AMY GOODMAN: Hi. What’s your name?
PHIL: Phil.
AMY GOODMAN: And how old are you, Phil?
PHIL: I’m twelve years old.
AMY GOODMAN: And who were you just watching?
PHIL: The Dalai Lama.
AMY GOODMAN: And what does he mean to you?
PHIL: He means the future, because he represents hope. And we also—a lot of people at our school, we love to see someone who can set a good example. And because he—even though he’s a leader of Tibet and he’s exiled, he still does good throughout the world. I think that really means a lot. And I really hope that one day everyone will see as he does, that we need to have compassion, and we need to have hope.
AMY GOODMAN: And what school do you go to?
PHIL: Seattle Country Day School.
AMY GOODMAN: Seattle Country Day School?
PHIL: Seattle Country Day School.
AMY GOODMAN: What’s your name?
ELEANOR: I’m Eleanor.
AMY GOODMAN: And how old are you?
ELEANOR: I’m eleven.
AMY GOODMAN: And what did you think?
ELEANOR: Well, I think that it’s a great opportunity for all of us to be able to see someone who speaks with such wisdom and experience. And I’m really glad that I was able to learn from his powerful words.
AMY GOODMAN: What did you learn?
ELEANOR: I learned that there is such thing as a place where everyone can be happy and help each other. And he is a motivation to create that world.
AMY GOODMAN: Where is that world?
ELEANOR: That world is in the future. That world’s in the future.
AMY GOODMAN: And what’s your name?
SHAY: My name is Shay.
AMY GOODMAN: How old are you?
SHAY: I’m eleven.
AMY GOODMAN: Where do you go to school?
SHAY: Seattle Country Day School.
AMY GOODMAN: And what did you think of the Dalai Lama today?
SHAY: I think he’s very wise, and I think he had a message that everyone should hear, and everyone could be compassionate no matter what religion you are, or you’re atheist or whatever. And I think it was a great opportunity for us to see him.
AMY GOODMAN: Will you remember this day?
SHAY: Yeah, I definitely will.