Being
Open to Diversity
• Diversity is a part of the natural order of our world.
It is as natural as the trillion shapes and shades of the flowers
of spring or the leaves of autumn. It is as natural as the billions
of different stars in the sky.
• Diversity brings new solutions to an ever-changing environment.
Sameness is not only boring but limiting.
• Denying diversity is denying the very essence of life
- with all of its richness and manifold opportunities. Therefore,
to be a citizen in a world of diversity we all have the responsibility
to ...
• Be tolerant. Live and let live. Understand that those
who cause no harm should not be feared, ridiculed, or oppressed
- even if they are different.
• Look for the best in others different from ourselves.
• Be just in dealing with poor and rich, weak and strong,
and, whenever possible, defend the young, the frail, the defenseless.
• Be kind, remembering how much potential we all have to
both wound as well as heal.
• Live the examined life, subjecting our motives and actions
to the scrutiny of mind and heart so we can rise above hatred
and prejudice.
Adapted from Gene Griessman |
