1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: I love this country. I love being an American, but 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:10,560 Speaker 1: having grown up here, we've seen our freedoms being increasingly 3 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: taken away. We've seen the increase of censorship. We saw 4 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: during COVID lockdowns, forced vaccinations, things taking place that are 5 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: contradictory to what we believe as a country. But with 6 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: all that being said, it's important to get perspective. It's 7 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: important to talk to people who have truly experienced authoritarianism, 8 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: and one of those individuals is Ennis Cantor Freedom. I 9 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: had the ability to meet him at Fox News Patriot Awards, 10 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: where he received an award the Most Valuable Patriot Award 11 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: for his human rights stances for standing up for freedom. 12 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: He grew up in Turkey, came to the United States 13 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: at just seventeen years old. But he has drawn the 14 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: ire of the NBA, he's drawn the ire of companies 15 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: like Nike because he actually has put his money where 16 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: his mouth is. He has stood up for freedom. He 17 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: has spoken out against human rights abuses being taken place 18 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: against the weaker population at the hands of the Chinese 19 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 1: Communist Party, and that's not been well received by some 20 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: of his colleagues. So what is it like to have 21 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: truly grown up with authoritarianism, to truly have seen authoritarianism. 22 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: He's seen retribution being taken against his family, against him 23 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: by the Turkish government, against Irwin for speaking out. He's 24 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 1: faced personal and professional retribution in the n b A, 25 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: he got kicked out for his stances. So we're going 26 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: to talk to him to get true perspective, talk to 27 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: him about what that is like and why freedom is 28 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 1: so important and it's worth preserving, it's worth fighting for. 29 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I 30 00:01:47,280 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: did with Ennis Cantor Freedom. Yeah, and as I got 31 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: to beat you at the Fox News Patriot Awards, and 32 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: it was so cool to see you get rewarded because 33 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: you have been such a fearless advocate for freedom in 34 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: so many ways. You faced personal repercussions for it, professional 35 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: repercussions for What does that mean to you to receive 36 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: the most Valuable Patriot Award? Yeah? The last five six months, 37 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: I've definitely have been getting so many awards, but that 38 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: one was definitely the most special one. I think what 39 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: made it so special was, you know, when I received awards, 40 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 1: seeing all the crowds reaction, it was just so I 41 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: don't know how to describe it with wards was so amazing, 42 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: so unbelievable. So it's really touched my heart. You know, 43 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:54,399 Speaker 1: that crowd has got up and started champing freedom. And 44 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: I had so many messages right after the event and 45 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: saying we are your family, you are welcoming off Thanksgiving dinner. 46 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 1: This is you know, we are our new we want 47 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: to host you now. So it was like unbelievable feeling. 48 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 1: You know, I think more than the ward, that feeling 49 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: was just the most special thing of the night. Well, 50 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: I believe people just respect you so much because we 51 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: always see these athletes in the NBA and the NFL 52 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: who purport to believe in things right. They purport to 53 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 1: believe in human rights and all these different things, but 54 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 1: then in reality they want that money, right, They want 55 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:30,960 Speaker 1: the income from Nike. They you know, they don't actually 56 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: want to put the money where their their mouth is, 57 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: but you do, and you have why do you think 58 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: so many athletes are really actually afraid to stand up 59 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: for the things they say they care about. You know, 60 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: the last thing when I was started to, you know, 61 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: talk about the problems we're happening in China, I wished 62 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: out I wish out to everybody, not only my teammates. 63 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: But you know, it was the perfect moment because it 64 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,839 Speaker 1: was right before the Beijing Olympics. So I literally try 65 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: to reach out to not just people in NBA or 66 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: my teammates, but NFL, MLB, MLS. I even try to 67 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: reach out to or some Olympians. They all told me 68 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: the same thing. They said, Listen, I think what you're 69 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: doing is so amazing, so inspirational. Keep doing what you're 70 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 1: doing so brave, but we love you with supportable We 71 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 1: just cannot do it out loud. I asked them why. 72 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: They said, well, we have shoe deals, we have endorsement deals. 73 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: We want to get another contract. And I asked them 74 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: one simple question. I was like, put yourself in their shoes. 