Men build too many walls and not enough bridges.
Joseph Fort Newton, American Baptist minister (1880–1950)
Following a thought-provoking and heartrending three-day symposium examining
artistic responses to the migration crisis, my key learning is the imperative
to make human-to-human connections to dispel fear and build empathy.
I was filled with pride for the organization I work for in bringing
together Pulitzer Prize photographs, the newly released film Hearts and Bones, journalists, dancers,
writers, Indigenous activists, political scientists and front-line humanitarians
to share experiences and ideas for strengthening the connectedness of humanity.
Connectedness will stand strong against those who empower themselves by
enflaming fear and building walls. As Portuguese statesman, Antonio Guterres
has warned, “As a global community, we face a choice. Do we want migration to
be a source of prosperity and international solidarity, or a byword for
inhumanity and social friction?”
My experience this week leads me to seek out connections and
to build my own small bridge.
No comments:
Post a Comment