15 Nov 2014

Yesterday I had the privilege to watch the opening ceremony of the Central American Games that just began in Veracruz, Mexico. I watched the ceremony with special interest because it was organized and created by a few close friends of mine (Anima Inc).

The ceremony was beautiful and had a strong message of peace and union between all people, which I believe is important in this day and age where we are experiencing extreme circumstances of violence, more so in Mexico (my home country). During the ceremony I connected with my roots and I felt proud to be Mexican.

When I looked at each of the delegations participating, I learned about countries I didn’t even know existed. When I look at their members I thought about the lives they most live at home, I thought about their ways and life-style, I thought about what it most be like to be them.

I then thought about how often I forget that there are so many types of people in this world that live differently than I. Even though we all share the commonality of being human, there are many differences in how we express, how we eat, what language we speak, etc.

I felt inspired to want to learn more about them, I felt inspired to learn about all people in the world. I find that learning about others beliefs and ways of living helps me to put my own ways and beliefs into context.

I believe if we all respected each others beliefs and ways, we would not be so quick to judge others as wrong or bad just because they are different than us. This could unite us and help us not to be so prompt to use violence against others.

But how do we go about it? How do we foster curiosity to learn about others? How do we inspire ourselves and others to want to learn about other human beings? Specially those most different than us?

I’m not sure, but it seems to me that if we teach our children and adults about other peoples costumes, histories, languages and religions we could all learn that our perspective is one of many and that our ways are one of many others.

Seeking to know people different than us without negative judgement, but from a place of empathy and love, could change all of humanity for the better.

I want to be an example of embracing and not of rejecting, I want to be not a judge of good and bad, but a learner of peoples history and cultures. I want to be a citizen of the world and not a rigid ignorant prejudiced individual.

I want to be better, I want to love others, I want to become a humanist and I know I can become one by getting to know myself and others.

I propose we increase the number of international events where different countries come together to compete in harmony. I propose we increase our educational opportunities where adults and children can learn about the history and ways of people from other lands (Rainbow Cultural Garden).

I propose that we look at ourselves not as the holders of the right ways, but as people that have one way. This, I believe, would be adding our grain of sand to bring more peace and brotherhood to the world, to build one humanity, one race, united through respect and love.

Thank you Anima Inc for your wonderful work, thank you to the people participating in these games, and thank you all for playing your part in humanity’s way.

Edgar Boone

ONE PEOPLE