75 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: If your mother, if your daughter, if your sister, or 76 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: whoever was getting torture and rate every day in concentration camps, 77 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: which is still pick money over your morals, values and principles, 78 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 1: and they usually turn around and leave. You know. I 79 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: talked to many of my teammates. Unfortunately, not one of 80 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: them I wanted to stand with me, you know, but 81 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 1: when it comes to every other issue in the world, 82 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: that they are the first one or the first organization, 83 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: the NBA. They just go out there and just say 84 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: things about what's happening. I don't even remember, you know, 85 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: my uh you know teammates were wearing the Ukrainian flag 86 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: pins on their on their chest when right after the 87 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: you know, the war started in Ukraine. Um I was like, 88 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: this is so hypocratical because if just God whole by 89 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: think about if China, Taiwan. I promise you all the 90 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: teal or all these companies, all these athletes, players or 91 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: whoever would not say a word about it because they 92 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: know the consequences that they will face. Quick commercial break 93 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: more with edis cantor well and for people at home, 94 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: if you're you're unfamiliar. Um And has has done things 95 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: like when he was in the NBA wearing shoes that 96 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: said things like free Tibet and calling out Nike for 97 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: using the weaker population. Who are you know there's a 98 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 1: genocide against them in China using Nike of slave labor, 99 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 1: which is what they've done. Uh you know, I mean 100 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: there is a cost to that though you know you're 101 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: no longer in the NBA. Uh, I mean what does 102 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: that tell you? I mean, at the end of I'm 103 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 1: still closing a must have an NBA player does. That 104 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 1: is one of the biggest reasons that I did not 105 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: and asked my retirement because I'm not retired, you know, 106 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 1: I'm just starting thirty. I can play another five six 107 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:32,280 Speaker 1: series in this league. So um, I mean that basketball 108 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: was my passion. Basketball was my dream, especially to play 109 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 1: in the NBA since I was a little kid, since 110 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 1: the first day that I picked up the basketball. But 111 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,360 Speaker 1: I mean, I was just seeing the hypocrisy. I was 112 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 1: just seeing how people are using this, this the social 113 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: justice warrior title to make a name for themselves, you know, 114 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: because I remember two years ago when they put us 115 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 1: in an NBA bubble for over eighty days and and 116 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: being was like, it is all about the social justice. 117 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: It is all about you know, things that that things 118 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: that are bigger than basketball. I was like, okay, fine, 119 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: you know, the kneeling and then talking about this issue 120 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: that issue. Fine, But then two years later this happened, 121 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: and people are picking and choosing what's happening. And I 122 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: told him, like, human assuming it doesn't matter that you 123 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: know the things are happening in America or anywhere else, 124 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 1: you know. Um, I mean, yes, it did come a 125 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: lot of you know, consequences. I pretty much you know, 126 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 1: past my job. But I feel like someone had to 127 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 1: open that door. Someone had to open that door because 128 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: I was like, not not only in the NBA, but 129 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 1: you see Hollywood, Um, I guess Wall Street Academias, big 130 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: Tag Congress, and local congress that are being run by 131 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: the Chinese government. I was like, you know what enough 132 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: to see now someone had to say stuff to this 133 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: uh big mess and ione out then spoke up. But 134 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: you know, even beyond the professional aspect of it, you know, 135 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: right now we're we're seeing in the World Cup you 136 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:11,239 Speaker 1: have Iranian soccer players. The team captain spoke spoken support 137 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: of protests that are happening uh in his own country, 138 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: saying that you know, we support the protests, we support them, 139 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: and we sympathize with them regarding the conditions. And as 140 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: a result, their families are being threatened back home, being 141 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: threatened with torture, imprisonment. But this is something that you've 142 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: experienced with speaking out against Urdawan and your own government. 143 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:32,079 Speaker 1: Intern Well, now you're an American, but when you know, 144 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: growing up in Turkey, of of calling out Urtawan, your 145 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 1: family has faced retribution for that there was an ex 146 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: edition request for your life and for you so so 147 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: talk about sort of that experience with uh, you know, 148 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: having that fear of you know, your government back home 149 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 1: wanting to to do harm to your family and to you. 150 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 1: Of course I'm back in two thousand Ceartain there was 151 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: a coruscious scandal happening searching and it was the first 152 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: time that I said something about it, you know, um 153 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: and because of the NBA platform, and became a conversation 154 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: in the United States and in Turkey, and I was like, 155 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: even one simple you know, either tweet or interview, you 156 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: can affect as much from now and I'm going to 157 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: start pay attention about what's going on in my country. 158 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: More so, I started to study and started to you know, 159 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: speak up. And the more I talked about it, the more, um, 160 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: you know, they put pressure on me and my family. 