There is a plethora of courses and how-to books on how to get along. Some websites offer specific scripted language to use when dealing with people of diverse backgrounds. We human beings love to complicate our lives and turn common sense into a commercial product.
One needs not go to school to learn how to speak to one another. If we have to go to school and be trained in the art of speaking to one another across the cultural divide with such exactitude something is wrong. Embracing each other comes from a place far beyond the intellectual but way down to our spiritual core.
As long as there are human beings in the world we will find ways in which to differentiate ourselves from each other because of our the overpowering influence of the ego, which demands negative attention and urges us to look down on others and to push ourselves above all else in order to gain ascendancy and self-importance.
If we therefore want to tackle the challenges of an increasingly diverse world, we need to see what connects us all a human being. These are some of the basics:
1. We are all human beings with certain basic inalienable rights and values
2. We all have in common the need for food, shelter and clothes on our backs
3. We all need love and appreciation in order to flourish and grow into better human beings – like the flowers in the garden we need water of encouragement, of kindness, of compassion
4. We want the best for our children – opportunities, fairness and justice
5. We want to understand why we are here on this planet, the big questions of life and death confronts all of us
6. We need to feel a sense of belonging
7. We all need to work to take care of our loved ones
8. We all want a life free from discrimination and harassment and be treated with respect
9. We all want to be judged by what we do rather than on the basis of race, colour, creed or disability
10. We all need to believe in some greater good that transcends our humanity.
If we forget about our foolish false pride and bare naked our humanity we will be able to interact with any and everyone because we will be speaking from a place of integrity and truth. When we speak to each other through the lens of integrity and truth we cannot go wrong. Whatever we say, whatever we ask will be treated with benevolence. We have antennae that ferret out deception, arrogance and falsehoods. And we react by putting our backs against a wall and stand ready to fight. When we are open and honest and seek to understand the other with genuine curiosity we will be welcomed with openness and generosity. It is only when we try to hide behind a wall of deception that we need techniques in order to interact with each other.
While the diversity, cross-cultural and multicultural courses may have their place in our society, I think they are over-rated and the best way to teach acceptance is try to change the hearts and minds through something more spiritual than these technical charades. A simple refrain by Baha’is – we are flowers of one garden and leaves of one tree; we are waves of one ocean , we are one mankind – is all we need to fully understand and integrate in our lives. After some time we will find our perspectives chainging for the better. We are one. You are no better than me. We are one. You may have money to buy you more material things, money to access better education, but you are not better than me as a human being. We do the same – you go to the bathroom to do your business, you eat and drink and you get sick and die. Open your hearts and your tongue will speak truth.
