tv Nevada Newsmakers NBC January 21, 2016 12:00pm-12:30pm PST
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brought to you by reno >> closed-caption of "nevada newsmakers" is brought to you by the nevada trucking association. trucking moves america forward. >> this is "nevada newsmakers" with host sam, a political forum. now from the "nevada newsmakers" broadcast headquarters, here is sam. >> and back on "nevada newsmakers" please welcome for the first time to the program
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the executive director of the northern nevada international center which is affiliated with unr and also funded by the u.s. department of state. let's start by by explaining exactly what it is the international center does . >> so we host visited delegations that are invited by our government to come to the united states and learn who we are as americans. there's a lot of stereotypes people have, they often equate who we are with our foreign policy and that is often not liked around the world. so what we try to do is connect with people on a professional and personal level so that they can dialogue and get to know each other. and that means much them knowing us but us as americans getting to know people from other countries . >> okay. so lynne there's a lot of countries that people come from. but list off some of the different countries around the world so that people understand the breath of what you're doing. >> sure. we host from about 150 countries.
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that the united states has official relations with. so in latin america it could be argentina, chile, mexico, brazil, africa, just about every country that is in africa, south africa, tanzania, uganda, ghana, we have a youth exchange with algeria and the rest of the country middle east, south asia, soviet states . >> a lot of folks from eastern europe. >> exactly . >> so when they come here, what are their preconceived notions of what they're going to find and then, you know, what's the response? and also from the -- the recipients from people here in northern nevada than the only greet them in official functions but host them in their homes? >> sure. so there are three main things that visitors are very much surprised when they
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of 18 years i've been doing my job. i've always heard those three things. one is our ability to speak freely and to have an open dialogue about -- just about any issues. when we have people coming right before elections and a democrat will invite these visitors and invite some republican friends, the visitors are totally shocked that those people could be sitting together at a dinner table. they're surprised by volunteers and i think the united states has one of our greatest strengths is our ability to give and our willingness to make our communities on a grassroots level a lot better. so the fact that it invites somebody that you don't know perhaps with whose politics you don't agree with, you just invite them for dinner. that's a shocker for a lot of visits and of course a very pleasant shocker when they
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and thirdly it's diversity. when they see that people with reconciliation and ethnic backgrounds can live together in relative peace, just like we hear only about the negative things that happen in iraq and the bombings in afghanistan. what they see on the media is the shootings and the police brutality. so that is their image of the united states. so oftentimes when we have visitors, young women who is, well, i'm not allowed to go outside of the hotel because i'm going to be robbed. but that is one of the biggest changes that we see that people really get to know americans and who we really are as a society. . >> and, you know, it's interesting you point this out because if someone would just pay attention to the election cycle, they would have a completely wrong impression of the united states in general. >> right. right.
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most is how much i learn about our political system. we have experts who tell people about, for example, the federalism and how messy our state, local, and federal policies are and how the interaction is so complex and sometimes combative. so they are surprised that within this system, there is some sort of functioning working system that actually -- actually has been established. so, for example, algeria, which is also a regime, the government sets all policy. and there's no room for civil society. so for young people especially to see that there are so many layers of functioning government, of a civil society movement, of a nonprofit sector and the collaboration
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nonprofit sector, private sector, and government. that is the real beauty of what we can show to international visitors . >> and one of the things that's interesting too is how many different judicial groups you bring and they're mixing it up with the judiciary here. >> exactly. our judges are amazing. we have not just the national judicial college, the national council for juvenile and court judges which is one of our country's most amazing institutions . >> which most people don't know is based in reno. >> exactly. but we have local judges who i can call on a moment's notice, and they open their arms, they open their homes, and they love having that engagement with judges from other countries. because it's a huge learning experience for them. so we have a great relationship with our judiciary. it's great . >> and it's got to be interesting because, for example, i attended one
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group of egyptian judges. and mixing with judges from north nevada. >> yeah. >> and it seemed very interesting because their judicial system even though they do have one in place, it's a lot different than the one we have in place in this country. >> right. and i remember that group. they were just fascinating. and the funny thing about that group was we had the event at the community college and about a minute before we had asked the visitors to stand up and talk about what they were going to do, one of the interpreters came up to me and said you're not allowed to have a conversation about religion and politics. so i was, like, okay. well, i don't think there's anybody in this room who would not want to ask judges from egypt about religion and politics . >> i remember that very well. >> yes. it was fascinating. . >> and we did ignore that.
