W2, #5: A Story of a Passionate Life

If you have 20 minutes, watch the following video.

What is this video about?  Well, I'm going to let you discover most of this on your own. 

What I will tell you now is that you're going to meet Ben Dunlap, the speaker you'll listen to.  Mr. Dunlap -- the President of Woffard College -- tells the story of Sandor Teszler, a Hungarian man he met at Wofford College years ago, a man who has much to teach all of us about justice...and what it truly means to be a lifelong learner.

Challenge:

• Watch the video (you'll need 20 minutes).
• In 7+ sentences, share your reaction to the story of Sandor Teszler.

Want to learn more about other speakers -- like Mr. Dunlap -- who speak every year at the world famous TED Conference held in California each early spring?  Try this link.  I think you'll find some amazing voices, stories, and ideas, many that you may never be able to forget once you see/hear them.

My only request?

If you find another TED video that you love, share it with me.  Thanks!

Comments

[Student #1]

At first thought, I was amazed at the absurdity of Teszler throwing himself in the face of danger knowing full well what the consequences would eventually be. Pardoning a thief caught red-handed (and especially his response!) were especially shocking to me. Teszler faced peril head-on, and almost single-handedly defeated racism in textile mills. What intrigued me the most is that he achieved this by following an extreme form of personal morality, not selfish protest. He did not let the brutal racism he experienced change his spiritual resolve or incite his hatred. His intellectual achievements of code breaking were a private endeavor; His great textile empire was ruled fairly and without interfering with his own moral makeup. His thoughts were not mired by the political sway of the time, or irrational ideas considered by others. Teszler sought emotional and technical knowledge in a balanced and experienced manner. This man manages to marry ideology and practicality in a strange way that requires a strange sort of wisdom.

[Student #2]

Mr. Dunlap amazes me with the story he tells. The way he protrayed Mr. Teszlar courage and how he faced racism and death without a flinch, moves me. Almost as if he had no fear and knew what was going to happen. Mr. Teszlar courage to deal with textile racism shows how one mans pride can change the way people look on life, and changing the way they act towards others. Mr. Dunlap's story of Mr. Teszlar's bravery and courage, makes me be even further amazed that just any one can change the world. They just need to ignore any obstacles that are in th way and face the problem head on. Just as Mr. Teszlar did. Mr. Dunlap comes across with the point that almost anything is possible.

[Student #3]

What really intrigued me about this video was that I actually was able to follow it and watch it all the way through. At first, the video was utterly boring and I wasn’t able to fully enjoy it. I watched about half of it and the next day I watched it all the way through. The second time around, it was actually a very moving video. The fact that this man was able to face racism with that much courage made me look at the world at lot differently. And with death right at his feet it seemed like he had no fear and let his bravery overcome him. What really got me was, unlike most videos like this, he was inspirationally modest about his bravery. I think Teszlar’s act of courage changed my take on life, and many others as well, making the video more than just a boring story.

[Student #4]

This made me realize the importance of conviction. Some of Mr. Teszler's most amazing feats, such as surviving the holocaust and integrating a southern factory, were achieved through his strong moral conviction. Certainly with the textile mill he had a plan in his mind to integrate the factory, but it would not have worked if he had given the first foremen the chance to separate by race. And by simply committing a random act of kindness, he saves his family from certain death. Without a strong moral conviction, Mr. Teszler would not have survived.
I also find in heartening that someone as esteemed as a university president feels he could still learn from a hungarian immigrant.

[Student #5]

"admiration for people with a complex moral awareness". Mr. Tezler said this in the beggining and I thought it was very true because he himself sounded like a complex person. He is quite funny at some moments too. But on a serious note from his house getting burnt down and living through the Halacaust shows how strong his he is in spirit. His words were very potent throughout his story and I thought it was interesting on how fair of a person he was. "you bring me the best workers that you can find and if they are good enough, i will hire them". When he said this he was talkin to the white man when racism was still in play. He also said that to the black man. He didn't pick a side he just wanted the best he could get. From watching this video i have much respect for Mr. Tezler and I look forward to watching more!

[Student #6]

I did not get the picture but I listened to this while reading Macbeth, and well basically he is describing Mr. Teszler as being a very fair man. When he had to hire workers he looked on white and black workers as equals and said that he would accept the best men, and he selected 8 whites and 8 blacks. Teszler was a very courageous man by almost abolishing racism in the textile industry. He was very powerful and the way he is describes makes me feel like this man was a very important and respected person. Also it shows me that one man can change the world if he is motivated enough to do so. Teszler was not afraid of dying and he wanted to make his mark in the world. Mr. Dunlap was a very funny speaker but he was very serious when he had to be. Dunlap was passionate about one saying that really caught my attention, but I could not type very fast and therefore it may not be accurate: “Learn as if you’ll live forever.”