My 5 closest friends are from places all over the world: the Czech Republic; Somalia; Ukraine; the Netherlands; and Iran. I was born in Canada, and with the exception of living one year in the USA, have lived here all my life. Having had the privilege of meeting these people has taught me that while we all come from very different cultures, we also come from very similar cultures. The similarities seem obvious, and most people seem to agree on a few basics. Everyone wants to prosper so that their families can live happily; people also enjoy having their own space, a peaceful place to call home, however limited that space might be; and most importantly, we all seem to share the longing for meaningful connection, both with other people, and with something bigger than ourselves which transcends our experience. This is not to say everyone shares or enjoys these benefits, sadly quite the contrary; they are ideals, and only sometimes realized. While there are probably other considerations of similarity besides these mentioned, these perhaps capture the essence of the human predicament. But what also seems painfully clear is the fact that cultures can be very different as well.

Some of these differences are found in the area of relationships, on the "do's and don'ts" of relating to one another. Sometimes they are pronounced, and are more than just potato or pototto. Different cultures have developed different codes of conduct based on many factors such as religion, political history, climate, food supply, etc. The bare idea of a code of conduct, or laws, often finds its strongest roots in the firmament of religion. What is acceptable behavior to a religiously adrift culture compared with what might be appropriate in an environment of acute religious fervor is part of the reason why codes of conduct can be at such variance from nation to nation. The question is how can we, from a standpoint of total immersion in our own culture, begin to expect to understand or interact with someone from another point of view entirely? Alas, there is an answer: the willingness to listen.

Connected to this is the idea that, while we all want basically the same freedoms and benefits, most of us speak a different language on the way to getting those things. While my friends all speak and understand English adequately, there have been times when something I said ended up being taken in a totally different way than what I intended. Some call it the language barrier: I think this phenomenon is much bigger and much more important than we think.

Language is certainly more important than I first thought, and I have found this out the hard way in the context of my friendships where I have tripped over subjects and words which to me are quite innocuous, while to others they are offensive or without meaning. The most important thing I have learned while getting to know someone of another language and culture is listen to their story, because if they are telling you it means, in most cases, it is important to them. Next, instead of coming back with your own great story, demonstrate to them you heard theirs first. If you take them seriously and thoughtfully in an effort to understand their point of view, they will usually grow to give you the same kind of respect. Even though you may not understand their whole story, in cases where someone’s attempt at your language is just too broken, these people will see your kindness reflected in the way you look at them. There are some kinds of body language which have an international currency. They will know if you are trying to understand, but they will also know if you are merely waiting to speak at them.

At a time in our world when so many international tensions threaten the safety of millions, it is incumbent on us as individuals to take responsibility for the welfare of others now. The whole impetus behind this journal is the need to encourage the ongoing process of meaningful communication between people of different cultures. You are only one person and so am I, yet we can make a difference that will radiate out from our relationships, our families, and our cities. The time is now to open our ears to the people in this world we do not yet understand. Let me assure you, if they knew you wanted to insure their prosperity and safety as much as your own, if they knew you wanted to honor their history and borders, their language and culture, and even their religion, we would be one step closer to understanding one another, one step closer to a safer world for our children. So let me encourage you to put things in perspective when making efforts to communicate with someone from another culture: realize that they are human, just like you; that they have been taught what to think of you just like you were taught how to think of them, and that these assumptions are often totally uninformed; second, know that if you humble yourself and show a genuine interest in their perspective and opinion, you will go miles to helping them see that you are someone to be trusted and honored. The last thing they need is for you to tell them how to live. Instead, show kindness to them and listen to their story, no matter how broken the English or French, or whatever language you speak, is. And if you do, you will make great and lasting strides in our common journey towards a safer world.