"Just Keep Going"
Posted by Luke Rudkowski on Mar 22, 2011
Please let me know what you think about this, honestly i still felt hesitant to release this but I decided to do it anyway to see your reaction and where I should go next with my work. I recently been through a hard time in my life and I am trying to find myself through expressing myself, if I am on the wrong path let me know.
http://twitter.com/lukerudkowski
http://www.facebook.com/LukeWeAreChange
http://http://www.wearechange.org/
Special thanks to Monica Wolski and Cat Watters for the behind the scenes help
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Luke, this is very good. Your journey into 9/11 truth seems to have given you much to think about and made you look at things in a more philsophical way. Don’t stop ! You made ‘em smile. Me too.
Awesome Job Luke! I dig it
“We are all in this together.”
I feel ya Luke. Chin up. This is the cross that must be bared by all great freedom fighters. I’m sorry for all the negative you’ve been through, both deserved and undeserved.
Actually, this is really good. No BS.
Outstanding! I love it! Thank you for sharing this!
This is fantastic and beautiful. I think if we lowered our guards a little bit and got to just talking with each other, we’d see that we’re all more similar than we are different. There would probably a lot less fighting going on, and maybe we would be able to unite as a whole people. That would probably spur a lot of change.
Keep up the good work!
Cool Video… I think your project started out pointless, but then turned into a wonderful exercise in getting people to open up to a complete stranger… I think we need more of this… People talking, people laughing, people coming together and discussing important issues and coming to a resolution… maybe not a resolution for everyone, but a resolution for those few on that train… in your neighborhood… town…state… then ultimately the rest of the country… because, if the Federal Government is too big to function, any solution derived at will not stick… We The People need to chop these problems up into the smallest “Local” pieces and solve them a little bit at a time… and all these small pieces (solutions) will make up the whole…
I think they are great questions. Great research, it is also true about NYC my old City. It’s really interesting to know what goes in people’s mind. A place crowed w/ people and no says a simple “hello”. I noticed that most of whom did not want to speak were listening to an mp3 except the bright, articulate guy wearing the white Jacket. Thanks!
Luke,
I’m sorry to hear you are going through a tough time. I was actually traveling through the city recently and I thought just how isolated everyone is on the subway. It’s depressing.
However, I believe that God put each one of us on this earth to be the absolute best person you could be, and I believe you have personified that goal through your efforts in the 9/11 truth movement. Keep on keeping on, and know that you are in the hearts and prayers of scores of Americans, including this one.
-Kevin Pennell
Saw this on wimp.com, didn’t think I’d watch it all, ended up feelin it.
People are people. People are like u and I – power to em. We all need it.
This was really great to watch. I used to live in NY and I can easily recall how depressed I was to see so many people but never connect with any of them. Projects like these can stir awareness in humanity and hopefully bring us closer together. Keep up the great work!
Wow, this is exactly the way I felt in public transportation yesterday. I wondered the same thing: why nobody talks. All the faces are expressing brick walls.
You made it clear that behind those brick walls are the same human beings as me and you. I almost never comment on these things, but with this one I had to. Keep it up man. I really enjoyed it.
a dutch traveller
Excellent work. People are wonderful. Please keep pestering them into speaking to you. This world can be isolated and anonymous. People are statistics until you look them in the face and ask them a meaningful question.
Truly amazing.
Thank you for the video. You’ve made a lot more than just the people you interviewed smile. This video has over a thousand thumbs up on Youtube so far, and I’m sure many more have seen and thought about this video. I’m not sure if you’re on the right or wrong path, but at least it’s an interesting one.
wow all i can say is wow. this is a good video and really makes you step back and think. awesome job. love the video.
This is one of the sweetest efforts I’ve ever seen and I’m glad I got to see it. Initially it does look, sound and feel like we’re all so disconnected – then one person makes eye contact, talks, asks. Those who did respond were more ready and willing than I would’ve thought, and on some level they all needed to say something, be heard, be acknowledged. Very sweet effort.
I think it’s great that you’re interacting with people. Many people can change their life around just by a single person. Keep up the good work!
You are a true artist and a human being that lives in Love instead of fear.
Keep communicating through your creative endevours. Great video.
It’s really good, I loved every second of it.
btw: check the last link, there’s a double http in it.
This kinda made my day, I for some reason found it very beautiful.
Personally I have only a few times driven on the New York Subway, simply because I live in Europe, but I do commute every day using the Dutch railroad service.
I often thought of doing something like what you were just doing. Here in The Netherlands people don’t sit next to each other, unless there are no other option and they definitely rarely talk to each other. I often wondered why? maybe we just treasure our privacy, maybe we are motivated by fear of rejection. But why? Honestly what could possibly happen?
While I was watching I couldn’t help but thinking what I would have said, had you come up to me.
Probably no I guess, but I would like to think I would have said yes.
Thank you for this little mind blower, it gave me food for thought.
But I really wished someone would have answered 42 to the last question….
And cheer up spring is on us.
I like it, Luke. I think as conscientious people against the enslavement of mankind it is our duty to deliver both truth, as dark as that is at times, and light. I am almost certain that everyone interviewed, or even coerced into selecting a fellow human, was enriched by the experience. That is, they felt closer to humanity than if you were to leave them alone. Only God knows the ripple effect of that.
Great piece of video!
We’ve been conditioned by the NWO/globalists & their dysfunctional system we live under to distrust, fear, see as competitors, be hostile & calculating, etc., to our fellow human beings! We need to turn this around!
Pretentious bullshit. Go fuck yourself.
