Vive la Difference!

Vive la difference.  I went to visit a household yesterday that was very different from mine.  We ate dinner 3 hours earlier, it was vegetarian, there was no wine, there were three very bright and well behaved children sitting across the table and participating in the conversation.  It started off rather alarming because I was so unused to it.  However, as we talked, I discovered more and more things in common – and then more and more things that were fascinating that I knew nothing or very little about.  I came away very happy with the evening and looking forward to seeing the family more.

 

The analogy, of course, extends to the world at large where there are considerably more variations in beliefs and behavior.  It is so easy to judge.  And if not judging, it is easy to ignore, pass up, not participate in differences.  We are not all alike, and those places where we rub up against other cultures and beliefs are not always comfortable. The question is:  can we interact in non-judgemental ways?  Can we give each other the space to be different and explain the difference?  The end result might be continued disagreement, but it equally may be more tolerance. 

 

I recently finished an essay on gender equality and democracy in Mongolia.  There is a vibrant, messy, fascinating version of democracy in that beautiful and courageous country.  One of the dominant parties is avowedly communist, which makes sense given the country’s 20^th century history.  They make choices and accommodations that would be unlikely to work in the US, but the country is finding its own way and the people are passionate.  The blessing is to see and know those people within their own context and to understand how well the system is working for them – without threatening those who might choose different government in their own countries and cultures.

 

The differences in the world are delightful, and when I can look into those differences with compassion, interest and lack of fear, I realize how truly and richly we are blessed in our diversity.

Tags: democracy, judgement, meditation, Mongolia, tolerance