TheLoop21.com

By: Paul Mondesire (follow this member)
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 09:31

Eradicate Ignorance by every means necessary. I thought about these six words when I awoke last Thursday morning to the news that four men were arrested for plotting to blow up car bombs outside two synagogues in Riverdale (which is in da’ Bronx), and also intended to shoot down a military plane with a Stinger missile. You see, I live a block and a half from one of the synagogues and about a quarter mile from the other. This story hit a little too close to home for me to ignore.    

If the reports are accurate, these men — three African Americans and one Haitian immigrant — were moved to action because they were outraged by our military activities in Afghanistan and Iraq. For example, when knowledgeable people start arguing that “enhanced interrogation techniques” (read: torture) are okay, what they are really saying is that ‘the ends justify the means’.  Exactly what those four men thought. This is true whether they're homegrown terrorists, or simply fools goaded into this scheme by a government informant. 

That is why President Barack Obama’s words about upholding our values are important for all of us to embrace. 

Ignorance is defined as a lack of knowledge, education, or awareness. People often choose to classify someone else as ‘other’ based on their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual preference, or whatever, because they don’t really know that person or anyone of their background. They will then treat ‘others’ as less worthy of compassion or due consideration, and certainly not as equals.  This is the first step in a dehumanization process that can lead to true darkness — all rooted in basic ignorance.  
 
That is why the work of the Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) is so very important. Founded in 1997, their mission is to “…make New York City and the world safe for religious difference by increasing respect and mutual understanding among people of different faith, ethnic, and cultural traditions.” ICNY gets the call from the Mayor’s Office and the Police Department when events such as the one detailed above occur. 

I asked Matthew Weiner, their Director of Programs ‘what is the most important action people can take in order to build a greater understanding?’ He said “The ‘Grand Act’ approach is not really the answer. In our view it is the regular day-to-day interactions — not acting because there is a crisis — that builds a social fabric that can respond to problems.” 

Grand gestures are easy. Living every day trying to understand those with whom you have a fundamental disagreement with, or that come from cultures far removed from your personal experience? Now that is hard!  

“We held press conferences after September 11 and the attack on Mumbai last year that brought together leadership of many faiths to promote an honest exchange of ideas. We recognize the crucial role that religion plays in the lives of immigrant and disenfranchised communities, so we bring civic and religious leaders in to work together. That way they will have the ability to address problems before they become a crisis and it is one of the reasons our sustained programs deal with the justice system, and the rights of immigrants," Weiner said.

I first found out about ICNY through my brother Antonio Mondesire, a Babalawo — a Priest of Ifa and Obatala in the Lukumi (Yoruba) tradition. He was invited to participate in the series of events they sponsored in the aftermath of September 11th.

“On that day almost 3,000 people of all types were pulverized in one act. This was a wake-up call for all of us. The voices of marginalized people must be heard because the actions of people living on the margins can be the ones that define a society.  Bringing together not just Muslim, Christian, and Jewish leaders but Hindus, Buddhists and other people of faith allowed all to share their perspectives.” Mondesire said of his experience.

Weiner was working diligently to prepare for the Seventh Annual Gala and James Parks Morton Interfaith Awards Dinner on June 2nd to support the Interfaith Center of New York  when we spoke. When I asked my traditional question about what gets him jazzed about going to work, he was thoughtful in his response. 

“Our work helps bring equality and justice to communities in need. I am blessed to work with so many different people from diverse backgrounds to make that happen," Weiner said.

Remaking America is not an easy task. It is up to all of us to get reach out to those whom we define as ‘other’ before it is too late. 

Paul Mondesire is a native New Yorker working in the non-profit arena. He has a passion for education, life-long learning and writes because he believes we must eliminate ignorance by any means necessary.