College Student. Saw this on Wimp.com. One of the most powerful videos I have seen in some time. Please keep up the good work.
Aren’t we all motivated by fear? And is love not motivated by fear? After all, fear is a naturally evolved instinct and isn’t love a by product of the fear of not passing on your gene? Perhaps, everything an individual does is motivated by the evolved fear that they will not survive, or will not produce genetic offspring in their short lives.
I love your video. There is a lot of through provoking questions you asked, regular everyday questions. And its nice to see that people participated. Keep up the good work, I would love to see more of your videos.
This is fantastic, you should have done more people! Also, you should come to Westport, CT for your next interviews, my god you’d get way different answers I think. Westport is only an hour outside of NY by train and a very upscale town. I think videos like this serve as a spark plug for the mind, it kind of initiates conversation and thought and gets the ball rolling. Good Job!
this is awesome it says a lot.
Awesome video! I stumbled across this on Wimp.com
Being from a small rural area, I had the experience of visiting NYC last year and riding a subway for the very first time. A “subway” is a place to eat where I’m from! Anyway, prior to getting on in NYC, my friend, instructed me not to talk or look at anyone. I ask, “why?” With no definite answer, she said, ” you just don’t!” I left it at that. I am so glad you posted this! Now I can see that people are afraid of each other for no apparent reason, possibly fear of the unknown. For a short period of time, you broke the silence, most people were open and you were able to touch on their purpose in life. “ALL people” ultimately have the same goal. To be accepted and loved. Love is the key word! If you have “true love” in your soul, for ALL (family or strangers) I believe everything will take care of itself. We “ALL” are somebody!
I came across this, very well said by an innocent child http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVJpvA1nO9w
Again, thanks for posting & btw, I lov’d the subway!
Hi Luke,
I think it´s a good thing you’re doing here. Not putting words in anyones mouth, but letting the man on the street (or in the metro) speak for him or her self. Good job man, and a great initiative. The world needs more people like you.
I think the more we are allowed to see the humanity in each other and ourselves, the more we are confronted with the obvious choice: peace. Your film brings us face to face with ourselves. I, too, would have been quietly sitting on that train, not talking, making assumptions about the people around me based on their looks or posture, etc. Instead, you showed that in fact, I would have answered just the same way. With hesitancy at first, but then with honesty. Ergo, we are all shy at first and then we feel our truth and speak it. We are all the same. Blessings to you.
This is so great! You should expand on this.
I’m so glad you decided to post this video. People want so much to be heard and acknowledged. I bet if you did this on the same subway, on a regular basis, people would start looking forward to seeing you there.
We often feel alone and like no-one cares what we think or have to say. Heck, just asking “How was your day?”, and “What was the best or worst thing that happened to you, today?” would make people feel good. I really good question (in the right setting) is, “If you knew me better you’d know that..”(fill in the blank)”. People want to talk. But they’re too afraid. Each fear as individual as the person.
I’m at a tough moment. Anxiety, stress, fear of failing my courses and thereby my dreams and goals. However this video picked me up, and check the view count… Its being appreciated (in all senses of the word).
I have always loved that song, what is it?
Can you write some of your questions? I’d love to have these openers because I love Philosophy however I’ve lately found information boring and people interesting.
Thank you for this video. Very powerful, and I sure needed to see this today. You very much touched my heart with this piece…to see other people who are seemingly alone…that you reached out to talk to them, very, very powerful to hear their thoughts. Thank you, again, for this today.
Thanks for you efforts Luke, i enjoyed the video and share in your feeling of desparation in the awaking of minds. Enjoy your days, Luke. and keep the fight alive.
great video–question is if not you, who? Do you matter and does your work matter? Are “down” times bad or are they merely preparation for the “good” to come? It’s good to question ourselves if that leads to discovery and not to self destruction. See what your video has provoked!!! I vote for you to continue!
You were right at the end–at the very least you brought another smile into existence.. you can add mine to that group. I’ve been feeling this way too for a while, and your video helped me see more humanity in people, even when I’m not riding the subway. Thanks Luke, Monica, and Cat.
Hoping for better days for all of us.. we are the change!
Hi, I am one of the people you asked to film and I said no and you filmed me without my permission anyway. You came on the D train at 11 o’clock at night and shoved a camera in my face without explaining who you were or what you were doing. You didn’t introduce yourself, all you said was you were doing a “project” and “could you ask me some questions”. If you had explained yourself and your intentions, I would have spoken with you. It may be public space (even though I am pretty sure you need a release form to do this), but I actually thought you were quite aggressive, Seth, hence my suspicious reaction.
I’m not going to be an ass and tell you to remove my footage (I am the white woman in black with the long brown hair) but there’s a million and one ways you could have handled that better.
Living in New York, there’s always some “man on the street” type who wants to get an “average citizen’s” point of view and the newscaster will grab you on the street and then try to structure the questions so that the deer in the headlights unassuming person answers the way the film maker wants them to answer.
Please be more clear in your intentions next time before you approach tired people on the train at 11 o’clock at night. Maybe they would have a better reaction. And oh my God please Alex Jones lovers do not attack me for being annoyed with Seth, I am totally in support of the 9/11 Truth Movement, I have supported and promoted your efforts for years, just be more transparent in your motivations next time and maybe you will get more people to speak their mind more freely. This is not an indictment against 9/11 Truth or whatever, it’s just an expression of feeling kind of jostled up and used in a project without my permission. Bad form.
I am sorry you are going through a rough time, but you really could have taken another approach. I would have spoken with you if you had told me who you were and what you were doing besides “it’s a project I am working on”.
