Last year I had the privilege to
join the highly selective Tulane Alternative Spring Break program. The program
required not only an excellent academic performance, , but also an experience
in community service and social communications. There were three different destinations
that the program aimed to serve. Each destination had its unique need of
support. Having a former experience with painting schools in New Orleans and
with Habitat for Humanity, I looked for a new social concern to explore, which was
homelessness. The Atlanta group was the one who is supposed to deal with
homelessness. The trip was not only an illustrative guide to the issue of
homelessness but also a remarkable odyssey to the true meaning and value of
diversity.
Before the trip, I had to go
through classes that aim at raising one’s awareness of homelessness in America
and particularly in New Orleans, and Atlanta. During the Atlanta trip, which
was about a week long, I was exposed to an array of social services that play
an important role in improving the life of the homeless. Activities ranged from
serving and sleeping in homeless shelters, working in a food supplier
organization, to cleaning public parks which homeless people consider home.
While I was walking down the
business district of downtown Atlanta, I noticed the paradox that life could
bring about because of socioeconomic differences. Just as hundreds of business
people rush, wearing their sunglasses, at noon to get a lunch break from their
apparently hectic schedule, a few feet away, dozens of homeless people lie in
the shadow of trees laying their cheeks opposite to the businessmen. Both
attempt to escape reality by maneuvering their eyesight. Among the homeless were
a group of five people gathered around a chess board. Deliberately, I took
advantage of the game and I approached them. The group welcomed me and offered
me an invitation to take part in the competition.
The group consisted of a
Mexican, two Black males, a White man, and a Black lady. Carrying out
conversations with them was easy relative to the circumstances. As a result of
their spontaneity, I was able to learn some Spanish, find out about the
Christian evangelical approach, hear a political dispute, and listen to some
Jazz music with an emotional meaningful solo. Despite their great differences
and difficult situation, the group managed to successfully live in harmony. The
personal affect of what I saw in that cold afternoon will remain a depiction of
the warmth of diversity. This allowed me to look at the homeless in admiration
rather than pity.
On the other hand, the selection of group
members embedded in me a deep appreciation of cultural nuances. Each member contributed an exceptional and
distinct impression which inspired the group to work harder. We were a group of
15 people who came from all over the United States. Daily, we hold a nightly
discussion that begins with a personal reflection and develops to a warm
dialogue. I clearly remember that each member of the group had a reasonable
argument on approaching the homeless. Although it was an intensive debate, the
various perspectives resulted in a vibrant productive discussion.
I realized that creating a diverse
society isn’t impossible. However, with diversity comes the massive task of
acceptance and appreciation of difference. My Atlanta trip influenced me to
broaden my perspective and elucidated the notion of the acceptance of the
other. Both of those qualities are needed to structure a society that is formed
of small distinct units, just like a mosaic. Hence, solidarity emerges to
ensure the harmony of the blend.
Managing a country is similar to
managing our Atlanta group. Individuals, who form the group or the country,
should be aware of the final objective. The manager of the group plays a vital
role in enforcing the objective and, in turn, exploiting differences of
opinions. The Atlanta trip encouraged me to look at my life from different
angles; it made me be more flexible. After the trip, I have a better conception
of diversity and its implications on society. Now, I plan to implant such an
idea in the mind of every Saudi Arabian individual.
