This month’s issue calls to mind an important fact — there are all kinds of people in the world. Be it our neighbors and members of our local community or people of distant lands; customs and tastes vary. From food and fashion to religion and politics, ideas and opinions can differ widely. Where you might prefer egg noodles and broccoli, another likes meatballs and marinara or guacamole and red chilies. There are Atheists, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Taoists, Wiccans and everything in between.
Whether we are talking about the intriguing Romani culture (see Anita Venezia’s article, Gypsies), or the colorful, indigenous peoples of Thailand (see Susan Wood’s piece), one thing is clear: the world’s horizon is broader than the one we see from our front window. The farther we venture from home and familiar surroundings, the more we are exposed to the panoply of cultures that comprise the rich fabric of humanity. There is adventure and excitement to be found in the diverse peoples and cultures that populate our planet, and one the greatest joys of living is getting to know others who are different from us.
And yet, as significant as that joy is, it is even greater when we grasp that we are also very much alike. We all want to live, love and to be loved. We all want to be valued and respected, and we want to make things better for our children. Our world is big—but it is also very small, and we are wise to tread lightly when considering judgments or generalities about the customs, beliefs and values of others.
It is true that there are all kinds of people in the world. If we could but see some of our differences as things that bring flavor to living and what we have in common as the things to build upon to find that love and respect that we all need. The world can be better if we follow author Stephen Covey’s advice to, “seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