Good luck with everything.
Excuse me, I got your name wrong, I guess it’s Luke? Apologies!
Men are conditioned to hate their gender identity thanks to feminism. But at least Manhood Academy is doing something about it: http://goo.gl/obiC
Hi Luke,
Your video inspired me. Thank you for your courage to be human and show interest in your fellow men.
Nick
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
This is a really lovely piece, I’m glad you took the plunge and shared it. Brought tears to my eyes. I always talk to people on the subway- I know I’m an anomoly- but this reminded my why I always feel confident that NYers are hugely kind, interesting, brilliant, and more generous of spirit than you’d ever know. However, it doesn’t happen enough. I remember sitting across from a guy one day who was struggling to get some cufflinks back in his cuffs (it was hot, he’d rolled up his sleevs, but needed to get them back unrolled) and when I offered to help, he burst out laughing he was so shocked. I helped him do his cuffs and he told me he was on his way to a job interview, and that he was starting to freak out a little, but that I proved to him that were still good people in NYC. I never saw him again, but I hope that renewed spirit about his town helped him ace that interview
I know that small moment vividly, it helped me feel great about NYC too. Keep talking to people, keep making the videos. The world reflects back at us what we project into it…this project was a great idea! Keep it up.
(PS- My best friend met her husband on the subway…maybe you can start looking for those moments when people interact — perhaps there are more than you realize!)
I’m a senior at a high school right out of Philly. I’m a member of the Satell Teen Fellowship for leadership and social activism. As part of the fellowship, I’ve been asked to create my own commitment project…on something that I’m passionate about. I recently watched your video and was completely blown away. My commitment project is based on raising diversity awareness throughout Pennsylvania. I’m trying to bring in guest speakers to help build an understanding that goes beyond the phrase ‘no place for hate’. Your video really helped me realize that I want my project to be more than just raising diversity awareness, but instead how we find our own meaning of life. I’m planning to set up a couple of assemblies and I’d like to know if you’d be interested in helping me by showing this video to a couple of Philadelphia schools and perhaps talking about it as well. I understand that you’re probably busy, but this video is absolutely incredible.
Even tho you are on your own self realization quest, releasing this video shows you are on a path towards something. You need not know what that is, at this time in your life and in the end it doesn’t matter what the future holds. You are expressing yourself in a neat and constructive way.
Your work is good. Why? You have found a way to ask yourself the powerful questions, you asked the subjects in the video. By listening to complete strangers dozens of times during editing, you have formulated your own answers. What does that mean? and what has that got to do with the work? The video is good, because the story is good. The story is good because the questions matters to you.
What did the video do for me? It again opened my eyes to the eloquence and thought processes of strangers that project so little when I see them on a subway or in the streets. Your simple but deep questions draw out of your subjects profound beliefs and ideologies. Glimpsing into their lives, encourages me to answer these question in my own life … and thats a good thing.
It also encourages me to take my own 5Dmk2 out and continue this project in my home town, do you mind? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Tech Q: it looks like your using 2.8 lenses, due to the short depth of field, whats your shutter, ISO and color setting? And how did you pull focus so well given all you had was the LCD?
Thanks
Finally keep it up, your on to something here
This is brilliant.
I stumbled on this earlier today after several weeks of feeling as though darkness was overtaking the world. The political climate with its chronic doublespeak and attempts to turn us against everyone who could some be considered an “other” (terrorists, muslims, jews, gays, women, democrats, republicans, blacks, elderly people, public workers, unions, teachers, the list is as long as there are numbers of people) seemed to have sucked out my soul. Your video reminded me that the world is made up of real people who are not all that different from myself. I cried. I laughed. And I felt a little bit more human. THANK YOU.
I really enjoyed seeing this this morning.
I like to listen to a stranger to hear about there life and their views, seeing the actual person behind the face. I’d love to study people, outside the books, and play a part of your work…. from waaay over here in Vic City. Let me know if there is anything I can help with… or just keep me posted on more of what you do.
Great job on the video. Found it on the wimp.com site and posted it to fb myself.
This is a really good piece of art. The most interesting part (IMO) was to see the reactions and expressions of the characters.
You could have kept going with more questions about life, (ie, religion, war, money, etc).
I dig the piano in the background. Great job. I posted it to my facebook.
keep ur head up luke. great stuff! love the way you put that together. love to see more like it. much respect
That was a wonderful video Luke. You make me want to invest in equipment to record my own videos some day. Your courage and simple urge to interact with people is a valuable asset to humanity that many people take for granted.
Like you said by the end of video, at least you made some people smile and consider their own lives for a short while. It can be hard to think about and hearing other people’s opinions is never useless. I’m interested in seeing more if you decide its worth pursuing further. I sure do!
Its a great video, most people (including myself) can’t force themselves to go and talk to strangers randomly, its a social structure we built ourselves and now it is just pressing us down. I try to keep myself and everyone around me happy. Keep this up Luke.
It’s beautiful. I watched it few times and always makes smile on my face.
I really enjoyed this video, I had never heard of We Are Change until I stumbled upon it and now I’m excited to learn more! Thanks for sharing, great job!
This is great. Keep it up. Things will always get better.
p,s, What is the piano in this? It fits perfectly
Thank you for creating something like this and allowing us to appreciate the hearts of those around us.
I was once on the metrolink (the Manchester equivalent to the subway). And i said to my girlfriend at the time:
“Just look at all these people for a moment, each person in this carriage mush have something very interesting to say, but we dont know what. They are like books on a shelf you can see them all, but once you make contact with them you can discover something beautiful. Some people have been alive longer than we have and i wonder what wonders that could tell me”.
