Nancy McDermott (1981)
There is definitely something generational at work in this discussion. Just speaking for myself, I found my time at SAHS incredibly inspiring. Being in a small American community tended to breakdown racial and ethnic barriers that were very much still in place stateside. I remember moving back to the US and seeing them go up again. All of a sudden it wasn't as easy to spend time (with black friends especially) or to make black friends because we landed in separate worlds. But it still gave me hope that those barriers can be overcome, and really reinforced my belief in he importance of good faith.
I believe that we have undergone a sea change since the 70's (and if any classmates are interested I've just had a book about its impact on families, it's called The Problem with Parenting and it's on Amazon) that has people focusing inward on themselves to find their way in life instead of focusing more outwardly in the sense of becoming who you are through your relationships with and obligations to other people. And it is because of that shift that people born after the 70's tend to assume the worst and to sometimes to be a bit cynical. It is a form of self protection that has the unfortunate consequence of confining people to their comfort zone.
The way I look at it, we need to give one another the benefit of the doubt and to be extra vigilant about being tolerant, even when other people assume the worst of you.
Our time in Seoul and our time as brats more generally was a precious gift. We were forced by circumstances to learn to see people as human beings first and members of groups second. Obviously not everyone took that lesson but for those of us who have, I think we have some obligation to counter the cynicism about race with the examples of our own lives and through continuing to measure people by what they do, and how they treat other people in life and also in online forums. I didn't have the opportunity to meet most of you (I was 76-78) but we share a bond, nevertheless. Let's not assume the worst and let's not let the bad faith that is tearing at the fiber of our country tear us apart too.
Best wishes,
Nancy
Seoul 76-78
Class of "81"
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