By Daing S Nasir
Western Herald
Have you ever imagined how Plato must have felt when Socrates taught him philosophy and doctrine?
Do you still remember the touch of the steering wheel of your first car? The dream of the many adventures that you and your car will encounter together? The anticipation of where the wheels would steer you to, and of those people that might want a ride from you?
Learning diversity and being inclusive to the fact that we put others’ identification as a priority made me understand the facets of life and how we put things into perspective.
Awed to how motivation to procure human existence can be done through lecture; this was what I had felt at a diversity event keynoted by my very own Socrates.
As I walk around campus, I constantly change my identity according to whom I bump into. When I meet my Malaysian friends, we kiss, hug and shake each other’s hand.
When I meet my Muslim brothers, we greet each other in Arabic and when I meet my American counterparts we would give the daily greetings and salutations. This makes me a Muslim Asian American that has lived outside the United States all his life – a chameleon of all trades.
But to understand me, myself and the technicalities— does that stand as a pretext to comprehend the social identities of others? How do I try understanding others when I feel misunderstood all the time? Breaking the glass ceiling in approaching issues of gender, physical disabilities and sexual orientation remains a barrier for those that are excluded in so many processes.
Believe me, I have been there and I know, you have too.
Deciphering who I am and trying to understand the issues of others, has educated me on how complex certain matters are. The question is, how complex can you make something, which is so simple? I once asked a friend what he thought about himself and he said he sees himself as “cynical yet approachable, critical but kind.”
As I sit here thinking about this, I wonder and question our existence to better the human kind. I was taught that communication is not tangible unless you make it so. How can we do this?
By attaching meaning to our acts and doings? We roam around our daily schedule making a living for ourselves and our families, but what do we actually do to better the lives of others?
Is the $10 note to Haiti enough to make you the savior of all mankind? Since when did being compassionate have anything to do with being kind? Does this mean that you say “hi” to the person you meet on the street because they are in need of your wealth?
As a communicator, linguistics plays an integral role in my life. The power of morphology and syntax can move minds and dimensions from one end of the spectrum to another. I guess what I am trying to say is that as a matter of principle, diversity and inclusion is yet a far stretch in reaching its ultimate goal.
As a matter of movement, we have seen many great professors and teachers that have inspired us in so many ways. To be better, to strive and to respect your peers and those around you. That was the message that I got and will proliferate to you, my friend… Dumela!
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