para que digamos "¡Basta!"?
12:19
A hundred million?
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1209
¿Cien millones?
12:21
Not only do we shame,
blame and reject them
blame and reject them
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No sólo los humillamos,
culpamos y rechazamos
culpamos y rechazamos
12:25
for atrocities that they had
absolutely nothing to do with,
absolutely nothing to do with,
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2833
por atrocidades que no tienen
nada que ver con ellos,
nada que ver con ellos,
12:29
we re-traumatize them,
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1155
los traumatizamos más,
12:30
when we're supposed to be welcoming
them into our countries.
them into our countries.
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2965
cuando deberíamos recibirlos felices
en nuestros países.
en nuestros países.
12:35
We strip them of their dignity
and treat them like criminals.
and treat them like criminals.
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Les quitamos su dignidad
y los tratamos como criminales.
y los tratamos como criminales.
12:38
I had a student in my office
a couple of weeks ago.
a couple of weeks ago.
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2706
Hace unas semanas vino a mi oficina
una alumna que es de Irak.
12:41
She's originally from Iraq.
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1816
12:43
She broke down crying.
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1439
Comenzó a llorar.
12:45
"Why do they hate us?"
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1628
"¿Por qué nos odian?"
12:47
"Who hates you?"
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755247
1174
"¿Quién te odia?"
12:48
"Everyone; everyone hates us
because we are refugees,
because we are refugees,
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2771
"Todos, todos nos odian
porque somos refugiados,
porque somos refugiados,
12:51
because we are Muslim."
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1356
porque somos musulmanes".
12:54
In the past, I was able
to reassure my students
to reassure my students
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Antes podía asegurarle a mis alumnos
12:56
that the majority of the world
does not hate refugees.
does not hate refugees.
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2637
que la mayor parte del mundo
no odia a los refugiados.
no odia a los refugiados.
12:59
But this time I couldn't.
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1385
Pero esta vez no pude.
13:00
I couldn't explain to her why someone
tried to rip off her mother's hijab
tried to rip off her mother's hijab
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3480
No le podía explicar por qué alguien
intentó sacarle el hiyab a su madre
intentó sacarle el hiyab a su madre
13:04
when they were grocery shopping,
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1785
cuando estaban en el supermercado,
13:06
or why a player on an opposing
team called her a terrorist
team called her a terrorist
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774181
3244
o por qué un jugador del otro equipo
la llamó terrorista
la llamó terrorista
13:09
and told her to go back
where she came from.
where she came from.
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777449
2483
y le dijo que vuelva de donde vino.
13:11
I couldn't reassure her
271
779956
1762
No le podía asegurar
13:13
that her father's ultimate life sacrifice
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2339
que el mayor sacrificio de su padre,
13:16
by serving in the United States
military as an interpreter
military as an interpreter
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784105
3120
al trabajar como intérprete
para los militares de EE. UU.,
para los militares de EE. UU.,
13:19
would make her more valued
as an American citizen.
as an American citizen.
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787249
2710
la haría más respetable
como ciudadana estadounidense.
como ciudadana estadounidense.
13:23
We take in so few refugees worldwide.
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2872
Aceptamos a tan pocos refugiados.
13:26
We resettle less than 0.1 percent.
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2686
Reasentamos a menos de un 0,1 %
13:30
That 0.1 percent benefits us
more than them.
more than them.
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3200
Ese 0,1 % nos beneficia más a nosotros
que a ellos.
que a ellos.
13:34
It dumbfounds me how the word "refugee"
is considered something to be dirty,
is considered something to be dirty,
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3786
Me desconcierta que la palabra "refugiado"
haga referencia a algo sucio,
haga referencia a algo sucio,
13:38
something to be ashamed of.
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806607
1613
a algo de que avergonzarse.
13:40
They have nothing to be ashamed of.
280
808244
1864
No tienen nada de que avergonzarse.
13:45
We have seen advances
in every aspect of our lives --
in every aspect of our lives --
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2723
Hemos avanzado en todos
los aspectos de nuestras vidas,
los aspectos de nuestras vidas,
13:48
except our humanity.
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1378
excepto en nuestra humanidad.
13:50
There are 65.3 million people
who have been forced out of their homes
who have been forced out of their homes
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818523
4439
65,3 millones de personas
han tenido que abandonar sus hogares
han tenido que abandonar sus hogares
13:54
because of war --
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1244
por la guerra.
13:56
the largest number in history.
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1849
La mayor cantidad en la historia.
13:59
We are the ones who should be ashamed.
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2057
Nosotros deberíamos estar avergonzados.
14:01
Thank you.
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829712
1155
Gracias.
14:02
(Applause)
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830891
6529
(Aplausos)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Luma Mufleh - Refugee activistLuma Mufleh does something revolutionary: she coaches soccer. A Jordanian immigrant and Muslim of Syrian descent, Mufleh is determined to empower refugee children everywhere.
Why you should listen
Luma Mufleh is the CEO and Founding Director of Fugees Family, Inc., a nonprofit organization that uses the power of soccer, education and community to empower refugee children to successfully integrate into the United States. Now, she's part principal, part tutor, the head of the first accredited private school dedicated to refugee education in the country, which encompases a summer camp and a college prep program -- and she’s building a community and support network that could be the national model the United States needs.
The Fugees' story began in 2004, when Luma took a wrong turn while driving through the town of Clarkston, Georgia and noticed a group of boys playing soccer in the street. She learned that these children were refugees from war-town countries including Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Burma, Somalia and Sudan. That summer, Luma made fliers announcing tryouts for the Fugees soccer team. In the years that followed, the soccer team grew into something much larger -- a school, a tutoring program, a summer camp, a college prep program, and, most importantly, a community and support network.
A lifelong social entrepreneur, Luma has created several programs and initiatives that have gainfully employed, educated and empowered refugees and immigrants in her community and beyond, with the Fugees Academy serving as a national model for refugee education. While only 20 percent of refugee students graduate from high school in Georgia's DeKalb County, the Fugees Academy has a 90 percent graduation rate. These types of results helped earn Luma the 2016 Cournelle Award for Social Entrepreneurship from the Manhattan Institute.
A Jordanian immigrant and Muslim of Syrian descent, Luma received her U.S. citizenship in 2011. Her story -- and the story of the Fugees -- illustrates both the American dream and the very real challenges of integration and discrimination that so many face today. Luma received her B.A. in Anthropology from Smith College and recently completed the Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Luma Mufleh | Speaker | TED.com