I believe that love can conquer fear, hatred, and heartache.
I look forward to a day when human kind can live in peace. Let us work together, love one another, and leave a legacy of kindness and compassion wherever we go.
“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. … I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word….”
–Martin Luther King Jr.
I agree that all children are born with basic goodness. Hatred and and intolerance are “taught” and modeled by the adults and peers around us. If we have any hope of truly addressing and ridding the world of racism and gaining full acceptance of those who are “different” than us, it has to be an active, constant, and intentional practice. It is more than good intentions, just telling the child that “we need to love and be nice to everybody because…”. Adults need to initiate and have a plan for the tough conversations. Really explain how we come to accept people who make us slightly uncomfortable because they are different. As a parent one has to go beyond the school system and immerse children in history, world religions/cultures, civil rights struggles, the causes of war and oppression, ideas around body image and stereotypes, people who are born with birth defects etc. If a child is not intimately familiar from a young age with individuals and families who “do not look like you” they will never move outside of their comfort zone and truly understand “the other”. Sure they may grow up knowing how to “be nice” to all peoples but they will never truly get what it is like for those people to survive in these times and feel truly moved to change things for those who are oppressed. It takes so much more than “love” and compassion to change things. Tolerance is not inclusion. We need to cultivate the courage and skill sets to physically go up to that person who “looks different” and scares us. Become their true friend. We need to learn their names and stories ,creating a reality that embraces all.
Yes! This is our job as parents. Our kids need to see us loving those who are different from us, so they can learn to do it themselves.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. You put it well.