Differences, Joy, Problem, Kindness
A pic showed up on facebook and I just had to show it and talk a little about differences. I just love different cultures and different people. I have as long as I can remember. I met a foreigner, that is what we called them in my little nook of the world, when I was fourteen and on a visit to Ohio. This ‘foreigner” actually spoke another language and had come from Romania. Fortunately she spoke English also and I just spent as much time as possible.
I read stories and loved history and learned what geography was taught here. Finally took a trip to Europe when I was in my forties and saw much of what I had read, but all was so much more beautiful and interesting than I ever imagined. I tried on wooden shoes, they were hard, and I tried real homemade mayonnaise in Paris, splendid as was all the food. I saw England, my mother land and felt at home. I ate hamburgers and sausages in Germany as I do in America; but they are much better in Germany. I saw magnificent art in museums and in shops and on the streets. i visited 13 countries in 21 days. Would you believe that I had only heard negative comments about France. I tried as many foods as possible and loved most of them. On my tour in Paris, many of the people on the tour were more excited about finding a MacDonalds than anything they saw anywhere. Many in the USA are not open to other ideas and other ways and people.
As to different religious and political ideas, i study them all and try to appreciate and use what I can. If it makes sense to me, I like to enrich myself and use it. I try also to remember that everyone is not like me. Some think their beliefs are the only way to believe. . They need to realize that people have a right to be incorrect, in their opinion,
and that good people come in an infinite variety.
I spent most of my life in huge cities and I loved all the variety. We had separate areas that were Italian, German, Polish, Bohemian etc. All the people knew where they were from, and they couldn’t understand that I didn’t and only knew myself as “American”. Other countries were hundreds of miles away from me, and Europe was thousands of miles away. When people did visit, they came back with negative things to say. I really don’t understand why some people seem to be so terrified by different ways and different people. I find most of it wonderful and interesting and my life has been so enriched by all that I have seen and a lot of it, I added to my own.
If you see people that are different, try to benefit and learn, if not try to be kind.
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We walk on the same line with our thought Rose. Let people live the way they are and take the best out of their way of living.
If an Hamburger tastes the same in Hamburg as NY why should I buy one?
No we need the difference to improve. If our ancestors wouldn’t have had the difference we would still live in caves. No to discover how other people in other regions of our world live is on of the last adventures that have survived. Michael
We are all different ,because we are all unique …there’s not other you or another me ! We speak differently , we think differently , we act differently and yet we are all the same !
We all want the same things , a place to belong , a roof over our heads
Food on the table , to love and be loved , a family of our own ,the best for our children …being accepted as we are !
Not matter what corner of the world we come from , how rich or how poor
How young or how old …we feel the same emotions , that’s the beauty of being human .
Thank you Rose for yet another great blog !
Nmod, you nailed what people are. So, we do not need to be blinded by outward appearances or insignificant differences.
I appreciate what you have share, Rose, and I so agree!
I grew up in a smallish town in New Mexico. Our schools had about one third Hispanic kids, a few African Americans and most of the rest were white. Many of the Hispanic (Mexican) kids had parents and grandparents that spoke Spanish.
A Vietnamese family moved on to our block when I was in 5th or 6th grade.
We had a vacant lot nearby. I have great memories of all the neighborhood kids playing kickball on that lot. I remember thinking, even then, how cool it was that white kids, Mexican kids, Black kids and Vietnamese kids were all having fun together. Some of our lives and backgrounds so different, even languages…made no difference for play time.
I joined the International Club my freshman year in college. Met some wonderful people from all over the world.
Next on my list is to actually travel outside the US. 🙂
Kaybee, it is the most educational thing I ever did. My trip to Europe cost about the same as one term in graduate school, but was much more fun and It made all my learning more grounded.
this is such a timely blog bloom,people are moving around all over the world , wether it,s because of wars in their homeland or because they want to have a better life…the richly diverce cultures and different cuisines , all add to the riches of different countries, I grew up in a mixed culture family, the different foods, different customs and different languages , gave my brother and I a greater understanding of the differences in humanity, not everyone has that opportunity ,as you say, underneath all that we are all human beings with the same wants and needs…..
The forces are a great melting pot for various cultures. I’ve served with black, white and every possible variation in between.
Yes, on occasion we had our differences, but when push came to shove we knew they were “one of us” and we could count on them.
If it taught me anything, it taught me to ignore colour, religion, beliefs and judge a person for the person they are. I’ve carried that lesson with me ever since and it’s served me very well over the years.
The bottom line for me is ignore any pre-conceived ideas and ask yourself one question only. Can you trust them?
Waylnder, Very smart. Can you trust them is what we should be asking, instead of being focused on a lot of stuff that makes no difference.
Melting pot. That is what we are supposed to be.Does your country use that term also?
Nice post Rose.. When I was growing up I live in the country,, only people I knew was the ones at the church.. good people I think.. the only foreigners I ever knew,, at that ages,, was the ones trying to shoot me,,Nam.. All of the other foreigners I met,, while in Asia/Europe,, didn’t care for US Soldiers,, someone they could make a buck off of,, then wanted us gone.. The only place I ever went during that time was Australia that I felt welcome.. Lou