MOM WHY DO SOME PEOPLE LOOK DIFFERENT?
An honest question asked by one of my children when we moved to the Washington DC area from an all white neighborhood in Arizona.
When we moved back to Arizona years later, we wanted all our children to appreciate cultural, religious, political and ethnic differences in others, so we volunteered to host a foreign exchange student for one year. That beautiful experience was repeated again and again. Differences in Japan, Russia, and China were now seen, heard, and felt in our home. We learned, respected, and worked through issues as we loved each girl into our family.
Today I see a polarization in many societal issues, including race. So often I hear the MY WAY vs YOUR WAY mentality. That’s a no-win situation. There’s valuable space in the middle to LISTEN AND LEARN. The result? Both sides come together with empathy and find a mutual understanding and agreement. Otherwise everyone loses.
Years later I saw the result of our diversity mission in my now grown children. I’m proud of all their accomplishments, but mostly love their SOFT HEARTS. When the earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan, it wasn’t just about “those” people. It was about YUMI and her neighbors. When political or societal unrest hit Russia and China, it didn’t just affect “those” people. It affected KATYA and SHIYING and their families. This new perspective now unites us all as children of God.
I’m not perfect. An honest self analysis tells me I can be better. This is certainly an ongoing process - not an event. I realize issues are complex and heated, but we can do better. Let’s work to find that critical space where we can all LISTEN and LEARN.