161 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: You know, my dad was a scientist. You got fired 162 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,079 Speaker 1: from his job. My sister went to medical school for 163 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: six years. She still cannot find a job. Actually, until 164 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 1: this day, my little brother was playing basketball. He literally 165 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: got kicked on every every team. Um. They were getting 166 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: affected so much they had to put a statement out 167 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: there and saying we are disowning and as publicly the 168 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:47,079 Speaker 1: lot of still lot that actually on the internet. Um, 169 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,599 Speaker 1: you know, they the government, Turkish government didn't believe that. 170 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 1: They sent police to my house in Turkey and they 171 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 1: raided the whole house and they took every electronics away 172 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:58,079 Speaker 1: because they wanted to see if I am still in 173 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: contact with my family or not. And they couldn't find 174 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:02,960 Speaker 1: no evidence, but they still took my dad in jail 175 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: for a while, and then you know, they revoke my passport, 176 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: put my name on into polars. Um. That's what That's 177 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,839 Speaker 1: what I'm trying to show, like my teammates, that's what 178 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: I'm trying to show people in America. Like I understand, 179 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: I'm not saying anyone is perfect in the country is perfect, 180 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: but I really want to take my teammates buy their 181 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: ticket right taking to these countries like China, like Russia, Iran, 182 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 1: or Korea and Aziel Cuba, and I can go on 183 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 1: and on, you know, and say, listen, you couldn't decide 184 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: this country and that you know here, but look at Iran, 185 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: look at China, look at Russia, look at North Korea, 186 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:42,199 Speaker 1: look at it as you are like Cuba who have 187 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: or Turkey you know, Um, you know, the athletes definitely 188 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 1: needs to speak up more about what's going on because 189 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: I mean, they're one word could affect and inspire millions 190 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:57,839 Speaker 1: of kids. Um, it's important. Well, you know, and it's 191 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,079 Speaker 1: also important because you know, I am an America and 192 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,559 Speaker 1: I grew up here. But you know, we we do 193 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: see sort of you know, censorship and things like that 194 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,679 Speaker 1: increasing in our country, and it's important to know the 195 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: purpose and what's important about freedom so that we preserve it. 196 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: So you know, what would you tell people as someone 197 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,559 Speaker 1: who has really experienced authoritarianism in a real, real way, 198 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: in a way that we haven't yet, thank god here 199 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: in America, But you know, we fear that happening. What's 200 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: the purpose of freedom, what's the importance of it? Why 201 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: should it be preserved? Yeah, things can change so quickly. 202 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: I remember that things that were happening in my home 203 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: country church Yell. I was like, no, this is one 204 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:37,719 Speaker 1: of the most modern Muslim country in the world, that 205 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 1: things won't get worse, And it literally changed in like 206 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 1: few years. So I feel like, start taking off freedom 207 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:50,240 Speaker 1: for you know, uh, granted, and we don't. We don't 208 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,839 Speaker 1: if we don't educate ourselves things can turn not very 209 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:58,599 Speaker 1: quickly in a bad way. Um No, it's it's like 210 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: I remember, like I agree. So I'll give you guys 211 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 1: some examples so that whoever listening to this can understand 212 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: way better. My manager's wife is Turkish and her death 213 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: liked one of my tweet on Twitter. He was in 214 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:19,079 Speaker 1: jail for certain days. This is how crazy that he 215 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 1: can get, you know, Um, that is only one. There 216 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:24,679 Speaker 1: are so many other people that are that who was 217 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: supporting me was in jail right now. And the crazy 218 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: thing is, I don't know. I never talked about politics. 219 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,199 Speaker 1: I talk about human rights. I talk about human rights, 220 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,079 Speaker 1: I talk about freedom of speech, fremo religion, I talk 221 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: about democracy. Um, so things needed to turn out bad 222 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: very quickly. So that's why I feel like we have 223 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,439 Speaker 1: to educate ourselves and we have to do what we're 224 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: supposed to do to, you know, just go out there 225 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: and live our freedom. And as you're talking about, you've 226 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: not made this political. It's just the inherent human desire 227 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 1: for for freedom and for you know, human rights. And 228 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: one thing that really got you when you're talking on 229 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,719 Speaker 1: stage at the Patriot Awards is you're talking about when 230 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 1: you were young in Turkey and how your friends were 231 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: burning American crosses and American flags and they encouraged you 232 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:13,719 Speaker 1: to take partner, but you were like, I don't know 233 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 1: if this is right. And you went to your mom 234 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:17,839 Speaker 1: and you said, Mom, this is what's happening, you know, 235 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: talk about that and sort of just this inherent desire 236 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: and people for for goodness and a desire for for freedom. 