The other day in my composition class at City College, something remarkable happened. A Muslim girl wearing a burka walked over to an older student wearing a kippah. She said that is a kippah on your head-yes? And he answered, yes! She said in her culture the head gear is called a Keffiyeh. He said he knew, and went on to say how similar they are, and that they are both beautiful. She held her hand out and introduced herself by name, and he extended his hand for a warm embrace. AND NOW THEY ARE FRIENDS-a Jew, an Arab. Just like in my book RONIT AND JAMIL. And furthermore, as I said to my class, this class is what democracy looks like. And this is the world I am so proud to be a part of!
No comments:
Post a Comment