Wisdom to accept and embrace diversity, and end racism and other forms of closed-mindedness is all around us. We just have to know where to look for it.
Far too often, we only look within for solutions, when we should be looking outside, far, far outside our typical mental and geographic boundaries. America's treasured diversity is, after all, a diversity of ideas as well as cultures. Each of the cultures that comprise our nation has words that can strengthen us – argumentatively and, arguably, in all of the choices we have to make.
British philosopher Bertrand Russell observed that "in all affairs, it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken from granted." His words parallel the Brazilian proverbs that asserts, "He who knows nothing, doubts nothing."Whether you're in a professional meeting or making a personal decision, you'll find that asking questions can help determine the best answers.
Want to deepen your appreciation of the efforts others extend to you? Consider what they say in the Netherlands Antilles: "You eat an egg, but you don't understand how painful it was for the chicken." It's a simple thought, but one that truly can make us less ego-centric and more other-centered.
Want to teach your children to keep things in perspective? Share with them this Austrian proverb: "The earth does not shake when the flea coughs." Far too often, energies are spent by children and adults alike on things that won't matter in a week - may not even be remembered seven days hence.
Consider the Lebanese proverb, "Lower your voice and strengthen your argument" is but one of thousands of intercultural suggestions that can lighten our daily loads. Counterintuitive though it may sound, this imported bit of wisdom is familiar to argument-winners, who know that the calm voice can persuade more readily than the blustery tone.
Finally, a few words from Poland that capture America's ideal defense strategy: "God grant me a good sword and no use for it."
Sometimes, the answers that we seek are just outside our door – if we only remember to look outside of our closed room.
An understanding of others is knowledge, and knowledge has the power to end racism forever.