Come From Away
If you haven’t seen the play, you’re missing a great experience. If you’re not familiar with it, the play tells the story of what happened in the week following September 11 after 38 planes that were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport, a small town in the province of Newfoundland, Canada. It’s a cathartic reminder of human kindness in the darkest of times.
I had been wanting to see it for years, and its arrival in Albuquerque was delayed two years because of Covid. Ironically, seeing it in 2022 in the midst of the culture wars, made it so much more impactful. I wasn’t ready for all of the lessons of diversity woven into it:
The cultural differences between the Newfoundlanders and the Americans who are taken aback by their hosts uncommon hospitality, as the residents open up their homes to the stranded travelers.
The language barriers that existed between passengers on numerous flights and the flight attendants as well as the citizens in Newfoundland trying to assist them.
A gay couple who discovers that their sexual orientation is more accepted than they expected.
The Rabbi in search of kosher food.
The play has also been hailed as a triumph of humanity over hate, but it does include reminders of the hate and dissention that continues to exist in the world:
The Muslim traveler faced with increasing prejudice.
The refugee from World War II Europe whose parents sent him to the United States with instructions to never tell anyone he was Jewish. He didn’t. Not even his wife. Not until that moment.
Attacks on diversity and the growing number of reported falsehoods are frightening because they fuel ignorance and hatred that divide us as a country and as world citizens. Consider the following that have been in the news recently:
The “Great Replacement” theory alleging that “native-born Americans (i.e., White Americans, emphasis added) are losing economic, political, and cultural influence … because of the growing population of immigrants.” Yet, white Europeans emigrated to this country (i.e., they were immigrants) and replaced the native-born inhabitants, destroying their languages, cultures, and economies along the way.
Allegations that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are based on Critical Race Theory (CRT). Yet, diversity initiatives been going on since the 1990s while general discussion of the academic framework that examines CRT has only begun recently.
Democracy Dies in Darkness is the motto of The Washington Post. It’s time to stand up to false claims and the growing number of conspiracy theories, challenge them, and speak the truth.
My colleague Chris Liakos recently posted on LinkedIn: What’s the ROI on DEI? – Greater Humanity. It’s time to stand up and celebrate the differences of ALL the people all around us.