Difference

I like to travel as do many people and most travellers like to embrace the "difference" in each culture. Let's face it - how boring it would be to visit another country and find it the exact copy of our own. As the plane touches down at my destination I love to absorb the faces around me and the clothing worn, the sights and sounds of the city which surrounds the airport. To walk outside and find oneself different to the majority of the populace, is an amazing feeling. It can be a little intimidating as well, but I usually find a big smile often brings a positive response.

Imagine for a moment how fearful it would be not to get that positive response. To feel as if your "difference" was something to be ashamed of, or unacceptable. In this current social climate that experiences wars, and ultimately people fleeing from wars, the differences between races are being externalised and in some areas, causing friction. Suburbs of large cities are being turned into cultural melting pots and naturally, migrating cultures aim to gravitate together. This is a normal social thing to do, and most of us would want to do likewise. After all, we think there is safety in numbers and to take that further, safety in numbers who look and sound like me.

If we can avoid the trap that differences in culture equate to divisions in society, and embrace the multiculturism that can make a country great, I believe we can empower ourselves. We belittle ourselves as part of the human tribe, if we do not attempt to rise above the fear and loathing of another's culture or religion and aim for a bridging of the cultural gap.