Bending the Long Arc of History (U.S. Presidential Election 2016)

Pictured at right: "We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Martin Luther King, Jr. 1968

Here is the message I shared with students and educators at JCHS during an all-school gathering earlier today:

For nearly all of us something completely unexpected has happened. In response many of us are crying, angry, frustrated, or confused. Many others are celebrating, excited, hopeful, or emboldened. Completely unexpected.

Early this morning as I talked with Chanita (our young niece who now lives with us), I reassured her that there are many good people on both sides of the difficult campaign for president.

The Tower of Babel Turned Upside Down (Noach 5777)

"Tower of Babel" by Theodor 'Dr. Seuss' Geisel

This week Jewish Community High School of the Bay (JCHS)  honored Hispanic Heritage Month (deferred for us a few days because of the Jewish holidays). Our students were inspired to hear from classmates and educators about their Hispanic heritage made them feel special and what made them feel different. 

One feature discussed by the panel was the variety and number of languages embraced by the term Hispanic heritage." As I young person I knew only one language. Only later did I study Spanish and Hebrew. One helped me to feel part of one community and the other a different community. (More on diversity in language below.)  

I confess, however, that mostly in junior high school I feared standing out by seeming different. It is a common teen fear. I just wanted to fit in or, even better, disappear. I learned over time to treasure what makes me different and what makes others' differences so valuable.