Being Grateful for Peculiarities

It's been a while since my last post. In my defense, there's been quite a lot going on. Suffice it to say, I've changed specialists, undergone another in a long line of surgeries, hit rock bottom emotionally/psychologically/spiritually, only to read a fantastic book that opened my eyes, once more, to the hope that exists out there, if only we keep looking.

I'm also rereading another book right now with my mate. I enjoyed it so much the first time around, I encouraged him to read it. So, we're reading it together, out loud, mainly in bed but sometimes during lazy days (gotta love those!) I'm posting herein a section of the book that should probably be every person's motto for life. Of course, that's just one person's opinion but it's my blog so, I can post what I like!

Here it goes...

"I am appalled by the fear and ignorance that motivates such behavior. I am concerned about violence. The difference, dear one, is that I am Arab and Spike is a Jew. Oh yes! To say that Arab and Jew are brothers and sisters is not to say that we are the same. There are racial differences among people, yes? There are cultural differences, sexual differences...In my opinion, thos differences can be good. What a dull world this would be were we all alike. What an evoluntionary dead end! To be brothers, to live in peace, we do not have to be overly similar. We do not have to admire or even like one another's peculliarities. We need only respect those peculiarities - and to be grateful for them. Our similiarities provide us with a common ground, but our differences allow us to be fascinated by one another. Differences give human encounters their snap and their fizz and their brew." - excerpt from Skinny Legs and All, by Tom Robbins.


Maybe we should make this required reading for all of our political leaders.