respectable diversity - So long as you don't know.

I went to a wedding today at a Catholic church that I am quite familiar with. When I was growing up my Grandparents occasionally took me there, and later in life I went to the festivals during the summer (until my uncle crossed over that is). Through out this time I have been whole heartedly a Pagan. Well a Pagan to say the least, I am many things but that is a story for another day.

On to the point of this story. As I sat their in back of the church I noticed several people whom I know walk in and after sometime where seated. Some where Jewish, some where Pagan, some where undecided, and of course there were the Catholics. Seems as though most of us who were non-Catholic sat towards the back - except for those who where in the wedding party of course. There we all were in what seemed like a peaceful harmony, a collection of souls both young and old and with a smattering of different beliefs. We all sat together not so much as one but as a group with a common goal - the wedding.

Had others been aware of the diversity that was amongst us it no doubt would have been less a peaceful gathering, and more an all out rock throwing, glare giving, all out religious war. However because most of us where unaware we all gathered as people, as human beings rather then as separate groups bent on making everyone who did not fit our particular "set" as uncomfortable as possible.

Not let's set the wedding aside for a moment and admire a human trait that reflects the most basic instincts for survival. Caring for one another. Imagine if you will (it shouldn't be to hard) that you are walking down the street and see a young child, or even an adult about the get hit by a car. In the most common of cases our first move would be to push this person out of the way without first thinking of what might happen to ourselves.
Not let's take it a step further. Let's say that you are Christian, or Catholic, and you know for a fact that this person about to be hit by a car is a Pagan, or perhaps a Buddhist. Would you still take the same risks as if it was a complete stranger or would you just keep on walking? What if the tables where turned? I would hope that most of you would still push this person out of the way.

So how come it's so easy to get along or perhaps save someone's life in times of need but it's nearly impossible to put a group of diverse individuals together in a setting where they all know what or who the other person is?

As long as we do not possess the knowledge that makes us ignorant it's easy to practice respectable diversity. Religious tolerance is much the same also in this respect. Racial tolerance on the other hand is not because we can 'see' the other race.

Just some things to think about I suppose. Perhaps obvious to many, but not obvious enough to warrant any discussion, or major debate by the majority. It is however important to be aware of these things when they are occurring all around us, everyday - The grocery store, the theatre, every stop light, and of course church events such as weddings.