How open borders make us safe | Andrew Solomon | TEDxExeter

Identifying a dangerous isolationist trend behind the election of President Donald Trump in the US and the Brexit vote in the UK, renowned author and TED speaker Andrew Solomon makes a passionate case for the personal and political benefits of travel. He argues that discovering other countries is the best way of finding ourselves, while ignorance of other cultures gives rise to fear, suspicion and war.

Andrew Solomon is a writer and lecturer on psychology, politics, and the arts; an activist in LGBT rights and mental health.

Andrew’s most recent book, Far and Away was published in 2016. His many previous books include Far From the Tree: Parents, children and the search for identity, which won the National Book Critics Circle nonfiction award, the Wellcome Book Prize and 22 other awards.

A renowned TED speaker, his previous talks have been viewed over 13 million times on TED.com.

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[chuzzarino]

Its funny how the same people who come to this country advocating “open borders” wouldn’t allow open borders in their original country.

[zvipatent]

Travel is not the same as immigration.

[FishingInfinite]

You are absolutely right, leave your house unlocked every night in a neighborhood in Detroit, same thing.

[jhjhjhjhjhjhify]

"Open boarders? That's a Koch Brothers policy."

- Bernie Sanders

[duroshebanja]

I'm out of here, enough of this double talk nonsense.

[timmsherman]

how deluded do people get? Yeah lets become exactly like England and allow anybody to enter our country! But don't worry about the ridiculous amount of increase in our crime rates it has no correlation whatsoever xD I would like to see him live in the heart of London and then try to tell me that we need open borders

[markototev]

The identity politics of the last 20 years gave you both Trump and Brexit. Borders are not impenetrable walls, their removal is a mistake at this point in time. Maybe in a few hundred years, we can give it another go. Ordinary people don't have the luxury of traveling and living off of books and speeches at conferences. They have to vote with other things in mind.

I don't know how I feel about you culturally appropriating Afghan culture, though :P

[edthatsit]

Ok, now leave your car door, garage door, and front door open and unlocked. Totally safe. These guys are the most smart.

[bigboy]

So you were dropped on your head as a child .

[ronaldmatthews]

Europe has open borders since 2015. Look how that turned out.

[friendinpotentia]

Some of the “smartest“ people have the least common sense. By the way, it was that wonderful Democrat hero Franklin Delano Roosevelt who kept out people who were actually facing real genocide.

[georgecarini]

The American and English people have spoken by voting for Donald Trump as President and Brexit. We the people will decide the proper solutions for our own problems

[SpeegBJ]

I'm still in shock, Andrew. I have not come down from the switch that occurred.

[CliveChilvers]

This is a very important and well crafted talk that has come at a time when we need it most. Now is not the time to turn in on ourselves, but to be more inclusive and keep travelling and tearing down walls.

[rumpole]

This poor guy is deluded he needs a rest.

[burtonkephart]

“The bigger the lie the more they will believe it.” It’s not a riot it’s free expression etc etc

[Endellion_The_Hellion]

I have watched this video several times over the course of the past few days and I think Solomon continually shows us that he’s not entirely sure what the difference between recreational travel and immigration are. But he’s a good orator and has a good flow. Nice video overall.

[johneasler]

If we have open borders, we should have open season on anyone that crosses our SOVEREIGN border

[rampantapart]

One disconnect between the left and right in America that always get me (and trust me, it is one among many) is the idea that the right has sole ownership of thinking of America first. What the speaker here is saying is that internationalism IS thinking of America first. Keeping America connected with the rest of the world IS very purposeful and focused concern for America, in the long view. To wall up is understandable, but what Solomon is arguing is that it is short sighted and will damage America in the end.

[roblink]

Tell it to the people living in Manchester England!!!