Paul Monaco .org

Lately it seems we’re hearing about more incidents of racism then ever before.  At one point I even shrugged off reports as just sensationalized news about an isolated incident, but apparently it’s very widespread and perhaps I’m the one that leads a life in isolation?

We are all human. We cannot become anything greater than human, but we can shine with humanity just as we are. We can bond deeply, helping and encouraging one another. In this process, our families will prosper and our communities will develop.  This is the real picture of kosen-rufu that we pursue. - Daisaku and Kaneko Ikeda

I can understand our ignorance in the past, when slavery was common place.  That was a time when many different cultures lived great distances from one another and didn’t have the opportunity to learn about each others similarities and enjoy the things unique to the other cultures.  But today this is not the case.

We live side by side with each other.  The other end of the world is a click of the mouse away.  At any time of the day or night you can easily find a person from another culture to directly ask any question you’d like and get a direct answer and not one based on false information and stereotype.

We will always run into people we prefer to not be around, but let that reason be because you know them and don’t like they’re point of view, thoughts or attitude.  Not because of their race, heritage, culture or any other similar factors.

We are ALL humans.  Deal with it.