Isn’t Equality a celebration of differences? – A childhood story of faith and acceptance

On the occasion of International Children’s day, we bring to you a personal account from our readers from her childhood. Her story reminds us of the vulnerability and fragility of a child’s mind and to what extent harmony can be achieved with a little practice of compassion and inclusion. 

With this story I would like to introduce you to my personal experience with injustice and also to invite you into a deep reflection on many different silent hidden forms of injustice absorbed under the skin of our society and sometimes integrated into our brain cells.

I reckon this dialogue between us be a collective brainstorming session filled with compassion and care and together, we find practical ideas to let peace and justice win in our everyday living. All the upheaval in the present world has brought me, not only back to my childhood memories but also into a deep mode of reflection, which I would like to share with you here for the first time:
Going to the school was extremely exciting for me, I loved knowledge, but I could not fully comprehend why mum was insisting that I should not talk about my daily prayers to the other children at school as I have found them always beautiful and cool! It took a while for me to understand that my belief was different from all the other students in the class and in the whole school. At that time, even now, schools have a form for registration which includes the student’s name, address, and their religion. It could get difficult when your beliefs are not included in the form. It is obligatory to complete the form.

I was only 10 when, for the first time, the school president called my mum and asked her to pick me up and take me home, because I did not believe in what they did, and the rules did not allow to keep “different” children in the school. I had always been saved by my teachers, asking for pity because I was one of the best school students. May they be blessed! It was not only me, but all the students with different beliefs were felt unwelcome and we could not utter a word about it. Although many teachers were not in agreement with this, they had to be quiet to keep their jobs.

We were often indirectly humiliated in front of other students by the school president as he mocked our beliefs and declared practising other religions is a sin, a very bad one, and he often warned children that they should stay away from people with different faiths. This had brought me many times to tears … I could not believe the words coming out of her mouth, I knew they are not true! It was difficult for me to digest it all because at home I was taught that we are all equal, and only by love, mutual respect, and openness, we can build a better world. I was surprised that my school president did not know that! She should know everything with her age, I supposed with my child-world logic.

During the holy month, our school observed fasting so no child could eat lunch in public. Since I do not belong to the said faith, I was even more under scrutiny. To avoid humiliation and punishments, I used to eat my lunch in the toilet. Now when I think of it, it brings a bitter smile to my face, and with a heavy heart, I wish a speedier spiritual growth and understanding for the whole world. It was not an easy time for me in school; I could not share and be myself, because of the president of the school, and even at home my mother was fearful of my wellbeing and education as a result of president’s disappointment in me! The school was just a small part of all the limitations related to “being different”! I used to wonder, are we all not supposed to be different from one another, and does not our diversity make the world more beautiful?

By the time I was 15 I could understand the prejudice and injustice flowing under the skin of my society but what I could not understand was why people do not investigate the truth with her/ his own heart, questioning the superstitions, past beliefs and messages passed down to generations? I was sure that an inward journey could bring all souls to unity and peace and that the dignity of all humans would come back. That year as well, in the new school, they tried to kick me out and my lovely teachers saved me again but they made me sign a document that I will keep the silence and not share my beliefs, and I did, because I loved to learn so much!

Two years later, as my family and I expected, the government did not let me go to the university, and why? Because universities also have a form for registration, which includes, your name, address, and your religion! I was lucky to be able to move to a new country, at the huge expense of living far away from my beloved family and friends. But I was able to have the freedom of thought and to be able to go to the university, that many others like me were/ are not able to go to. In the new country, at my university, I was its first foreign student. I had the kind support of my professors and the friendly help of my classmates; they were patient with me as I could not speak the language.

But once, a new professor before starting an exam asked me to go and sit in the front line as he does not trust foreign students. It was then that I started to realize that prejudice is a universal sickness and despite all the beautiful souls I encountered, some are still in the darkness of ignorance.  My past compels me to fight prejudice, injustice, and racism with all my heart, but not with violence but with love, patience, compassion, and by increasing the awareness. It also makes me become more aware and learn and identify the new forms of these sick behaviours, which separates humans. Sometimes, this is so unconsciously absorbed into our minds that identifying it becomes very difficult. The prejudice is everywhere and has lots of forms as gender, race, religion, and beliefs and has only one objective – to divide.

And, unfortunately, it has no expiration, most recently I encountered one in the city I live in. A refugee who has a salary, cannot get a flat, because the label of refugee is not acceptable for some people.
The fear of something that someone is not native like us and the ego to keep us safe from aliens can depart us away from the beautiful feeling of human connections and discovery. I regularly ask myself – What is next on the way and how can each person help to build universal peace? How can we be more embracing and open to learning about what is not familiar to us? How can we let go of false ideas, prejudices, and outdated attitudes formed from our limited experiences? How can we heal the wounds of this society and see people from diverse backgrounds as members of one family?

Prejudice and discrimination have created a disparity in standards of living; have we realized how those prejudices are retarding the progress of the whole society? How can we start building unity to reach the full human capacity? Small practical conscious steps can make up for a big change, to a new civilization, for example, renting our place to a refugee; helping new people in our country and show them their rights; support the people at work if they have been frightened/intimidated by their managers or other colleagues. Listening to a person from another religion with openness and respect; tell our/other children the stories of peace and love between nations. By not ridiculing at the accent of people speaking a foreign language, organizing events in which we can learn about other cultures; and bringing more awareness to our young people about different forms of injustice, and create a safe space for teenagers to express themselves sans judgment.

Have I resonated with your feelings and thoughts? Do you believe, like me, manifesting love is the way to restore peace to our world? Please share your thoughts and together we can build a much warmer and better society for people in need. The beauty of a garden lies in its diverse flowers and the majesty of a painting is defined by its miscellany of colours

My deep love to all of you, may our world be in peace and light.

 

• childhood
• diversity
• education
• equality
• inclusion
• student