Thursday, November 27, 2008

Coexist

The following represents an incomplete thought, that I will edit a bit later to fish out what it is I want to say about it:
Driving to Thanksgiving dinner at my parents this evening, I was following a vehicle that had a blue bumper sticker that used pictures representing different religions and genders to spell out the word Coexist. I have seen the bumper sticker before, and remember thinking, "The owner/driver of that car might be a head-in-the-clouds optimist thinking that there can actually be world peace.
Today when I saw the bumper sticker, I immediately thought the same thing, but then quickly reminded myself about the optimist part. Haven't I proclaimed myself an optimist when it comes to education and other things of national import? So how can I stand in such judgement of this type of sentiment?
Since the light was red, I had a chance to look carefully at the bumper sticker to notice the detail. My previous judgement of its having been about world peace may or may not be accurate. I saw what appeared to be a Jewish Star of David, a Christian cross, the Chinese symbol of yin and yang, the peace sign, and the male and female symbols. Without assuming I know it's true meaning, I attached the following meaning:
Coexisting means being able to respectfully (perhaps peacefully) be side by side with others of opposing schemas, opinions, beliefs and aspirations. I do not believe this can happen in the world. I barely believe it can happen here in the United States, but I believe it MUST.
The United States teeters on the cusp of uncharted territory as a rebublic. We are a people of more diversity than any other country I'm aware of. We have, for so long, used words to welcome immigrants and slaves to a country dominated by a "ruling class" based in European ideals. As we continue to diversify, will we be able to change according to what's best for ALL people of this country? Or will the variances be diametrically opposed? Interesting question for which I don't know the answer. I find myself thinking about it more and more? What will we look like as a country in 10 years?
I see many of the "ruling class" support such things as vouchers for education, knowing fully that this will resegregate our country and put us back many, many years. Is this really where we want to go? The power base in the country will shift. Will we all be able to coexist peacefully here? How will we coexist is what I want to know. To say we should isn't enough. We must start thinking about how it will be accomplished successfully!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, I think you are right...it isn't enough to say we should coexist or accept that others have different viewpoints and "allow" them to. We need to be thinking of how, in concrete terms, we are going to do that. And of course, that is the HARD part. I think you make a good point about vouchers and how they may actually bring about segregation. Sometimes we take the quicker way out, without hinking through all the ramifications. You've inspired me to think about it...what will I DO to help bring about the change I want to see in the world? That truly is the question, and it is one I've grappled with here lately. I think that promoting ideas of coexistence, and acknowledging (not necessarily agreeing with) differing beliefs is a very small start. But we all have to agree to try, don't we?
I think I am an optimist, because I DO believe it is possible to coexist. I think that the US does that, albeit not perfectly. We still have issues with it, I realize that. But I think we have a start. I think our greatest peace activists had it right--Be the change we want to see; if we want peace, we should work for justice. I think I have to stop being selfish with my time--I choose to work as much as I do, go to school as I do. These are choices. If it is important to me to make these goals happen, I have to sacrifice a bit. And thus far i haven't. I guess that's a new goal to add to the list--work toward the changes I want to see in our world.

lalee said...

(anonymous is me)

Ingrid said...

Thanks, for the comment. I guess, that fact that I am just now responding tells you how long it has been since I have been on my own blog. Maybe one day, when we move back into our home again, I'll have my computer back and will ramble miscellaneous musings again. :)

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