If one listened to the news all the time one could get a very dismal point of view about the world today and become largely despondent. There’s little doubt as one story after another points out the horrors and the inadequacies of the global reality that the human experience has room for growth and that outrageous suffering is endured by millions.
Here in New York, however, we are better off in so many ways, starting from the basic fact that we are a pluralistic society that becomes only more so with each passing day. Not that it’s perfect here, and we have loads of issues to deal with and to improve, but it’s my contention that if you take warring peoples from far away and bring them here to Coney Island Avenue or the Grand Concourse or Victory Boulevard or Steinway Street or the Lower East Side, they will go into business together and find their brotherhood and commonality.
This is the great beauty of our complex multicultural city and most of the time there is great beauty and one finds displays of human kindness here and sensitivity that surprise the false impression that we are a rude bunch with no manners and a lack of caring.
Raising children in New York City is a breeze actually compared to the isolation of some of the suburbs and/or a rural world where there is less stimulation and far less contact with others.
Our children are sharper, more astute and more worldly. They are more at ease with differences and thrive because of them. They become creative and sophisticated in ways that are copied by every major industry. The fashion world looks to our street kids to find the next wave and the music is created often on those streets, just a few of the trend setting examples of young influence coming out of our neighborhoods.
Life isn’t perfect, but human contact is key to the transition from barbarism to conflict resolution. As New York parents we must provide our children with as much contact as possible because the opportunity here is profound. Meet your neighbors, get involved in the parent association and make sure your children’s day to day world is inclusive. Only by knowing each other can the future society rid itself of ancient grudges, vendettas and prejudice.
Happy New Year! Thanks for reading.
