One of the positive features of the grassroots uprisings for democracy in Tunisia, Egypt and other parts of the Middle East is how people from all walks of life have joined together to push for predominantly peaceful revolution. In locations such as Tahrir Square in Cairo, the cameras have shone young and old, male and female, well off and poor, standing arm-in-arm in comradeship.
While the pictures on our TV and computer screens often are described as dramatic, I bet you could find similar images of pulling together somewhere in the world every single week of the year. In most cases, however, the motivation is not of a political nature; it is people pulling together in the face of tragedy, calamity or potential emergency situations.
In the US, who hasn't viewed pictures of people dealing with the aftermath of a tornado, hurricane, flood, earthquake, blizzard or any number of human-caused disasters. It genuinely is uplifting to see so many people put aside their preferences and prejudices to help out their neighbors in great times of need.
Most people who volunteer their money, time and energy don't care about the sexual orientation of the person standing next to them helping to fill sandbags to try to save a local community from rising floodwaters.
Most people who volunteer their money, time and energy don't care about what church the person receiving a blanket and some food attends or does not attend.
Most people who volunteer their money, time and energy don't care about which political party the person helping them locate survivors supports or who that individual voted for in the last election.
At times of emergency, such things are unimportant; they simply don't matter. They are trivialities.
You see, when faced with a common challenge, people are more apt to knock down the artificial barriers we erect in our lives and to find common ground with people from all walks of life. It is in these ephemeral situations that we come to realize that all people share more in common than what we perceive separates us.
Unfortunately, as soon as the emergency has died down, far too many folks return to their bunkers of suspicion and prejudice. The artificial walls of separation are thrown up again. The same person they offered a helping hand to the week before now becomes an adversary, someone who doesn't deserve the same rights and privileges. The comrade becomes the enemy...
...and hate replaces love.
While the pictures on our TV and computer screens often are described as dramatic, I bet you could find similar images of pulling together somewhere in the world every single week of the year. In most cases, however, the motivation is not of a political nature; it is people pulling together in the face of tragedy, calamity or potential emergency situations.
In the US, who hasn't viewed pictures of people dealing with the aftermath of a tornado, hurricane, flood, earthquake, blizzard or any number of human-caused disasters. It genuinely is uplifting to see so many people put aside their preferences and prejudices to help out their neighbors in great times of need.
Most people who volunteer their money, time and energy don't care about the sexual orientation of the person standing next to them helping to fill sandbags to try to save a local community from rising floodwaters.
Most people who volunteer their money, time and energy don't care about what church the person receiving a blanket and some food attends or does not attend.
Most people who volunteer their money, time and energy don't care about which political party the person helping them locate survivors supports or who that individual voted for in the last election.
At times of emergency, such things are unimportant; they simply don't matter. They are trivialities.
You see, when faced with a common challenge, people are more apt to knock down the artificial barriers we erect in our lives and to find common ground with people from all walks of life. It is in these ephemeral situations that we come to realize that all people share more in common than what we perceive separates us.
Unfortunately, as soon as the emergency has died down, far too many folks return to their bunkers of suspicion and prejudice. The artificial walls of separation are thrown up again. The same person they offered a helping hand to the week before now becomes an adversary, someone who doesn't deserve the same rights and privileges. The comrade becomes the enemy...
...and hate replaces love.
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