Don't judge people from the outside.

“How would your life be different if … (y)ou stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter? Let today be the day … (y)ou look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey.”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

For the last two weeks our Diversity class has been studying world religions and the law. Many people still hold negative stereotypes -- in spite of there being no scientific proof -- that members of minority religions in Canada are more violent than members of the majority religion. How can we consumers ever change our false stereotypes when many of our media writers ignore the countless acts of good works and loving kindness shown by members of minority religions and instead perpetuate false negative stereotypes and encourage moral panic? The answer? Watch videos such as this one where the media writers challenge you to change your thought process and not make assumptions. We are never free if our attitudes toward people and our view of the world are based on false stereotypes. If you really wish to see the truth around you, make a commitment to not buy into false stereotypes. Choose to "think for yourself."


Credits: Quote by Dr. Steve Maraboli http://stevemaraboliblog.com

Food for YOUR Soul

Have you ever wondered about working in a soup kitchen?

Cooking good food to nourish another's body and soul is one way I look after MY need to feed my Soul and to be of service to others. In my home, we a range from vegan vegetarian to carnivore extraordinaire so I have become adapt cooking-diversity. I find it rewarding to cook up something nutritious that also meets the health needs and taste preferences of my family and dinner guests.

My satisfaction of cooking for others and being of service grew exponentially when I had the opportunity to work in a neighbourhood Soup Kitchen. Working with others in the kitchen and eating and chatting with diners who came in for a hot meal made me feel like I was in my right place doing what I ought to.

When I watched this YouTube this morning my good memories of working in the soup kitchen came back to me. If YOU ever thought about working in a soup kitchen, watch Executive Chef Jeff Ansorge tell you why he believes working in a soup kitchen is good for the diners AND the Cook's Soul. Then, go to your local soup kitchen and become part of the good work of nourishing other's -- and yourself.

I'll hold your hand, any day, any time ...

Let's all work to stop homophobic bullying -- and all bullying.
May Peace walk always with you.

One teacher works to end racism ...

Here is a video about a classroom racism exercise conducted by Ms. Jane Elliot. She leads her students through a very powerful awakening experience -- indeed she uses her power as a facilitator to attempt to compel students to see the exercise through to the end. Personally, I think she is changing minds and changing lives. The lessons are incredibly valuable and, at the same time, I have some strong ethical cautions about exercises like this.

Before I would bring a provacative exercise like this into my classroom -- and my teacher did a similar exercise in my elementary school class in the 70's -- I would ask students (and if they were minors, their parents) for fully informed consent. I would want students to know that the exercise is very important, powerful and emotionally and intellectually challenging. I would want students to know they may wish to leave and they may learn a lot if they completed the exercise. I would want students to know that they had the right, regardless of colour, to withdraw from the exercise at any time. In addition, I would want the student to know that though this exercise focuses on Race, we would have similar discoveries if we did the same exercise around Sex/Gender or an even more in-depth exercise to show how Sex/Race/Social-class can combine to have devastating interactional effects on a person's access to freedom, respect, and resources. Perhaps Ms. Elliot obtained exactly this kind of consent before the video camera began rolling? We can't see the ethical consent process in the following clip, but I want to emphasize I do not believe an exercise like this is appropriate without very careful and very detailed prior informed consent.

Please watch Ms. Elliot's work with students and monitor YOUR process of thinking and re-thinking about Race. In addition, decide how YOU feel and what YOU think about her use of this exercise as a racism teaching tool. Are her methods justified her message? Of all the points made by Ms. Elliot and her students, which statements do YOU believe are the most critical for ending conscious and unconscious racism?

Credit: Thanks to the Upworthy folks for sharing this video.

Sup? Diversity Happiness for your day.

Here is a toe-tapping dose of Diversity Happiness for your day.
Many thanks to Michael C. for sharing these 5 minutes of global joy.
:o)

"Remember What We Forgot" by Shane Koyczan

After everyone created art pieces showing the negative words that have been targeted at us and positive words that have been gifted to us, we finished class with another spectacular performance by Shane Koyczan, "Remember What We Forgot."

To This Day Project by Shane Koyczan

Today in class we began our inquiry into hate messages. Shane Koyczan - a powerful spoken word  poet - started us off with this discussion of hate-filled, hurtful words.