Bully-Free Future

Posts Tagged ‘Culture’

San Gennaro

Today’s New York Times featured a story about a common-albeit fading custom-in Italian-American neighborhoods-the parading of a patron saint through the streets.  There are about 20 of these parades in the Little Italy section of New York-the celebration for San Gennaro being the most famous.

The parades have always been an important part of life in this ethic neighborhood-they help keep the spirit and faith of the early Italian immigrants alive.  If you lived in Little Italy, you knew the drill- pay your respects to the elaborately carved statues of the saint being honored by joining the parade, offering money or other tokens of respect. The parades are ”an important cultural event that reaffirms not just faith, but ties to the old neighborhood and the old country,” the article’s author reports

According to the Times the reactions of the Sunday morning crowd along the St. Cono parade route was underwhelming -ranging from mild disinterest to aggravation that the streets were closed for ‘one float and a horrible marching band’. 

Long-term residents believe the newcomers view their traditions with a combination of disdain and curiosity-but not respect.  They say they have moved many of their celebrations inside-they don’t feel that the newcomers appreciate or respect their traditions.  There have been incidents of downright harassment at some of the parades.

I wonder if the ability respect-and enjoy-another’s cultural tradition have gone the way of the horse and buggy. I wonder if we are missing an important way to expose our children to the traditions and cultures of our American melting pot.  I wonder if we are missing the opportunity to teach our kids what it is like to respect the culture and traditions of others.  I worry about what would happen if these wonderful traditions become things of the past.

In a world where we sometimes struggle to stay connected to our traditions and cultures, it seems that the parades provide a lesson to a simpler time where neighbors shared common ground and a commitment to creating a better world for their children. 

The parades-and other traditions like them-are a way for new generation of residents to teach their children about respect for other people, cultures and traditions that shouldn’t be sullied by complaining about road closures and a band that might not win any prizes on American Idol.

The words of astronomer, Dr. Carl Sagan resonate, “You have to know the past to understand the present.”

So when you see the ‘saints go marching in’, join the parade and have fun doing it.  You will be teaching your kids a lesson in respect that is unmatched by any book learning they will ever do!

With Respect,

Deb

The man behind the mosque-messages of peace and understanding

There is a big flap in lower Manhattan because the community board there has overwhelmingly voted (29 t0 one), to move forward with a plan to build a mosque and Islamic Cultural Center a stone’s throw from Ground Zero.   Interestingly and less widely reported is the fact that the mosque is currently in the neighborhood and is simply moving to larger quarters. 

Also noted, the iman, Feisal Abdul Rauf is an outspoken and documented moderate committed to fighting radicalism. His messages center on tolerance and peace. Rauf has prevailed-as it should be

However, these facts don’t diminish the outrage that some feel when they hear that a mosque will be sharing the same air space as the former World Trade Center.  Some feel this is an egregious affront to those who lost their lives on September 11^th as well as an endorsement of religious extremism that many believe go hand and glove with Islam.

Would we have the same outrage if a Roman Catholic Church moved into the shadow of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City?  After all, Timothy McVeigh was raised as a Catholic and regularly attended daily Mass at Good Shepherd Church in Pendleton, New York.

What if one of the nine or so other Christian Churches within a half-mile radius of the Murrah Building needed some room to stretch?  Would we raise a ruckus because a Christian church ‘living’ next door to the site of a terrible tragedy was disrespectful of those who died and the families that lost loved ones?

Of course not.

Timothy McVeigh does not represent all Christians any more than the men behind the horrific tragedy that was 9/11 represent all those who practice Islam.

If we truly want our children to live in a peaceful-and yes, bully-free world, we have to consciously fight stereotypes-no matter how painful.  While we can’t-and shouldn’t excuse or accept extremists and their behavior we always have to remember that the actions of a few do not represent everyone in a group.

We want our children to respect and celebrate all cultures, choices and ‘abilities’ and to judge people for who they are and how the act-not on how they might act someday.  And we want our children to be judged by the same standards.

We should be outraged by people who violate the sanctity of human life-for whatever the reason, but we need also need to accept that there are people-with similar background to those whose actions we deplore- who are working for peace and harmony.

Our kids take their lead from us.

Let’s make sure we are focused on helping them create a world that is safe and peaceful-free of bias and bullying.

The proverbial buck stops with us.

 With Respect,

Deb

Newly crowned Ms. USA-a reflection of divesity in the US

When was the last time you saw positive coverage of a person of Arabic decent portrayed in a positive light-let alone a woman of Arabic decent covered positively?  Scary to think about it, isn’t it?

Many Americans do harbor negative feelings about anyone-even Americans-with Arabic bloodlines.  We are bombarded with images of people from the Middle East  as machine gun toting or underware-bombing terrorists.  We are becoming conditioned to look askance at anyone whom we believe to be of Middle Eastern decent. 

And of course, when there is bias-bullying is sure to be there as well.

So what does Rima Fakih, the newly crowned Ms. USA have to do with stereotyping and bullying? 

Plenty.

Ms. Fakihi is likely the first American of Arabic descent (her parents immigrated from Lebanon when she was a baby)to win the coveted (by some) title of Ms. USA, and whether she likes it or not has the opportunity to dispell deeply-held stereotypes about Arab-Americans, immigrants and Muslims.

Yes, Ms. Fahih represents the proverbial triple crown of stereotyping and bias in our post-September 11th world.

I hope that she got her ‘tripping’ done at the pageant-she apparently tripped on the hem of her evening gown-and sets out to be a terrific role model for all-and helps us slowly dismantle the circles of bias, stereotyping and bullying that threatens us all.

Way to go, Rima!

With Respect,
Deb