I love the complexity in this piece—the tension between the comfort to be found in cleaving to an identity with how that identity also imprisons us by separating us from those who are different. And yes, we white folk need to think more about our assumptions about identity. Maybe we humans should all go fly a kite.
The kite flying was the perfect paradigm. Everything was open, there were no rules. The little park allowed you to see how everyone was just doing her thing and how there was really no right way or wrong way. Much to be learned from that experience.
So glad you got to fly your kite with those other kite fliers. May you experience many more such moments in your new location. This reminds me of something that would happen on the Oregon coast, though there was much less racial and ethnic mixture there. Still, the small population included an extremely motley collection of white people who wouldn’t have hung out together on purpose in most places I’ve lived.
It was such a gentle experience. We didn't actually fly kites. We just walked around the park and took it all in. A beautiful spectacle, both the kites and the people.
It's not difficult to create homogeneous community. What's hard is creating community in a pluralistic society. When America could do that, it was very very good, and when it could not it was horrid.
Did you grow up in that kind of pluralistic community? I'm afraid I did not. What struck me about the kite flying, as I wrote, was that it was freeform, welcoming, non-competitive. I don't know to what extent the diversity impacted people's experience. But it certainly impacted mine.
I love the complexity in this piece—the tension between the comfort to be found in cleaving to an identity with how that identity also imprisons us by separating us from those who are different. And yes, we white folk need to think more about our assumptions about identity. Maybe we humans should all go fly a kite.
The kite flying was the perfect paradigm. Everything was open, there were no rules. The little park allowed you to see how everyone was just doing her thing and how there was really no right way or wrong way. Much to be learned from that experience.
Susie, One of your best!!!!!! zingy guy
Thank you so much, Larry. Good to know you're out there in the Berks.
So glad you got to fly your kite with those other kite fliers. May you experience many more such moments in your new location. This reminds me of something that would happen on the Oregon coast, though there was much less racial and ethnic mixture there. Still, the small population included an extremely motley collection of white people who wouldn’t have hung out together on purpose in most places I’ve lived.
It was such a gentle experience. We didn't actually fly kites. We just walked around the park and took it all in. A beautiful spectacle, both the kites and the people.
I don't know why I assumed you flew kites. Maybe because I love flying kites. Haven't done that since we lived on the OR coast.
It's not difficult to create homogeneous community. What's hard is creating community in a pluralistic society. When America could do that, it was very very good, and when it could not it was horrid.
Did you grow up in that kind of pluralistic community? I'm afraid I did not. What struck me about the kite flying, as I wrote, was that it was freeform, welcoming, non-competitive. I don't know to what extent the diversity impacted people's experience. But it certainly impacted mine.
My heart has grown in my chest after reading this, dear Susie. Thank you.
Expansion. Spaciousness. It feels so good.
Wow! Your writing is always a wow, Susie!
I treasure knowing you're reading my work.
always!
It’s true, not enough people want to do the work to make it an even playing field.
Too bad for them. In the meantime, I’m flying my kite with everyone.
I love you my dear aunt.
You are an inspiration and a source of so much learning for me.