237 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: So yeah, if you're if you're a politician in Turkey, right, 238 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:31,719 Speaker 1: the first thing you do, if you want to be 239 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: elected again, the first thing you do that you attack, 240 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 1: your tack America, you attack Israel, your attack to us. 241 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: The base is just so uneducated. Unfortunately, they just don't 242 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 1: know any better. So every time whenever the politicians hold 243 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: their rally or doing interview, the first thing they do 244 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:51,320 Speaker 1: they attack, and the base is like, wow, look at 245 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: our leader that's standing toll against you know, strong countries 246 00:13:55,760 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: like America, Israel or days of that, right, Uh, which 247 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 1: it's not true. They don't. They just all they do 248 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 1: is just talk um. That affects millions of kids in 249 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 1: the country because all they do is just see propaganda 250 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: in TV, on the streets all realities all day. So 251 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: when I went downstairs to play with my friends. They 252 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: were you know, they were burning flags. They were burning 253 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: American flags, and it's really flags. They were breaking crosses. 254 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: And that's why it was so important to be coming 255 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: from an educated family. They're like, you know, this is 256 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: not the right thing to do. Meet with people first 257 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: and then decide if they're good or bad. So that's 258 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: why I was like, promise, I'm not gonna you know, 259 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna say who's good or bad to like 260 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: meet them. So when I come to America for the 261 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: first time, I met mom, like, these are one of 262 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: the like the most nicest and freedom loving and democracy 263 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: love of people that I ever met. And I visited 264 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: over fifty six count around the world, you know, um, 265 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 1: so I just hope that people can see this in 266 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: America quick break, trust me, you're gonna want to stay 267 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: with us. You're seventeen when you came to America. Was 268 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: that it was seventeen, correct, Yeah, for the first time 269 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: I came here when I was seventeen. What was that like, 270 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: you know, as a seventeen year old to go to 271 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: an entirely new country kind of what was that experience 272 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: like for you? It was very scary because I think 273 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: about this, that you grew up in a country where 274 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 1: the whole your whole life, the whole seventy years of life, 275 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: the only here is propaganda. All you here is how 276 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 1: bad Americans are, how evil the Americans. You know that. 277 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: That's what That's what you'll hear. My family was so educated, 278 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 1: Like you know what, the best the best way to 279 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 1: get your education is not Turkey, going America, learning other language, 280 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: learn different cultures, learn uh, met with people that decide 281 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: they're good or bad, you know. So that's why they 282 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: sent me here. When I was seventeen innute, I remember 283 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 1: I landed for the first time, I landed in Chicago. 284 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 1: I am so nervous. I just don't know what's going 285 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: on and people I'm looking at the people weird. I 286 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: just don't know if they are good or bad, or 287 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: what they're gonna do to me and stuff. But the 288 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: more that the more that you talk to people, you 289 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 1: get to know people you give a chance. They're like 290 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 1: I was like that one of the nicest people. They're 291 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 1: asking me if I need to go to a masque. 292 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 1: They asked me if I want to eat some holal food. 293 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: They're asking me to some places that where I can 294 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: live my culture and religious Really, I was like, this 295 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: is so amazing, you know. Um, I think that the 296 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 1: one thing that I've seen in America that amazed me 297 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 1: the most is how much people spake each other up. 298 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: And that's what I said from my teammates, uh and 299 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: some some American friends, and I gave me so much hope. 300 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 1: At the same time, it broke my heart because there 301 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:07,159 Speaker 1: are over million people I lives in Turkey and there 302 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: are other millions of hundreds of millions of people that 303 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 1: lives in the Middle East. Every day, these kids are 304 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: growing up with this propaganda. So and not many of 305 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: them trust me when I say not many of them 306 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 1: has come from an educated family, so they're growing up 307 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 1: without knowing what America is about. That they're growing up 308 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: very anti Semitic, very entire West, very anti American. Um. 309 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: So that's why it breaks my heart every day that 310 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: no one that these kids, you know, could be a 311 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: threat or to be very dangerous for for for the West, 312 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:44,239 Speaker 1: just because of the politicians, just because of how they 313 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: grew up and stuff. Um. So that's why I'm trying 314 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: to find ways to change that. Well, I believe you 315 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: are and I have an immense matter of respect for you. 316 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: You've actually, you know, sacrificed for for freedom in a 317 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,159 Speaker 1: way that so many people are too afraid to do. 318 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: So it's incredibly honor roll. So you should be so 319 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: proud of what you've done. I read that SpongeBob and 320 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 1: Jersey Shore helps you learn English. I'm sorry about the 321 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: Jersey Shore. It is. I'm not sure if that's the 322 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: best example of America, but oh god, so I'll tell 323 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 1: you the study it is. Actually, so first time I 324 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:20,159 Speaker 1: remember came to America, I was in college. I went 325 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: to the University of Kentucky. So, like, I let me say, 326 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: I'm like trying to learn English, and I have a 327 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: lot of tutors and going to class and stuff. Unlike 328 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: the it's just not the English that I wanted to learn. 