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worked out exactly the way it should. which is we had a conversation about religion and politics. and so officially oftentimes the visitors because they have those stereotypes they don't think they want to talk about those things but then they learn how curious we are and honestly and genuinely don't know and we just want to know so that we can be better prepared to have dialogue and to engage with them, that's what really what public diplomacy is all about . >> let's take a break. and when we come back let's
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international center which is funded by unar and funded by the u.s. department of state. the syrian refugee crisis has gotten more attention in the last several months than anything. and i just don't think the people understand how lengthy the process is for people to be able to come here. and some of the political statements about it's not women and children for the most part. it's young, strong men is, in my opinion, absurd. i'd like to hear your opinion. >> sure. so understanding refugee -- the whole gamut of refugee resettlement and how refugees actually are vetted and then enter a country whether it's the united states or any other country. most people have absolutely no idea how long that process takes. so i'll just talk generally
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then we can talk about this issue. >> yeah. we've got about three minutes. >> united nations for refuge is the main organization that regulates populations worldwide. it is expected in 2016 there will be 60 million people displaced by war -- >> 60 million? >> 60 million. of those 60 million, .1% will eventually be resettled. those 60 million many of them may enter an official refugee camp and be recognized as an official refugee and currently there's only about 10 million people that receive official refugee status. the length of time that somebody can linger in a refugee camp ranges from ten years to -- i've heard from refugees from burma have been
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that means they have a limited access to basic education, and they are in just a terrible situation most of their life. for syrian refugees, which there are now about 4 million, they are put into camps if they choose to stay in jordan, lebanon, and turkey. my expectation is that because the political outcry in the last few months is that in just the last couple of days we have learned that the state department probably will back down to congress and will not allow refugees from syria and iraq to come to the united states. i think the state department has decided that the refugee crisis worldwide is so significant that people from, for example, central america, we will now allow more families especially vulnerable
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america to come to the united states secretary kerry made an announcement about that last week. so i think when syrian refugees try to get resettled, they will go to europe and other places, but they will not come to the united states. >> and when you hear -- we've got about a minute left. when you hear that our concern is that terrorists are going to be embedded in these groups, how do you respond to that? >> i think we have a much better chance of having terrorists embedded in our own society. if you look at homegrown terrorism, the chance of that is significantly higher. the vetting process for not just syrian refugees but all refugees is it's about a 25-step process. . >> and over about two years; right? >> well, over -- yes, it's about 24 months.
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or the dozen years that they've already spent in refugee camps. the new regulations that the state department is now having to work under is that if syrian or iraqi refugees will be accepted, they have to be signed off by the director of the fbi and director of homeland security. so the likelihood that we will get any refugees from those two countries is very low . >> and the sad part is that for those that are going to germany, for example, they will contribute greatly to german society to an aging population and bring ideas and love of freedom and we're missing out on that . >> and that is why we submitted an application for refugee resettlement. because reno will require a highly qualified workforce. and we have always felt that reno is a welcoming community and reno would be able to absorb individuals who want to
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>> thanks >> and back on "nevada newsmakers" we have a great panel as always. lobbyiest with planned parenthood and let me get your thought on immigration system, you know, refugees it seems to me when you look at the videos of these refugees coming -- you know, on land in europe and that you can see that these are families, these are people, you know, so desperate to come anywhere let alone the united states, are we not missing out? >> absolutely and we've totally politicized it. you've got extreme voices picking the most extreme example to say that's representative.
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going to be women and children. you have a lot of professionals in that segment they talked about. you've got engineers and skilled professionals that are not going to go to europe. oh, but they're all young, strong men who are terrorists. and, no, there's not a whole lot of evidence for that. and, in fact, the easier route in is not through this very formal vetting process but through either an illegal immigration or overstay of visa or homegrown. >> buying a ticket. >> yes. and, oh, we just ignore that. >> as a tourist . >> but it makes for a good 30-second sound byte. >> lisa. >> i have to agree. you know, the violence that we're seeing in this country, a lot of it is people who live here already and who are becoming sort of radicalized in some
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that's happening at the national level . >> and we've also had this forever. certainly here in the west and certainly in reno, nevada. you know, the blm bombings 20 odd years ago and now the bundy situation going on in oregon. i mean, you know, oklahoma city, the list goes and on about domestic terrorism. i have to change the topic here because how can we miss out on sarah palin enter the 2016 cycle? let's put on a show. >> well, you know, i -- when she was the vice presidential candidate, i understood her appeal. you have all of these republican men candidates who are trying to be more strict and more dower and more conservative. and then you've got somebody as lively as sarah palin, whatever you think of what she's saying, and you can understand her appeal. i think it's going to be very
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donald trump combine. >> twitch syntax. that's what strikes me. "the new york times" actually went through her speech where she was proclaiming she was in favor of donald trump. and some of the things they were able to explain and some they say we just don't understand. >> my college professor hat on. i understand her appeal and, yeah, she's a lively voice but sooner or later the substance does matter and she gets so many things wrong and there's so many misstatements, but it's a perfect match with trump. trump will say things that are just not true. gives one sentence, no explanation. and if you dare challenge, it's, like, oh, well, you're not a nice person. well, sarah palin, donald trump within, it's like reality tv stars unite. >> isn't this all from the same group in the united states? a portion of the electorate but not the majority of the electorate? >> yes. and i think that, you
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for me, as a, you know, as a republican it's interesting to watch the primary process and how it leans towards or enables these extreme voices that really aren't representative of where republicans are. and i've had a lot of republicans call me after planned parenthood endorsed hillary clinton and say, you know -- but a lot of republicans are pro-choice, and we think this is a private issue. and, you know, how about some other republican candidates? well, unfortunately, all the republicans are opposed to women's access to safe and legal abortion and health care. >> well, it was interesting planned parenthood was attacked for being main street and hillary clinton's response was really? i'm paraphrasing. politics is particularly this cycle it has gotten worse each cycle in terms of of the polarization and each side
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called the mainstream candidates, they're not even heard anymore. all the loud noise really on the far right. again, as a frustrated republican, i just look at this and it's, like, you know, where did my party go? and you've got glenn beck and sarah palin as you mentioned and all of these people that are politicizing planned parenthood. it's all about abortion. no, it's all about women's health issues -- well, it's a budget bust. it's not even 30 minutes of spending at the federal level for the whole year. >> now, i just want toking back and check with you. you are a republican; right? >> still am. it has been on the show many times.
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