Differences are not to be feared

Differences are not to be feared.

Recently, I attended a performance of West Side Story, one of my favourite musicals, and I must say what a terrific performance it was by the cast in Dubai.

For those of you unfamiliar with the story, it centres around the rivalry between two gangs, the Jets, native New Yorkers, and the Sharks, recently arrived Puerto Rican immigrants. The rival gangs are fighting over territory, the streets on the west-side of New York. Caught up in all of this are two young people in love, unfortunately from opposing sides. Prejudice and hatred abound, but these two young love-birds transcend all of that until tragedy strikes.

Sound familiar? It ought to, it is Romeo and Juliet set to music and because every day, somewhere in the world, such a scenario will be played out. Hatred and prejudice abound, spurred on by fear and misunderstanding, yet there will be those caught up in it who only wish to live their lives together, with love.

Many times, conflict is prolonged not because of some unspeakable act by one of the sides, but because of differences; in language, culture, religion, skin colour. People have lost sight of what is important. We are all human (okay, we all know someone who stretches the definition a little) and as humans we should care for one another. We are all trying to achieve the same thing in our lives, to care for our families and to live in peace.

I am sure I’m not the only one in this world who has no interest in a person’s religion or colour. I do have an interest in other cultures, but I don’t fear them because they are different, and that is where we are going wrong. Instead of highlighting our differences as a reason for conflict, why don’t we embrace them as a celebration of diversity? Enjoy them; it’s what makes the world an interesting place.

In the musical, it is the tragedy that brings the two sides a little closer together, but why should we suffer losses before that occurs? And often those losses only serve to drive the two sides apart.

Set to music and with spectacular dance routines, this tale seems less tragic

than the reality. Perhaps that is the secret to our lives; we should play music and dance together. Maybe then, adversaries will see that not all is darkness and despair, and we can celebrate our differences together as one world.

#oneworld #onepeople