Today, our world seems increasingly divided and disconnected. On the news, we see conflict, hate and anger. People battle each other on social media. Communities seem angrier than ever before.
Despite our better natures, many of us fly into conflict over hot-button issues – us vs them, leave vs remain, pro- vs anti-, this belief vs that belief, who belongs here vs who does not… and so it goes on.
We all seem to be shouting across the divide with no wish to listen, understand or empathise. Or to see the humanity in the other person.
Belonging Across Cultures was born out of my frustration at this spiralling divisiveness.
I believe passionately that we all want the same things whoever we are and wherever we come from. We all want love, a home, family, decent work, a good life. In so many ways, we are very much like the people we think of as different from us or in opposition to our beliefs or who are [insert any negative description!].
So Belonging Across Cultures sets out to share stories from across cultural and social divides. I go in search of what brings us together, what values we share, what struggles and joys we all experience. I also recognise and celebrate differences because it is in our distinctness that we find the great gift of being human.
I hope very much you will join me as I explore what connects us as ordinary people. My big aim is to foster a sense of belonging that can reach across the things that divide us – a sense that in our individual personal stories, we can find our universal humanity.
Yang-May Ooi
Cross-Cultural Advocate
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Photos:
hot air ballons – https://pixabay.com/photos/hot-air-balloons-bagan-sunset-1807521/
Yang-May Ooi – Jason Warner