It was nice that we sat and gave it some thought, next time you’re sat on a train bus etc.. just look at some one and wonder what they have possibly been through and what story they could tell you.
Hugs from Manchester.
R.
Great job. You actually got people to speak, perhaps under stress, but they spoke. The subway has changed since I rode it in the 1960s, but people didn’t speak to anyone they didn’t know. At least it is cleaner.
Your premise is good and your choices for the film with the responses and editing made the film a wonderful view. Thank you for a nice presentation.
Beautiful.
Awesome video! made me feel really good! keep up the good work, hopefully you’ll make another like it!
put a smile on your face, puff out your chest, keep your chin up, and face the splendor that is our world
I think you have made some great footage. It really show the human inside these random people you could meet at every corner on the street.
Keep it up. Good luck from the Netherlands
This is wonderful! Great questions, honest answers.
May I show this at my church’s Youth Group to start some open-ended discussion?
this was amazing. it made me thinking about what is truly important. inspiring!
I think this project is tremendously interesting, Luke. Keep up the good work. Mucho Love and Respect!
Simply amazing. Great video. I ride the subway around the city all the time and it is exactly as you have described. You really have shined a light in the dark with this. I think in this rat race of life, we forget that the people around us, are people like us. I would love to see more videos of you doing exactly the same thing. Who knows, you may run in to me some day.
Fascinating. I have thought the same thoughts riding the subway in Los Angeles. Here we are, opposite ends of the country, on the same page. I’ve found that people in general, no matter where they are, are often very similar.
Dear Luke,
I would appreciate it if you would please contact me.
I would like to express my appreciation for your work, as well as discuss some future projects with you.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
ilo at iloilojones dot com
iloilojones.com
ProjectGnap.org
MeansofInquiry.org
Luke, what you’ve done – touch the lives of ordinary persons, delve into what they think about some deep subjects, and share those moments with us – is a really worthy thing. Worthy of our attention and thought, worthy of sharing and passing on, worthy because it helps us all know ourselves a little better by deepening our understanding of others. That’s what life is about… learning is what makes us each better at making our own lives more meaningful so we can contribute to others’ well-being in the circle of life.
Thanks…
Excellent video, it just goes to show you that people hold true values anywhere in our country. Keep making the videos.
i truly admire the simple piece of work. I ride the MTA everyday, same train line, and I have encountered the same realization, the shells that people inhabit, the ‘fuck offs’ on peoples faces, the misery, fear, and overall negativity. And if I would have bumped into you on the train, one would have naturally been reluctant, but I would have been glad to share the same discussion. Great choice of questions! It gave me an outlook of where some people’s heads were at. It also puts some other of my thoughts into perspective. I constantly observe and encounter challenges similar to these on a daily basis, and it is great that you broke into these shells and asked daring, meaningful, and thought provoking questions. Madd props.
I’m glad you decided to post this. Your positive impact on people has now spread outside the confinement of those subway lines, reaching out to those past the borders of New York, as you have done to me. Caught up in a busy life filled with expectations, I feel the pressure and stress to perform and succeed, and take I what we value most for granted. Thanks for reminding us, through the once unheard voices of everyday people, to take a step back and enjoy, love, and live life.
Keep doing what you do, and exactly the way you do it. I love the way you get people to who decline to pick another person. Their participation and the result of their choice in person may cause them to reconsider by opening up the next point in their life when they are given the opportunity to meet and converse with a stranger.
In the past year, I have been changing. I’m more positive. More focused on being a good person and treating people with dignity. You are NOT on the wrong path. I am sure you have changed someone’s life by your project…in fact, you have changed me. People need to be more aware of themselves in order to better themselves. I’ve been going through my own rough patch. I’m dealing with holding myself accountable for my past life. It’s not easy. I’ve have successes and failures and the guilt is not easy to get over where the failures are concerned. Your project has inspired me to work harder at what I know is right. Please keep going. You have inspired ME.
Cool project. After watching this I decided to forgo my headphones at the bus stop habit. The next morning I met a Pakistani man and by the the time we parted ways I had heard his thoughts on religion, family, love.. Thanks for inspiring me to connect with the people around me, rather than walk around in the bubble we all seem to think we exist in.
This was amazing, I absolutely loved it. It’s awesome seeing all these different people’s opinions, and seeing them all open up to a stranger and feeling comfortable doing so. I could have watched that for an hour, would love to see more.
Hey, that is a very interesting film. I felt a sense of healing and expanding self awareness in each of the people being interviewed, and I myself felt a similar expansion. My only major critique is the soundtrack – having that one track from Amelie looping… I dunno. The whole film felt a little bit biassed because of it (the song’s atmosphere), as though there was a point in mind, like, “These people being interviewed are –”. I think it would have struck an even deeper note if there was no music at all – just a straight up viewing of some of the human body.
I caught wind that you ran into trouble – I hope you’re doing well and I’d like to see more works like this!
Luke…awesome work bro, keep it up…change will come
Excellent! I emailed it all around. Better sustenance than most of the content out there.
Why are we here? In the simplest terms, “to recycle”. Humans, like all other living things on this earth are here to change molecules from one form to another. Any other reason is just a distraction.
Randomly saw this video and it really touched me. I’m going through a tough time as well right now and also feel like I’m so out of touch with the world. There are days where I don’t leave my apartment. Seeing this motivates me to try to keep calm and carry on.
