I have been following this discussion with great interest and some
trepidation, partly because I live in New York City, which is riven by
covert and not-so-covert inter-group strife. (Witness the current
attempt by our mayor and state governor to bar many minority and
immigrant students from the City University system.) I have friends from
many different groups, and it is sometimes painful to witness the lack of
respect people can have for each other based on their inability to grasp
the fact that other people simply see the world from a different
perspective.
As an international self-integrating community, xmca has seemed to me to
be something of a model of what could be achieved by people who care
enough about the goals they share to work through the individual and
cultural differences between them, and I was very relieved and glad to
see that this is actually the case. As Luiz said, we are willing to talk
over our differences, not just throw stones and expletives.
One key to the process is respect - for each other and for the group as a
whole. Another is that there are people who are willing to take the risk
to step in and try to make peace, even at the risk of being caught in the
cross-fire. (I am thinking in particular of Eugene, Luiz, Eva and Mike.)
As professionals and professionals-in-training, we all have students and
colleagues (not to mention family and friends), and the saying goes, the
most powerful teaching tool is a good example.... Seen in that light,
this discussion has been very heartening for me.
Rachel Heckert
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