329 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 1: I really wanted to learn in English so where I 330 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 1: can communicate with my teammates, my coaches and my friends, 331 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: you know. So one day I asked my one of 332 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: my team and I was like, Hey, I really want 333 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: to get to like, you know, learn about like the 334 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: American culture and the street language that they speaking in 335 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 1: all the streets and stuff. Tell me a show that 336 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: I can watch where I can't just you know, because 337 00:18:55,119 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 1: like watching the TV or like movie whatever with subtitle 338 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 1: is the best way to one of the best ways 339 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 1: you can last darn English, he said, I go, Actually, 340 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 1: I got the best show for you. I was like, 341 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 1: what is it? He said, Jersey Show. I thought, okay, 342 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 1: I had no idea what the show was. I started 343 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,719 Speaker 1: watching Jersey Show. The first episode, the second episode, all 344 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: but this is the crazieste uh yeah, Like if this 345 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:24,160 Speaker 1: is what America is about, they have a problem. Uh Well, 346 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: later on I learned that it's not about assurance stuff. 347 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,680 Speaker 1: It was just a funny funny that's hilarious. I love that. 348 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: I love two and in one, Uh, you became an 349 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:38,120 Speaker 1: American citizen. You change your name to Freedom, which I love. 350 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 1: Your last name to Freedom. Is there anything else you 351 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: want to leave us with before we go? And us 352 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 1: I can't hear. When I was when I was seventeen, 353 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 1: back in two thousand nine, I had a practice. I 354 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: wasn't I was in prep school. I had a practice. 355 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 1: And after the practice, you know, all all my teammates 356 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: just sitting down in the locker room just well on 357 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: our phone and stuff, and I s one of my 358 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 1: one of the posts that my teammate posted on on Facebook, 359 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: he was criticized in the president. I immediately turned around. 360 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:11,159 Speaker 1: I was like, dude, what are you doing. And he's like, 361 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 1: what happened. I was like, I saw your post. He said, okay. 362 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,119 Speaker 1: I was like, well, you know, you might be in 363 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 1: jail tomorrow. They might come and take you away. And 364 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: he's like, the all my team I started to laugh 365 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 1: because they know the environment that I came from, and 366 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 1: they said listen to don't worry about it. This is 367 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 1: not Turkey, this is American. And I was very confused. 368 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:36,159 Speaker 1: So we all sit down and we we started to 369 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,959 Speaker 1: talk about the freedom we having this country. Freedom of speech, 370 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: religion expression, freedom of protests. Just because of you say something, 371 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:48,439 Speaker 1: you don't go to jails, your family won't be torturing stuff. 372 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: And I was like, I thought they were just talking 373 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 1: to a different language because I was so it was 374 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 1: just so random, and you know, and uh, the more 375 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:00,200 Speaker 1: I grew up in this country, you know that I 376 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: became my twenties, early twenties, late twenties, and I was like, 377 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 1: this is the best thing that the God ever given 378 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:09,920 Speaker 1: to this country, to freedom. I want to put that 379 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 1: behind my Jersey and literally inspire millions of kids out 380 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 1: there and just carry that word everywhere. Were with me. Um. 381 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 1: The last thing I will say is, uh, whoever listening 382 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 1: to this, we definitely do our part to make this 383 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 1: country better. It doesn't matter you're Muslim, Christian, white, black, 384 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 1: or whoever you are. We only have one America and 385 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: we need to make this country better together. So that's 386 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:38,399 Speaker 1: my message. I love that, and it's always good to 387 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: get perspective. You know, we've got to preserve freedom. We've 388 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:44,399 Speaker 1: got a fight for it. And as cantor freedom, you're awesome. 389 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 1: Deep deep respect for you and your voice. Thank you 390 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: for what you do, thank you for being you, and 391 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: thank you so much for joining the show. Thank you 392 00:21:52,119 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 1: so much. I appreciate that. H H. What a remarkable guy. Uh. 393 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 1: That was really cool to have that conversation with him. 394 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:17,120 Speaker 1: I I deeply respect what he's done and the stances 395 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 1: that he has taken. It is incredibly brave. Not a 396 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: lot of people can say that the stances that they 397 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 1: have taken have led to, you know, the arrestment or 398 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:28,640 Speaker 1: the retribution being done to their family. So deep respect 399 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: for him. Thanks so much for listening to the show. 400 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: Every Monday and Thursday, but you can listen throughout the week. 401 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 1: I love reading your reviews and staying ratings on Apple Podcast. 402 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: Please do that. I always appreciate it. I want to 403 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 1: thank John Cassio for putting this together. Thanks so much.