Thanks Luke.
I love it, and obviously the people you interviewed love it, too. Every little bit we do to remind ourselves and each other that we are all in this together is a good piece of our continued evolution. We are doing it right now.
I think the meaning of life is simple – love. And your piece shows a love of people and of breaking free of our communal isolation.
I think this is amazing. You made me smile, Luke.
love it!!
I have to say this is absolutely one of the best short films I’ve seen in a very long time. I showed it to my wife last night and she agreed. Taking an impersonal almost cold environment and prying away at the protective barriers people artificially erect to expose the real essence of the people underneath. This is a tremendous work of art in my opinion. Luke has real talent in the way the movie flowed and was presented to the viewers.
Great job Luke ! Please continue with your work and keep your spirits up. Life always has a lot of ups and downs and you sometimes just need to just go with the flow … even in dark times which my wife and I know about first hand. We hope to see more of your work.
Jim & Yvonne
Clearwater, Fl
one of the best things i have seen in awhile. really lifted my spirits, thank you.
This is a really good short film, well done. And I hope you’re feeling better.
The meaning of life is love.
YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH…but, on some level, YOU already KNOW that. I am only 3 minutes into your video and need to tell YOU how much I ADMIRE your willingness to reach out and ASK others about Life. I believe we are all One, so as you seek from others, so shall you find your Self. Many thanks for sharing this work, Natalie
p.s. places you may care to investigate to further your growing expansion: Daily Dream Builder, free letter from MaryMorrissey.com; also, TheTappingSolution.com – meridian tapping is a POWerful tool to heal physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental PAIN.
We are perfect, whole, and deserving of ALL our dreams.
Hi Luke,
Today I go to take a lab exam as part of my Registered Nursing refresher course. I have had difficulty doing it at all and have never been able to find the motivation to do it as well as I would have liked.
I was moved by your clear and poignant questions in this video. I find that they have awoken a kernel of self knowledge that was hitherto subconscious. In one instant, on pondering your question about motivation, I realised that for most of my life my motivation has been fear, interspersed on occasion with the motivation of love, but overwhelmingly it has been fear. It is why my life is not one of note, nor one of high achievement, or of particular happiness. How can fear possibly motivate us to be our best? It spurs us to only do the minimum necessary to prevent that which is feared. It does not spur us on to truly excel at our most soulful level.
Love energizes and makes our spirits grow. Fear shrinks our spirits up. This epiphany is enough to help me to live better and in a more conscious way. If nothing else, know that it touched me in a meaningful and life changing way.
With sincerity,
This was awesome. I think it was inspiring, and will bring a lot of hope to a lot of people. Way to go! Keep on keeping on!
No… this is really cool… it made me smile
I am sitting at work on a college campus.
I have so much opportunity to make a difference and to make a life
to talk to a stranger
to make others happy
to be one person in government to trust to be truthful
each person has so much potential
each individual can make such a difference
I have the power
You have the power
WE can make a difference
this is great, wish there were more interviews! continue with your project, keep asking good questions!
Thank you. It actually brought a tear to my eye. It shows how beautiful people really are.
The meaning of life? James Taylor says it’s enjoying the ride. I agree.
You’re video made me smile. Thank you for that.
As a fellow NYC commuter, I admire what you did … I’m sure the people who agreed to be interviewed by you left the subway that day happier than when they came.
You aren’t alone in your suffering … Open your mind and your heart as wide as you bear and continue to let the world in … and your pain will find a way out.
i know this is a little off topic but what’s the song that is playing in the background?
Love it! I found it inspiring and heart-warming, and it makes me feel like I am not alone. Thank you for doing this film and thank you for sharing it.
This is a really pretty piece of journalism. Definitely not the wrong path.
Really liked it!
amazing video
would love to see more of the same genre.
By the way you facebook link doesn’t seem to be working. bummer.
No need to hesitate putting this out. I think it’s a very touching film. It made me smile and gave me goosebumps! Kudos!!
Love you Luke. I’m a middle aged middle class mom who and grandma wants the world to be a better place for everyone!!!
This is beautiful and its really inspired me
Thank you for this video.
Sometimes people need to be approached to remind them that they exist. When we just sit quiet in a group of people we somehow get the idea that we are only observing, as though we are watching a TV show.
Wow! What a great idea and well done. This is so inspiring. To me the meaning of life is the evolution of consciousness. What I mean by that is a state of mind non-polluted by conditioning. Social, psychological, physical conditioning… To be really free, we must be aware. Thank you for sharing this.
very good! I notice, even in my small town that many people don’t want to converse or even look at people they don’t know. I think that if people would look around and communicate, they would see that things are not what they seem at first glance. It’s interesting that a lot of these people couldn’t even describe what Freedom is.
Keep up the good work!
Someone is doing this in the subway in Paris (France) since two years.
http://linconnudumetro.metrofrance.com/
(translation of title : “strangers of subway”)
I like you’re project. Regards and keep it up.
Excellent!
Loved your video. We visited NYC for the first time recently (from Australia). My wife was attending a Settlement House conference at NYU and I spent days just walking around or riding the subway watching people and trying to interact with others as much as possible. In my view your project is important. I believe that Peace, both personal and global, comes from personal interaction and understanding between people.
Luke,
Such a good beginning, a personal cleansing of your own soul.
I work with guys seeking to change their lives and we use a similar exercise to make powerful changes.
I recommend you continue this exercise with the following alterations:
Make this a 30 Day Challenge to talk with 30 New People a Day.
Reach out to 30 different people everyday for 1 month – no days missed – and videotape your interactions with them.
