Why One Dinner Gave me Hope for Society

​  All Muslims are Terrorists.  All Refugees are Sick.  All Christians are Zealots.  All Blacks are Criminals.  All Men are Sexists. All White Men are Powerful. All Democrats are Liberal Hippies. All Poor People are Lazy. 

In a society that constantly feels rifled with hatred, segregation, and nonacceptance - I constantly worry for where the hatred views will lead.  I fear of a society where acceptance, empathy, love, and understanding is valued less than stereotypes.  I fear of future Holocausts as hate crimes seem to incessantly increase.

But then there are moments like last week... where my faith in our society is restored.

It was like a bad joke.  A jew & christian walked into a bar...  Except it was a Turk, Parisian, American, Moroccan, Asian, and slew of children that were mixed concoctions of the above.  No one had the same background.  Our upbringings consisted of differences in religions.  Our jobs varied from un-employed to financial VPs.  Yet the room was filled with love, laughter, compassion and delicious food.  Everyone giggled as the children caused spills and typical childish nightmares.  The chefs were complimented as everyone basked in delicious ethnic dishes.  The group bonded over commonalities, which were plenty-some, as conversations lasted for hours.  I could not help but to sit back frequently, quietly, and bask in how magical the evening was.  

This is what life is meant to be like.  People from all over, finding common ground, ignoring and respecting one another's differences.  Finding love and laughter despite them.  Little children, of all colors and sizes, playing games and giggling alongside other little humans.

I left with a sense of hope.  Hope that despite the constant media onslaught of bigotry that I am hit with daily, that love and acceptance does exists out there.  That maybe I need to make an effort to hold these kind of gatherings with my multicultural loved ones.  Maybe a path to more acceptance in society starts with dinner parties.  Individuals breaking down the societal hate, by finding love and commonality with people who are "different"...bonding over breaking bread.  Maybe by doing so I can change ONE persons ill-conceived perception of an entire group of people.
Maybe it will work.  
​Maybe it wont.  
But for me, we've all got to eat...so why not do it together.

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I leave you with an oldie...but a goodie....