This time of the year has a double meaning for me. It is, of course, the
holiday season, but it is also the time of the year when I lost my father
a few years ago. In a separate posting, I responded to Ben Compton's
observations about the movie, "Star Trek: First Contact," and pointed out
how the Borg represents assimilation, the antithesis of diversity. My
philosophy about diversity is represented in a poem I wrote about my
father, and if you will indulge me, I would like to share it with you.
Brother Harold
Copyright 1992 by Robert Ingram
"Brother Harold was a deaf man,"
Said the preacher with a tear,
"But today he's up in heaven,
And today he can hear.
"Brother Harold could not speak,
So he talked with his hands,
But today he speaks with God,
And at last, God understands.
"Brother Harold was a sinner,
Like the rest of us," he screamed.
"But no longer is he silent,
For his sins have been redeemed."
And the people in the chapel
Who prayed for his soul
Rejoiced at the conviction
That Harold was now whole.
But as I sat among the mourners
And recalled the Dad I knew,
I asked myself this question:
"Is this message really true?
"Are deaf folks simply hearing folks
Whose ears do not perform?
Are women just like men
Except for function and for form?
"Are black folks just like white folks
But for the color of their skin?
Are all of us the same
If we but look deep within?
"Or is each of us unique
In what we are and what we give?
Aren't our differences our strengths?"
Let me share what I believe.
I believe if there's a heaven
It's a place not so very far
Where our differences are valued,
And we're accepted as we are.
And I believe if there's a God,
He (or She) understands,
For He listens with his heart,
And He talks with his hands.
Peace to All,
Robert Ingram
Ingram Communications
--Robert Ingram <ingram_b@ix.netcom.com>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>