Student community provides avenues to equality
Guilherme Profeta
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Opinion
Being part of the international community at Pittsburg State University is like being part of a microcosm of the world. There are people from Brazil, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Jordan, Finland, France, India and many other countries, all representing a profusion of cultures put together in the United States by some trick of destiny. Some differences between these people are visible, like religious outfits, for example. Others, like protocols and cultural behaviors, can't be seen, but can be felt through personal contact. People talk about culture shock, but shock is such a strong word, at least for me. Maybe because I'm from Brazil, a country full of diversity, one that's traditionally open to intercultural exchange.
Anyway, being here makes me think about the essence of unity. What can unite us? What can separate us? What really matters?
Recently, I celebrated Chinese National Day with some Chinese students, which was really huge this year because of the 60th anniversary of the Republic of China. A few days later, we also celebrated the victory of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as the next city to host the Olympic Games. We shared our toasts and - more important than that - we shared our reasons for proposing toasts. This kind of understanding, and especially the will to understand, is a huge part of what unity is. It's looking at our differences and accepting them.
As important as unity is, so is equality. A lot of friends I made here had never entered a Christian church before. Their native languages are different than mine; they also eat different foods and might wear different clothes. They are not less than anyone for these reasons, and they are not more; they are just different. And the possibility of being different is the most incredibly beautiful aspect of human existence.
Although everyone's beliefs may differ, their values have the same weight as mine. That's what equality is about: We don't have to be the same, we just have to be worth the same.
Like Shakespeare said: "We are such stuff as dreams are made on." In fact, if we keep our minds open wide enough to look beyond the differences, then we will realize that our dreams are so often the same, as well.
Guilherme Profeta is an international student from Brazil.
Anyway, being here makes me think about the essence of unity. What can unite us? What can separate us? What really matters?
Recently, I celebrated Chinese National Day with some Chinese students, which was really huge this year because of the 60th anniversary of the Republic of China. A few days later, we also celebrated the victory of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as the next city to host the Olympic Games. We shared our toasts and - more important than that - we shared our reasons for proposing toasts. This kind of understanding, and especially the will to understand, is a huge part of what unity is. It's looking at our differences and accepting them.
As important as unity is, so is equality. A lot of friends I made here had never entered a Christian church before. Their native languages are different than mine; they also eat different foods and might wear different clothes. They are not less than anyone for these reasons, and they are not more; they are just different. And the possibility of being different is the most incredibly beautiful aspect of human existence.
Although everyone's beliefs may differ, their values have the same weight as mine. That's what equality is about: We don't have to be the same, we just have to be worth the same.
Like Shakespeare said: "We are such stuff as dreams are made on." In fact, if we keep our minds open wide enough to look beyond the differences, then we will realize that our dreams are so often the same, as well.
Guilherme Profeta is an international student from Brazil.
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