Religious Literacy Blog Post #3

Yesterday we visited the Turkish American Society in Mount Prospect.  We gathered there for a 3 part tour: ebru art, cooking, and a coffee and henna.  We also watched a video about Turkey and visited their Muslim worship room.  We were then fed a monstrous meal of Turkish cuisine.

Once again we were greeted with reverence and respect, and everyone went out of his/her way to make us feel welcome.  However, this is not what I want to talk about in today’s blog. 

I had a bit of a revelation during our ebru art demonstration, but a bit of a back-story first.  I have been actively trying to convince my wife to leave Chicago and Illinois as of late.  In my mind, there is too much traffic, too many political and economical issues, and I really like the northwoods.   What I was reminded of yesterday, however, is how much culture we possess in this area.  In the past two days we have been to some amazing cultural centers, and we have scarcely had to leave the “neighborhood” in order for this to happen.  Again I think of my children and their opportunities as they grow up here. 

I then think of our students and all of the opportunities they have in this area.  I don’t think they (you) know this.  Get out and explore!  By Oasis, the trailer park that serves a large population, there are four or five restaurants from various cultures.  The same is true of Elk Grove Village.  There are people from all over the planet RIGHT HERE, and I don’t know if we always realize the opportunity this presents. 

So I encourage you to recognize this, embrace this, and act on this!  Talk to the people near you in the cafeteria who might be “different” from you.  Everything we have done this week has celebrated culture and our differences.  Please join this movement right here in our school.  They are here.  We are here.  And I might just put off trying to convince my wife to move for a few more years while our kids grow up!