Use the same questions (but no government ones):
Why are you here?
Where are you going? In your life?
What motivates you more: fear or love?
What does freedom mean to you?
What makes you happy?
What is the meaning of life?
I promise you your life will be completely different one month following beginning this challenge.
You are an amazing man and I respect you immensely.
Always the Best,
K44
Luke
I have been so impressed by your work. I am from Philadelphia and it seems there is no one here to spread the word on the NWO or 911 truth. I wish I were 30 years younger and in better health. I wish you were here to spark our young people into some kind of awareness and action. I have tried in my own way to no avail. They need to hear the message from someone in their own generation. You have accomplished so much already. You should be proud. There is so much still to do. Don’t give up.
Thanks.
Luke, listen to the guy on your video. If your doing what you truly want to do then obviously your on the right path. Sometimes it seems like your alone because not many people understand reality, and trying to get them to understand so that you can help them further their own progress can be like trying to go to the deepest part of the ocean on one breath. Life can be a struggle, especially if your trying to free your own species. Its a lot of weight to take on ones shoulders. Always keep in mind that the more you do and have done, the more peoples minds get free and the more they are willing to help take some of that weight off your shoulders and help you carry it. You have inspired me to do the best I possibly can, as well as many other people i’m sure. The gratitude for what you have already done is impossible to put into spoken language. You show people its okay to be themselves, their true one. You show people that they dont have to feel like they are being squashed all the time, that they can stand up and do something about it. Keep showing your light to the world, and they will see they can let theirs dispell the darkness as well. If none of these words mean anything, at leaste you help me wake up my community… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vFeUCn8qXA
Hang in there brother, we can win this if we all work together. Thats kinda the point of life I think. To be of service to others.
This is a wonderful video! I posted it on my Facebook page. Thank you for taking the time and risk to remind these people and all of us who see it of the common human experience we are sharing (or missing in forgetfulness) in every moment.
Thanks Luke, you just made my day. Very inspiring work, I really enjoyed watching it. You really should do more of these, you certainly have the talent.
I can’t say that I’ve been having a hard time, but i feel I’ve been lost for a long time now and i can’t find myself. I keep getting small sparks of inspiration and those are what define my journey.
Your clip was one of those sparks! It is beautiful!
I’m saying this so you know that even though you’re hesitating to share this film, I’m really glad you did because it helped me and i bet it inspired many others too!
I’d love to see more clips like this, showing real people sharing things nobody else would ask them!
Keep it up!
Luke, this is a great piece, honest, interacting with humanity, and it also gives us insight into how people think in a place like this. If you were to go somewhere else, you would have a lot of diverse reactions, and opinions, by asking questions you are doing the right thing, giving people answers is not the way, make people question their existence,and your documentary shows this, but….
when people are asked about FREEDOM, have no idea what freedom is,
WE ARE NOT FREE, WE HAVE NEVER BEEN
Jesus of Malibu
http://www.jesusofmalibu.com
Jom THE REVOLUTION FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE MIND
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-fL_Yo0oWo
Hi,
A friend just sent me the link to your video, and i am thankful to her. And to you. Your idea is a great one. It’s giving people an opportunity to express themselves. It’s creating a moment of sharing and grace.
I wish i could have taken the subway in NYC!
Please keep doing this the way you feel it is better for you, because it’s good for other people too!
G.
it’s thought provoking to see how many people you actually pass every day and have no actual interaction with. people always seem caught up in everything, but when you stop and learn to a bit- i feel you find that humans are overall decent and caring. this put a smile on my face and a happy tear to my eye because this sort of stuff makes me believe in humanity. thank you!
Wow. Deep stuff. Keep doing what you are doing! please.
Hello Luke,
I just saw your NY Subway video and found your work touching and deserving of letting you know how well it is done. It made me think and try to understand more about life and the way we are. On a microcosm level, your subway experiment is a great example on how things work. People ignore one another each and every ride. Can you imagine if all of these people knew each other? Not only would they feel better but in addition they now would have a personal connection to one another, so in times of need, how many would feel no problem helping a friend? This is the basic Divide and Conquer strategy and it can be seen here on the train.
Sincerely, I hope you continue to do this great work and try to enlighten each and every person who watches your reports.
Watched your video, was hugely inspired and that’s from the heart!
Best wishes from the UK friend.
I truly enjoyed it. thought it looked and sounded real. thought it WAS real. impression was that people – invited to speak – were actually WILLING to do it, as if they had been longing for it…. Did YOU enjoy sharing these people’s thoughts? Did it take a hard editing work? You were clever. Thank you for offering it to us all.
Elisabetta, ITALY
This is beautiful and perfect
This is really a great video, it really hit close to home. I’ve been mulling over the idea of doing something similar to this here on the light rail in Denver for the last few months with a friend of mine, for the same reasons too. I love what you’ve done with this video, keep on keepin’ on.
This video is increadibly inspiring. I am a Teaching Assistant and will be sharing your message with students in my class. You’ve reached to the heart of what is so completely absent in all of our lives–the ability to talk to one another–and while it is sad in the sense that we end up leading isolated lives, the consequences of this isolation goes far beyond that. It is our fear of talking to one another about the stuff that matters that leaves us as citizens powerless–to demand transparency of government, for example, as this topic is brought up by you in the video. Dialogue is at the heart of democracy. You obviously get that though, so I will stop being redundant.
Good Job!
This was really awesome, Luke. I’m an amateur film maker also and I have had similar experiences on buses and trains in the Canadian city of Vancouver.
