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Speaking
Out
On
Staying Open to the World
After
coping with strong, sometimes contradictory emotions and thoughts
during the last two weeks, many Americans are now seeking a return
to a normal routine, albeit with an altered sense of what is normal.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said in a televised interview on Saturday
that New Yorkers would be foolish and unrealistic not to take extra
security precautions and that everyone will continue to grieve over
the innocent lives lost on September 11th. At the same time Mayor
Giuliani drew an analogy to the citizens of London under siege during
World War II. When the air raid sirens sounded, they went to the
bomb shelters. With the all-clear signal, they returned to their
normal lives--they went to work, they went to school, they went
to concerts and sports events. They were not paralyzed.
Today,
we must not be paralyzed, either physically or mentally. Not only
must daily routines be taken up again, but we should also unlock
our thinking--to realize that, now more than ever, it is important,
indeed essential, to remain open to the world. Americans and citizens
of other countries would be foolish and unrealistic not to remain
"on alert." But, in the long run, to reach the goals of security
and peace and prosperity, an absolutely essential factor is increased
international understanding, greater tolerance for other cultures
and beliefs, and enhanced familiarity with people who may initially
seem uncomfortably foreign. This unlocking of our minds, this opening
up to the world will take great effort. Our world has changed drastically
since Mahatma Gandhi wrote: "I do not want my house to be walled
in on all sides, and my windows to be closed. I want the cultures
of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But
I refuse to be blown off my feet by any."
Two
years ago, Thomas Friedman wrote a book dramatizing the conflict
of "the Lexus and the olive tree"--the tension between globalization
and ancient forces of local culture, geography, tradition and community.
Two weeks ago, globalization was callously used as one of the tools
in a complex plan to destroy lives, shake public confidence and
destabilize systems. The trust and apparent naiveté of Gandhi's
words have been blown away. It will be hard to keep our windows
open, we can no longer let strong threatening winds blow "about
[our] house as freely as possible," but we cannot close ourselves
off from the terrible complexities of the world. It is time for
universities to do what we do best--learn and keep learning, unlock
our minds and open, carefully, very carefully, the windows of our
understanding.
--Joyce
M. Randolph, Executive Director, Office of International Programs
Speaking
Out welcomes reader contributions. Short, timely letters on University
issues will be accepted by Thursday at noon for the following
Tuesday's issue, subject to right-of-reply guidelines. Advance
notice of intention to submit is appreciated. --Eds.
Almanac, Vol. 48, No. 6, October 2, 2001
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ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS:
Tuesday,
October 2, 2001
Volume 48 Number 6
www.upenn.edu/almanac/
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