Last night the Sundance program "Iconoclasts" featured Desmond Tutu and Richard Branson - clergyman and entrepreneur - an unusual pairing. They share a belief in the power of individuals to change the world and work to encourage peace as the basis for conflict/problem resolution. They belong to an organization of Elders, (Tutu chairs, Branson helped establish) who meet to discuss, then take action around worldwide conflicts. Jimmy Carter, Marilyn Robinson, Muhammad Yunus are some of the members. Heartening to see the mix - men, women, black, brown, white - of wise people coming together and collectively using their talents and knowledge to bring reason, kindness and calm to difficult situations.
Contrastingly, the story of Henry Louis Gates and Sgt James Crowley in Cambridge MA was in the forefront of the news this week. Misunderstandings, egos, disrespect, and a long history of bad situations led to an unfortunate outcome between these two. Its troubling that this specific situation became a stereotype rather than a unique incident with specific details - a true cause of racism and misunderstanding. The only potentially good thing about the incident is that the issue of racial profiling may find a rational forum for discussion countrywide.
Contrastingly, the story of Henry Louis Gates and Sgt James Crowley in Cambridge MA was in the forefront of the news this week. Misunderstandings, egos, disrespect, and a long history of bad situations led to an unfortunate outcome between these two. Its troubling that this specific situation became a stereotype rather than a unique incident with specific details - a true cause of racism and misunderstanding. The only potentially good thing about the incident is that the issue of racial profiling may find a rational forum for discussion countrywide.