It’s amazing that when people begin talking about universal ideas it becomes so clear how similar we are. Suddenly the outsides melt away and we realize we are all connected and think, feel, strive for, and love the same things. I found myself identifying with each person in a different way. And your filming style is really great. Thank you for this. It gives me hope. I wish you well.
Right path. Right path! I lived in Chicago in 2005-2006 and I felt exactly the same way on the El train/subway there. Everyone was silent, playing sudoku, listening to music (myself included). Everyone in dark clothes, sad faces, cold hearts–or at least that’s how it seemed. Now I wish I had had the courage to speak to people.
I really like the projekt, you should definitely continue!
There was one question I was hoping for that you nevera asked though, I think it would be great to make your last question something about whether or not they enjoyed the talk. I’m guessing many would say yes. Then you could somehow point out that if they enjoyed it mayby others would too and that they should not be afraid of interacting with other people, even if its just a smile.
Imagine if half of the people you meet in one day of the project would recognize the people around them by for example a smile. That smile could mayby in 1 out of 10 times make someone feel good enough to encurage them to repeat the previous step and the world would take at least one step towards becoming a warmer place.
Cheers!
This video is provocative, authentic, human, and real. Thank you for defying the cultural norm of ignoring your neighbor in the city. It’s easy to feel lonely in such a crowded place. But your project reminds me that we are all in that same position, coming from similar perspectives. So why not smile and say hello to one another?
This is a beautiful and inspiring video, very much in the tradition of Charlie Veitch from the Love Police in London. I believe by giving these tiny little impulses to the people you questioned as well as the people who will watch this video you create a ripple effect and can subtly change the world inside out. Thank you for your courage and inspiration, keep it up, Luke!!
Love your video..
God bless you
Luke, I had posted your clip on the community website from http://www.awakeningasone.com and somebody made a comment that I didn’t want to withold from you:)
Jon Carlos Jacobs wrote in response to your clip; Your project is incredibly beautyfull and inspiring … Keep poulishing those diamonds… People are only afraid of themselves, of their own light so theyve covered the jewels in their hearts with a dark coal of fear waiting to be discovered by someone like you.. A shining diamond star … Dont doubt follow your heart… Youve got nothing to loose
As for me, great work, keep on inspiring, every action you take has an impact on the quantumfield, don’t underestimate the butterfly effect:)
E Pluribus Unum,
Love Tamara
This is truly an amazing video, and an amazing concept. The whole video brought a smile to my face. It just shows that all these folks we see in our everyday lives are actual people, with actual thoughts, lives, opinions and views. But we never get to see it, or experience it, because we’re so used to the idea of isolating ourselves. I think it would be interesting to do this project in other cities in the world, see how folks in other countries react to something this out of the ordinary.
Keep up the very inspiring work, my friend.
simply beautiful…
Verry Good Job!
Hi there
Thanks for this video, so touching and so real. We live in a big world, we are millions of people and yet still alone ! Thanks for this
Very inspiring, Emotional, Touching, Please keep the drive towards this type of work. The New York people need ‘An Interviewer’
This actually made me tear up a little bit, i’ve often sat on the underground wondering what the lives of the people around me are like, thinking to myself how much is going on in these peoples existences that i don’t know. I really truly think this is amazing, and i thank you for having the courage to ask where i don’t.
Amazing work. This really touches home… from a born and bred “New Yorker” that takes the subway everyday.
i usually never write comments nor do i visit the original website from which i saw an interesting video. but this video is different. now it feels more like people around me in the subway are less zombie looking than i thought,and more human, just like me.
thank you luke.
Its a great look at humanity. Honest and true. We often forget our life is not the only one shining in the night.
I agree with all those who have already posted. The emotion was captured in your video as it should be. My advice. You will always be hesitant with work you are personally involved in. I am my worst critic and hold myself to such an obtainable standard that I can never meet it. Let go of your own criticisms and embrace the freedom of sharing the information regardless if it is up to your standard. Once you let it go the feedback will validate your image that is already far beyond any standard but ur own. If u find the time check out my recently created blog and offer feedback if you see anything beyond what I know I’m already not doing. I have lots of poetry however my blog only contains one of my poems. It is under the label ripplebypebble. Thanks. You have talent.
Dear Luke Rudkowski,
Thank you for sharing this great idea you had with the rest of those who may see this video….I saw it by accident.
I liked all your thought provoking questions and my heart went out to all those you interviewed. I enjoyed listening to all the answers, they all struck me as genuine caring people.
Most of the time they had to think really hard for an answer, but I noticed that one girl in particular, seemed to have the answers on the tip of her tongue especially when you asked her about the governments and she said that human rulerships have had a history of failure…., which is absolutely true!!! At that time, I was almost sure she was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and I was absolutely right as she was the only one among all, that knew the answer to…. What is the purpose of life?….”to serve God!” and of course she was proud to identify herself as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as I’m proud of being one too! In fact, your questions also made me wonder if you too were also a Jehovah’s Witness.
Luke, if you just observe a bit more, you will notice that Jehovah’s Witnesses as a group, are outstanding in this respect of interacting with others around them and starting conversations with total strangers about questions that people normally do not take time to ask themselves (as you did so beautifully). And interestingly what motivates Jehovah’s Witnesses to do this is above all – LOVE!!!! Love for God and Love for neighbor!!!! That should be a wonderful possession of every human being on this planet, don’t you think so, Luke?
