When it comes to our communities, we sometimes see only our differences. We see
the way some of us cling to ideas we don't believe, or act in ways we try not
to copy. We see how practical some of us can be and wonder how we can commune
with each other. We see how different we are from each other, in ways ranging
from gender and race to geographical location and religious beliefs. It is
almost as if we think we are a different species sometimes. But the truth is, we
really are the same.
We have all been hurt and we have all cried. Each one of us knows how it feels
to love someone dearly. No matter what our political views are, we all love to
laugh. Regardless of how much or how little money we have, our hearts pump
blood through our bodies in the same way. With all this in common, it is clear
we are each individual members of the same family. We are human.
Acknowledging how close we all are, instead of clinging to what separates us,
enables us to feel less alone in the world. Every person we meet, see, hear, or
read about is a member of our family. We are truly not alone. We also begin to
see that we are perfectly capable of understanding and relating to people who,
on the surface, may seem very different from us. This awareness prevents us
from disconnecting from people on the other side of the tracks, and the other
side of the world. We begin to understand that we must treat all people for
what they are -- family.
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