For many years, our earth has been undergoing a metamorphosis, which has
transformed it into a smaller and smaller community of neighbors, by the
miracles of modern transportation and communication. But of what use is a
group of people bound together in a physical sense, without spiritual
ties, and a sense of equality with one another? There is one obstacle over
which we must climb before we can safely say that our civilization has
progressed towards the Shangri-la to which we aspire. This obstacle,
rather than being an ocean, or miles of land, or high mountains, exists in
the hearts and minds of everyone all over the world. It is a wall of
unfounded prejudice, misinformation, and intolerant, unjust beliefs. The
only way this wall may be knocked down is through education that will
bring understanding to the people who possess all those absurd superiority
complexes.
For, after all, didn't we conquer the ocean by
knowledge of how to build boats? Weren't the mountains crossed by
knowledge of how to build aeroplanes? So then can we conquer prejudice by
knowledge.
Many of us have been influenced by either false
rumors or tradition, or by false doctrines drummed into the unsuspecting
mind, that later in life are manifested through hatred for our brothers.
People must be taught the basic biological facts, the common heritage of
all human beings, that prove unquestionably to any intelligent person the
invalidity of beliefs that consist of racial or religious superiority.
Any institution that can further the growth of
understanding between people of entirely different racial, religious, and
social backgrounds is truly worth while. That is precisely what the
Intercultural Club of Lane endeavors to do. Through talks by our various
members about their backgrounds, by comparing various religious and
national holidays, by viewing interesting movies, and by feasting on the
delicacies of the countries prepared by our members, we can better learn
how to understand one another and see how trivial and irrelevant these
differences that exist among us actually are. Moreover, we increase the
feeling of mutual equality among us all.
The members of the I. C. Club do not believe in
mere "tolerance," but rather they believe in and practice
brotherhood. There is a vast difference between these two concepts.
Tolerance toward someone has in it a feeling of condescension. We mortals
cannot decide who are the superior beings and to whom we may rightfully
condescend. Brotherhood, however, signifies a feeling of love and common
ties among all.
Although a world-wide system of intercultural
education would be the real dream of an idealist, I'm sure even such a
person would be extremely happy to see our club function and be thrilled
at its accomplishments that bring us further and further along the road
to the Shangri-la that our founders envisioned when our nation was first
conceived.
