The Peace Tree

"Let us embrace the beauty of every culture and faith to create peace in our world." - Mitra Sen
When I was little, (well, even when I grew up), my mother called me a gypsy because I wanted to travel the world and see as much as I could.  I haven't been to a lot of places physically, but I've visited a ton of places through books, and continue to travel in my mind.  
When I became a teacher, I taught quite a large unit on prejudice, which included several weeks learning about the Jewish Holocaust during WWII (notice I didn't say "THE Holocaust" - because there have been so many of them throughout time, how can a person decree one of them being THE one?).  My students always asked me during that unit, "Ms. Clasen, are you Jewish?"  To which I would say, "Does it matter?"
Why did I mention those two things?  Because the world is a small place and all of its inhabitants inexorably connected.
I woke up this morning, the last day of school in ISD 191 before winter break, and carefully picked my outfit to wear.  In my sixteen years as a teacher, I've grown as a person and also as an educator.  Today, I deliberately picked a shirt that was blue and white (Hanukkah), had red and green (Christmas), green, red and yellow (Kwaanza), and red/yellow, dark blue/white (Eid).  Why?  Because at this time of year, I am very aware of the over-abundance of Santa hats and candy canes to those who do not fit that profile of belief.  Or to those who do not fit that profile of abundance (we have homeless people in our district for whom Christmas is as tangible as air).  I can leave these halls of learning and celebrate any way I celebrate, but while I am in these halls, I need to be a person who leads by example.  I want my children to recognize, understand, learn about, and embrace the fact that there are many different cultures and religions in this world.  
Did you know that the Golden Rule exists in no less than 13 different world religions?  There's a poster you can buy.  It's cool.  This rule cannot be laid claim to by just one religion.  That tells me something - that maybe we're more fundamentally alike than different.  Mitra Sen, the author of the quote with which I started this blog entry, is a filmmaker from Canada.  Her first independent film was called "Just A Little Red Dot", and with it she empowered young people to challenge racism and embrace the messages of peace and understanding between people of all backgrounds.  In the movie, three little girls find a way to overcome their parents' resistance to observing each others' celebrations (Christian and Muslim).  The girls create a peace tree- a tree that highlights symbols from many cultures and faiths to reflect the beauty of unity in diversity.  (see www.religioustolerance.org/peacetree).  The girls are celebrating peace and hope for out planet.
Many cultures (not just religions) have very important celebrations in December.  I forgot to mention that my earrings today are decorated evergreen trees.  That was a pagan symbol of the winter solstice long before it became a symbol of Christmas.  The white pine tree was a symbol of unity for the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (5 Nations).  It's also known as the tree of peace.  All of the December celebrations, however, have foundations in acceptance, love for one another, and everlasting peace.  That is what I am celebrating today - and that is what I wish for every student here and for every person reading this blog.