I too used to be quiet and much to myself but since I have studied the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses and gained the knowledge of the Truth about God, the Purpose of Life, and that this life is not all there is but that God has in store a beautiful future for all who want and serve Him out of Love not Fear and after I became one of them I have found true joy and have also been motivated to spread this knowledge and joy to others too. Since then I have met so many people of all walks of life and had the joy of sharing with them many things that have made me the happy person I am today with a purpose in life.
If our purpose in life is to serve God – this in turn makes it possible to love our neighbors as ourselves, to reach out to them and to share with them your joys too without expecting anything in return, knowing that this is pleasing to our Creator who wants all humans to be at peace with each other and love one another from the heart.
Keep up the good work you are doing….but since you asked……
“Please let me know what you think about this, honestly i still felt hesitant to release this but I decided to do it anyway to see your reaction and where I should go next with my work. I recently been through a hard time in my life and I am trying to find myself through expressing myself, if I am on the wrong path let me know.”
…..may I offer you the best suggestion I could…when you meet a Jehovah’s Witness (you are bound to, as they are everywhere even knocking on every door) ask them to answer any of these questions:
? Why do we suffer?
? How can we cope with life’s anxieties?
? How can we make our family life happier?
? What happens to us when we die?
? Will we ever see our dead loved ones again?
? How can we be sure that God will fulfill his promises for the future?
And then listen to what they have to say….or what they read straight from the Bible (theirs or yours, doesn’t matter) the rest of course is up to you…
Wishing you all the best with the continuation of your project,
Agape,
Liz
Loved this film, it even made me to almost cry. To see these beautiful people and what was going on in their minds and how they responded to your questions. Beautiful!
Beautiful video, inspiring comments, very very interesting but most of all,it shows you how human beings are beautiful internally and kind. Deep inside they all want the same thing, LOVE, FRREEDOM AND ENJOY THIS JOURNEY THAT IS LIFE
Thank you, Luke for such an honest, loving tribute to the “average person” on the “street”. I am an older woman, who has not become jaded by life or the injustices done in society. I am so glad that you have validated my reasons for keeping my positive outlook on life and the future. I am assured that even though, government is not always right, as long as we are free as a people, we will rise to do what is best for humanity. Very inspiring and renews my faith in humanity.
This is amazing
but it only scratches the surface of people in general. It eludes to all the traits that unify all people no matter race, creed or religion. We are all the same and all require the same basic things that the world at this time takes and will not provide without taking first be it money or the few things that make us happy. our love of money must be torn down to let us as a species love who we are then love that there is a world full of people just like ourselves. Its that sunset on the hill top, the ocean expanding from the coast that lets us see what being truly happy is.
I want to try this in my own city as im canadian to see what answers I get.
Keep your head up Luke! And keep up the good work.
insightful video. i think some of the people you spoke with looked relieved to have some human contact to break down this ridiculous barier we build around ourseves. human interaction is important to evereone it prevents conflict and makes people realise we are all not so different.
I love this video, I love your work and i just discovered you. I find it insightful and encouraging to know there are people who are trying to make a difference in this world. Our population has become mindless, they need to be shaken and woken up to the realities of this world. Thank you for doing what you love to do. Don’t ever stop just because you become discouraged from people’s negativity. Your an amazing inspiration.
Much love,
Matt
I just watched this with my 13 year old nephew and was moved so much it early pulled me in
I found the sadness and kindness in the people interviewed so close too home
My nephew says it made him “realize that the people beside you have the same feeling as you ”
Keep it up
Transforming. You draw the humanity out of the automatons who otherwise would not speak a word to their fellow man. Very nice job. The meaning of life is to learn what my Creator has planned for me and to seek His will. Keep up the good work.
Phil
LOVE LOVE LOVE this….
Keep doing this! : )
Luke, this is probably your best work…
…and remember, you are not alone.
I love it , it’s a shame that people didn’t do it …
I would like to know the name of the song that is in the video could you tell me?
This was great. Inspired me to go out tonight and make someone smile instead of staying in.
watching this video made me feel so inspired, and it was really just an amazing peice of work, definitley looking forward to more of your work!
Are you serious? you still don’t know if this was a good idea….man I’ve gotta tell you this is incredible. I fell in love with all those people – the filming on this is worthy of Cannes – seriously you have to put this out there. Editing absolutely brilliant & perfect with the music. Luke you are going in the right direction and whilst you inspire people with your interviews, this I feel will be the real making of you. Many people like me stuck on fighting this corrupt world and somehow we have to be ready for the Change (28th October 2011)Somehow we’ve got to get to the other side and you’re there to make the transition. Fantastic work. Godspeed. Elemental x
Twelve and a half minutes of my life I will never get back… you keep it… I don’t want them back, twelve and a half minutes well spent. I am sure Yann Tierson would be happy with it as well.
Thanks for the video.
Your film reminded me that all of the anonymous people we see each day are actually thinking, loving, striving, hopeful souls. Our commonalities so outweigh our differences.
I would have liked to have heard from a wider age group, though.
insightful and leads me into profound thoughts,love your work ! you should send the film to Clint Eastwood, he might come up with a good movie based on it.
I love this! It makes me so incredibly happy to se human beings express themselves in such a natural way in every day life.
When you’re riding in public transportation you just see everybody elses blank face, no expression. You never know how people really are by looking at them, what they’re thinking. You can judge them based on appearance but don’t be surprised if you have a lot more common with them than you thought.
We are all human beings, we are all looking for the same thing, which is happiness and I seriously think it’s time we all help each other reach that common goal! <3
Next time play “Oh Happy Day.” It changes everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSlvfgwVWKE